Whichever country I go to attend investor conferences, people say 'We'll look at India when you will get your act together'.
That's how noted economist and former Divestment Minister Arun Shourie (in Vajpayee-led NDA government) described current perception of India among foreigners, in a TV programme (The State of the Economy on NDTV Aug 20). Alas, India's dream run of an attractive investment destination has ended with foreigners telling us to put our act together.This makes me hang my head in shame.
Shourie says the Indian political class doesn't realize the gravity of the financial crisis India has been pushed into. Of course, for this crisis the UPA-2 government has to share the major blame. Because following the revelation of many scams over the last two years, it has allowed the opposition led by the vociferous BJP to set agenda for it in and out of Parliament.
By frequent disruptions of the Parliament and by blocking the passage of many important bills, the BJP has succeeded in its strategy of creating a perception in India and abroad that Manmohan Singh is a 'good for nothing' Prime Minister. Ironically, this very Manmohan Singh had brought out India successfully from a more grave economic crisis in 1991 as the hand-picked Finance Minister of the then PM Narasimha Rao.
I think both Sonia and Manmohan, not being hard-boiled politicians with past baggage, could have set an example of clean governance. There was nothing wrong in accepting the mistakes if the alleged scams happened due to their oversight. They should have fast-tracked the trial of tainted ministers. It would have gone a long way in cleaning the government machinery and in presenting them as honest leaders before the people. But perhaps politics is like koyle ki kothri jisme Manmohan jaisa imandaar aadmi bhi kala hi dikhai deta hai.
However, Manmohan-Sonia still can undo some damage caused to the Congress by high-voltage propaganda of BJP's social media army if they agree to effect the desired changes in the Lokpal Bill and by expediting the scams investigation/trial.
That's how noted economist and former Divestment Minister Arun Shourie (in Vajpayee-led NDA government) described current perception of India among foreigners, in a TV programme (The State of the Economy on NDTV Aug 20). Alas, India's dream run of an attractive investment destination has ended with foreigners telling us to put our act together.This makes me hang my head in shame.
Shourie says the Indian political class doesn't realize the gravity of the financial crisis India has been pushed into. Of course, for this crisis the UPA-2 government has to share the major blame. Because following the revelation of many scams over the last two years, it has allowed the opposition led by the vociferous BJP to set agenda for it in and out of Parliament.
By frequent disruptions of the Parliament and by blocking the passage of many important bills, the BJP has succeeded in its strategy of creating a perception in India and abroad that Manmohan Singh is a 'good for nothing' Prime Minister. Ironically, this very Manmohan Singh had brought out India successfully from a more grave economic crisis in 1991 as the hand-picked Finance Minister of the then PM Narasimha Rao.
I think both Sonia and Manmohan, not being hard-boiled politicians with past baggage, could have set an example of clean governance. There was nothing wrong in accepting the mistakes if the alleged scams happened due to their oversight. They should have fast-tracked the trial of tainted ministers. It would have gone a long way in cleaning the government machinery and in presenting them as honest leaders before the people. But perhaps politics is like koyle ki kothri jisme Manmohan jaisa imandaar aadmi bhi kala hi dikhai deta hai.
However, Manmohan-Sonia still can undo some damage caused to the Congress by high-voltage propaganda of BJP's social media army if they agree to effect the desired changes in the Lokpal Bill and by expediting the scams investigation/trial.
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