There is nothing wrong with globalisation. It has made the world rich. India is helpingthe world get richer. Unfortunately, India makes its own people poorer. Indians have aharder time today than they did yesterday. Prices soar but incomes stand still.
Whatever happens, people suffer. This year there was drought in some parts. Thefarmers suffered. There were bumper crops in other parts. The farmers suffered. Theirgrain wasn't bought.
The government had announced a support price for grain. It was committed to buy it. Itrefused because of poor quality. fci chairman Bhure Lal went by rules. He had no businessobserving rules. It is our hallowed tradition to ignore rules. Bhure Lal discovering ruleswas as bad as Jagmohan discovering Delhi's Master Plan. Have these people no respect fortradition?
The grain was always below quality because greedy farmers reaped two crops instead ofone. The government always bought the grain. Officials and farmers shared the profits.Suddenly this year the government rejected poor quality grain. How far-sighted InderGujral was! He must have been concerned about quality. That's why he imported Australianwheat while Indian wheat rotted in godowns.
Farmers, labourers, housewives and others are blaming economic reforms andglobalisation. This suits the Opposition. The Opposition incites people. It will continueto incite them till it comes to power. In power, it will pursue identical policies. Thepeople's anger doesn't bother politicians in power. They are too busy getting rich. Theyknow that soon others might replace them to also get rich.
Only people remain poor. But they blame globalisation. They don't blame corruption.The reforms don't work because of corruption. The government undervalues national wealthand sells it to foreigners. It gives them avoidable concessions to ruin Indian business.
Reforms failed because there was no preparatory work done before globalisation. How canforeign investment flow into a country lacking basic governance?
In 1993, the government survived a no-confidence vote by bribing Lok Sabha members. In1994, the same fraudulent government committed India to wto. Isn't that governmentdecision therefore questionable?
Parliament won't ask this. Legal luminaries won't ask this. But the people can. Willthey dare revolt and throw out of power the entire corrupt political class? Will they darerectify reforms by fighting corruption?
Wherever you go
I'ndians weep!
As they sow,
So they reap!
