(Image Courtesy: pib.gov.in)

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a spiritual cloak to criticism. Replying on Motion of Thanks (MoT) to the President’s annual Address to Parliament on 8th February 2023 in Lok Sabha, Mr Modi said: “India is the mother of democracy, constructive criticism is vital for a strong democracy and criticism is like a shuddhi yagya.”

With this, he has created end-to-end chain on core value of the democracy - criticism - over his parliamentary career beginning mid-2014.

In his maiden reply in Lok Sabha on MoT to the President’s Address on 11th June 2014, Mr. Modi stated: “In a democracy, criticism is for good and it must happen. Only accusations are bad, criticism is not. Criticism gives strength. It is the best medicine in a democracy. We are ever ready for criticism. I would want all the policies to be studied in detail and criticized so that the end result can be put to use for the good of country in coming time. We want to move ahead with this spirit.”

In fact, Mr Modi victoriously rode to Delhi Throne in May 2014 on the Chariot of Criticism that he ran against UPA regime for several years. Recall the speech he delivered at Jodhpur during November 2013. 

He stated at public rally: “the power of democracy lies in respecting and honouring the opposite views as well, democracy can’t function without this! No matter how many voices have been raised against me, I take it head on, have been taking it for last 12 years, have I ever lost my tongue? This is the beauty of democracy, the strength of democracy. The more we will be criticized, the better we will perform!”

It is this wisdom that cast duty on independent analysts like me to start afresh Shuddhi Yagna. This blog is thus dedicated to Mr. Modi’s sermons. Any rationalist would agree that more such researched write-ups should empower Mr. Modi to perform better in the remaining period of his 2nd term.

The best way to embark on constructive criticism is to audit Mr. Modi’s speeches against hard facts, many of which are forgotten or buried in government archives. 

 (Image Courtesy: archivepmo.nic.in)

 

“I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the Opposition parties in Parliament. I cannot divulge all things that take place in the Cabinet system of Government. I think, taking into account the circumstances, and the compulsions of a coalition polity, I have done as best as I could under the circumstances,” noted Dr Manmohan Singh.

Dr Singh stated this while answering a critical question at his last press conference as Prime Minister held on 3rd January 2014. Well time has come to revisit his contribution to India's growth story spanning over four decades. 

Let TIOL Fiscal Heritage Award to Dr Singh serve as a signal to unearth unreported or forgotten facts that shed light on his persona. 

Let the process of rewriting history on Dr. Singh begin right now. One can assess his role from 5 perspectives: 1) As an economist-official (policy maker) in government, 2) as Finance Minister, 3) as Prime Minister, 4) as statesman and 5) as human being.

In his first role that began in 1971 as Economic Advisor in Ministry of Foreign Trade (Commerce Department now), he worked well against odds within the Government system to get the growth wheel moving. And he did so while adjusting to the varying contours of political leaders at the helm of affairs. He fine-tuned his knowledge and experience on economic challenges in his role as policy facilitator. 

(Image Courtesy:  taxindiaonline.com)

 

 

Russian-Ukraine War (RUW) is sending ripples of shocks to economies across the pandemic-ravaged world. Stock markets and global commodity markets have moved in opposite directions: The former seeing plummeting share prices and the latter seeing alarming spurt in prices of diverse range of commodities. Price volatilities result in exceptional, irrational transfer of wealth from one stakeholder to another, disrupting the global recovery.   

A few variables make RUW a special learning platform for the policy makers. The War in unfolding at a time when the global economy is struggling to recover from covid-19 pandemic & the resulting economic restrictions.

The situation is a bit similar to World War I, whose last year coincided with onset of 1918 influenza pandemic (often referred to as Spanish Flu). The second wave of pandemic in 1919 wreaked havoc in many countries with some experiencing recession. 

The world is much more integrated economically, socially and logistically than it was at that time. The combined impact of localized war and pandemic on supply chains, capital flows and prices can be devastating.