Fork in the Road and the Vacuum

Mid-March 2013 turning out to be crucial month for future of this country. Wharton School of Business demonstrated to the world how NOT to “manage” any event, forget a big corporation. India Today group held its Leadership Conclave on “reclaiming democracy”, Students of SRCC college hosted Narendra Modi as their chief speaker, while Manmohan Singh declining the SRCC invite, Rahul Gandhi declined all of the invites – Wharton, SRCC, and India Today Conclave. And, finally Nitish Kumar came demanding ‘Special Status’ for Bihar through his Rally at Ramlila Maidan.

While one exptects that contrasting/polarizing ideas for future of India would emerge from BJP and Congress, fascinatingly, these are coming from within current NDA. And NDA alone!

Narendra Modi is listing un-ending series of examples where adversities were turned into opportunities through innovative governance; while Nitish is looking to establish his credentials by re-emphasizing the old failed model of demanding assistance, and hand-outs and appealing slogans.

While, in principle there is nothing wrong asking for help/assistance, but, creating and basing the ‘development model’  entirely on the dole should be cause of sreious concern. On the otherhand, UPA government, as we all know, is least bothered about anything except to complete its term and its ministers single mindedly focusing on counting Greens till the last day of tenure of this government.

Narendra Modi very assertively & persuasively putting forward the tried & tested conservative approach to Governance: “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”, while Nitish is NOT able to outline any clear philosophy. No one really know, if he is for market friendly policies, or hard-core state expenditure/control driven model.  His demand of “Special Status” for Bihar is muddying the water further. He has even failed to list out 3 salient features  or priviledges of what “Special Status” would mean to people of Bihar.

So, looking at this broad slogan we can safely assume, that this idea of “Special Status” would fall on the lines of what Mandal Commission triggered “Social Justice” cry or "Reservations for Muslims". Politically the idea of Mandal Commission was goldmine for chanting top commanders of proponents. Laloo Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan made their career out of this. VP Singh was easily 'left on margins' though he too tried to reap the crop he sowed through Mandal. They further raised the pitch  one level up from merely "Job Reservation" to the new phrase “Social Justice” leaving the  masses - awaiting that Justice - high & dry. Kanshiram (Mayawati) were not in VP Singh camp, but they too were playing same political game. However, they were more audatious about their real aim of obtaining (snatching) political powers  from so called "Upper Caste exploiters". 

Though, the Mandal commission raised the hopes/aspirations of millions of Dalits/Backwards, there was no mechanism designed in it to deliver goods except, a Phrase: "Give them reservations upto 49% in the Government Jobs".  Results post implementation so far, are disastrous. The beneficiaries of Mandal commission remained only its "shrill Proponents": Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, and Paswan and targeted section of society remained what it was pre-Mandal era :"Backwards" & "Dalits". Today, all of these are now seen neck deep in Cesspool of Corruption, Loot, nepotism exploiting the same section of society whom they promised heavens.

 Interestingly, all such movements part-symbolic part-real: be it Mandal Commission, Sachchar Commission, and Religious Census, are aimed at generating same psychology of Victimhood among targeted sections.

No wonder, all Left of Center political parties find these kind of grandoise and hollow movements so appealing. This addresses two groups:

a) Sections of society desperately seeking alternatives, but shorn of real information on working/successful availabvle solutions.

b) Proponents of such ideas knowing well that they themselves would be BIGGEST beneficiaries of such "movements".

Nitish knows it well!

 Coming back to governance, so far Nitish has been not able to create major apparatus in Bihar which can attract and absorb/digest big investments.  No doubt, Law & order has improved, basic amenities are returning and is visible. Basic infrastructure too is now coming in, confidence among local entrepreneurs is returning. However, all these items are outcome of vanishing of Laloo's goons and jungle raaj.  Nitish should get credit for this. But main questions are: Where are bigger subjects like state level administration reforms, investment in modernization of State Machinery, agriculture & water conservation/distribution, managing river Kosi through intra-state Canal, local check-dams etc. Where is disaster Management Policy, learning from Kosi floods? Has he done something to change image of Bihar as “law-less frontier” of India? Has he initiated any policy on un-organized sector poor worker? So far we do NOT hear on these items at all. Even if there are policies, the implementation seems to be dismal or not-initiated.

