Tushar Gandhi sings praises of Singh team

Tushar Gandhi, the great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi is in all praise of the economic reforms initiated by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Gandhi, who is leading the re-enactment of the historic Dandi March, was talking to the media at Delad village near Surat on Thursday.

"The economic reforms need to have a human face. The country cannot ignore the interests of a large percentage of its population that needs to be protected. The reforms initiated by the UPA government are admirable, but more can be, and should be done," he said.

"We cannot keep the doors of our economy closed in today's world, as it is heavily dependent on the dollar. We have to open the doors for the foreign companies. However, care should be taken so that we do not become the foot-mats of such companies. The government should also strictly impose certain social obligations on these companies," he said.

Advocating the need to do more for the workers, Gandhi said, "The workers have been terribly exploited all these years, which needs to be stopped at the earliest. For this, the government should initiate welfare schemes for the workers on war-footing."

Gandhi also stressed on the need for developing the rural economy.

"At present, there is a huge gap between the rural and urban economies. Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi) always dreamed of developing the rural economy, but unfortunately, exactly the opposite has happened.

"A serious thought needs to be given to develop the rural economy, so that Bapu's dream can be realised," he said.

Referring to the khadi issue, Gandhi said, "Bapu revolutionised the country with the khadi movement. Khadi today, is not what it was envisaged by Bapu.

"It is a hollow product surviving on government subsidies. Khadi can survive on its own, provided the system propounded by Bapu is implemented."

He was forthright in responding to a query about his political ambition.

"I certainly have political ambitions. I had even sought a Congress party ticket to contest the Parliament elections from Porbandar (Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace) seat during the last elections. I intend to contest the Parliament elections in the future, preferably from Porbandar itself."

"However, let me make it clear that though I have political ambitions, politics is not a necessity for me. The standard of politics has deteriorated a great deal in India, mainly because there are few politicians who have the moral to stay away from temptations that come along the way.

"I firmly believe that all those people who have the will to keep the temptations away, should be a part of active politics," he said.

He said it was sad that Gujarat has developed a bad image. "We are sure that the Dandi Yatra would help in improving its image world over. Our attempt is to unite the hearts that have been divided by the communal forces."

Mentioning the visa denial by the United States to chief minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said, "Modi was denied a visa on account of his own wrongdoings. The US decision was very much justified, but at the same time, the US should first put its own house in order."