Nitish spoke at length today March 17th "Adhikar Rally" at Ramlila Maidan. He is marinating this new slogan with new ingradients set by Narendra Modi's approach of "Development (Vikas), Progress, Growth". All he said was "All big industries moved out of Bihar.... Our per Capita Income has come down to 1/3rd of national average..., ..." Thousands who heard him should NOT have been merely subjected to these 'facts' on failures of state (Lalu Prasad Yadav's or Congress's or his own government). What they deserved was "what their leader is doing or has done to address these after 8 years in power" .  

Unfortunately, they were taken for a ride in same fashion as what Lalu Prasads, Mulayam Singh Yadavs, Paswans or Mayawatis did to them in  1990s on "Social Justice" cry.

Lack of funds is an understandable argument for inadequate coverage in government schemes, but given the experiences of other similar states, a Chief Minister can NOT cry foul after 8 years in office. Enough Revenue should have been generated for critical needs (critical big ticket items) of the state. UPA is NOT only hostile to Bihar. It is hostile to Gujarat, MP, CH, JH, PB etc. All these states are managing their finances well and are generating adequate revenues too for bigger items. 

Madhya Pradesh- a case in Point has come out of tag of BIMARU states without seeking any "Special Status" from center, (be it congress or BJP ruled) despite being ruled by Digvijay Singh, who openly champoioned himself on the lines of Lalu Prasad Model of "Government". (Minimum Governance, Maximum Moolah") :) Madhya Pradesh had also suffered political instability with 3 Chief Ministers in BJP's first innnings after 2003. From Uma Bharati, to disastrous Babulal Gaur to now successfull Shivraj Singh Chouhan, MP still came out of that insulting tag of BIMARU. Lot of lessons are available here for Nitish Kumar.

Nitish should also take cue from West Bengal, which is totally devastated by CPIM in its 34 year “rule”. Every institution is totally bankrupt after 34 years. No iota of Law & order. CM Mamata Banerjee, with her all impulsive style, is merely demanding tax holiday alone. She is NOT raising storm over “special status”. UPA government has NOT even granted that demand, forget about expecting ‘additional’ special funds!

Biharis in general are regarded as people of hard working brilliant minds in India. There is no dearth of Experts, Doers, Thinkers, and Entrepreneurs who can formulate workable self-sufficient governing model which can lift Bihar out of its miseries with requisite basic support from Central government.

Currently in his advisors, we only see NK Singh (for Governance & Vision) & Shivanand Tiwari (on Political choices). That does raise serious concerns.

Overall, it’s all about ideology and mindset in which leaders are groomed, that determine their choices and priorities and stand/actions for major decisions.

One heartening aspect of the recently concluded Narendra Modi speech in the India-Today conclave is that his idea of India governed through innovative and honest intentions utilizing resources, minds/talents and helping hands well within available means of the state, has become dominating narrative. More importantly this narrative is NOT challenged anymore. Earlier professional bashers used to oppose these ideas vehemently, but in this conclave his governance has been accepted (willingly or un-willingly) by all including the professional hate Narendra Modi group! Nitish can take cue from this too!

    

India once again finds itself at fork in the road. One take you to reliable, self-sustainable, disciplined model of growth, and contrasting this, the other take you back to 1970s & 90s model of sloganeering and false solutions.

Interestingly besides both of these two alternatives, on the THIRD Corner, there is stunning VACUUM!!! Congress camp, which represents nothing except entitlements and freebies is watching clueless but content with overflowing deep pockets!