Q: What is your view on the present state of economy under PM Modi?
A: People thought that Modi is answer to all problems. (That) He is a superman who will deliver everything and the corporates thought that he is one man who will be able to make difference to the economic activity. Before that, it so happened that because of the super-hype created by the media and of course issues which the Congress could not counter effectively, there was general despondency in the country about the performance of UPA. Let us now analyse what has happened in the last 18 months of Modi rule.
Exports have come down, rupee has fallen, new investments are not coming in, those who had got the coal blocks in fair, impartial manner and who had gone ahead and started mining, taken loans from banks, the government asked SC to cancel those leases. The Modi government then tries to take credit for all the decisions of UPA government whether it was social inclusive banking or Aadhar card or all other schemes which he (Modi) had opposed himself.
At the same time, farmers are not getting their minimum support price (MSP) and inflation in food items has hit the roof.
Q: How do you view government's handling of spiralling prices of pulses and other essential commodities, especially in the wake of a lower monsoon?
A: Tur dal (is) sold for Rs 200 per kg was bought by traders when the dal prices were low. However, farmers have not got the benefit of rise in prices, it is the traders or dal mill owners who were hoarding and got the maximum profit. Similarly, sarson (mustard) oil reached Rs 130-140 per kg but the benefit has not gone to the farmers. When the crop came, the prices of sarson was low.
Even in cotton, the same scene. Take the case of basmati rice. During UPA regime, farmers were getting Rs 4,500 per quintal for basmati rice and now it has fallen to Rs 1,400 per quintal.
Net savings of country are going down. When they are falling, how can the economy grow? The purchasing power of the common man has come down. Personally I am not guided by the rise and fall of Nifty and Sensex. My indication of economy is that of the village goldsmith or a small or big town goldsmith. The first sign of saving is when the common man starts purchasing, investing in gold and silver, buys cloth, land.
Look at the real estate sector, it is in a bad shape. The economy of the country has come down. Even the assessment by World Bank, Moody's sums it all up.
Q: Modi government is under attack for rising intolerance. What is your take?
A: If you see the statements of those who are in the cabinet today, Giriraj Singh said all those opposing Modi should go to Pakistan, Haryana CM said all those who eat beef should leave the country, another sadhvi who is minister says that there are two sets ‘Ramjada’ (children of Lord Ram) and ‘haramjada’ (illegitimate offspring). Another minister Balyan is an accused in Muzaffarnagar riots while (Culture) Minister Mahesh Sharma justifies the lynching of Akhlaq in Dadri. So after these statements, the fanatic Muslims are coming together.
Then there is the issue of ‘Ghar wapsi’ which is a non -issue, issue of Love Jihad, who are these people who are doing that, they are all activists of BJP, RSS and their different organisations.
All this is creating a scare among the minorities, the PM talks of unity in diversity but by his statements and statements of his colleagues they are disturbing unity in diversity that is why the ‘award wapsi’ is happening.
Q: Do you support the decision by writers and thinkers to return awards?
A: On ‘award wapsi’, Jaitley takes a tough stand saying that they are manufactured dissent of intolerance. He also questions where were those people when Emergency, 1984 riots took place. He has taken an extreme stand but on the same day Rajnath Singh says that we are prepared to discuss. So there are two conflicting views, one is offering an olive branch to come and talk to them and (the) other is taking an extreme position.
What are they asking for? For the PM to please do something which will give a sense of confidence among the minorities. This is what President of India, Vice President of India, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, Narayana Murthy and Zubin Mehta said. Rajan, Murthy and Zubin are not political persons. So people are concerned and the fringe elements have disturbed the communal harmony, sense of confidence of minorities has been taken away which creates the environment of mistrust in the country.
It is deep down. Who could imagine that paint will be smeared on Sudheendra Kulkarni's face and those who did are felicitated by Shiv Sena? However, in Latur, where RTI activists' face was blackened they are sacked from the party. Why these double standards by Shiv Sena?
These are things which create a situation of scare, a situation of lack of confidence in the government which is not good for the country. The point is to run a state with an iron hand is one thing, but you cannot run the country with iron hand, which Modi tries to run.
Q: How do you rate the Modi government on the issue of governance?
A: What is happening in Delhi? Ministers have no authority, the secretaries are directly dealing with PMO. The home minister is being declared No 2. However, the role of home minister has been totally cut off.
Files not being cleared, there are innumerable vacancies in the heads of PSU and PSBs, posts are vacant, down the line
also. So the governance which should have been obvious is missing.
Governance is centred in the PMO and Arun Shourie said it is the weakest PMO ever. Shourie has courage to speak out, he is not from the Congress but from BJP.
Q: How crucial will the Bihar poll results be for the politics of the country?
A: Obviously, it will affect the BJP, Amit Shah and Modi. As far as the Congress is concerned, the central government has been elected for five years, out of which 18 months are over. Next three and half years we are still there.
Congress party has to get its act in order, there is no doubt about it. We have to be seen more aggressively in states where
we are not in power and take up issues which concern the people of the country.
Q: Is the time opportune for Rahul to take over as the (Congress) party president?
A: Change is a law of nature. New people have to come. After all, we are all 65 (years old). New generation has to come. The timing is her choice. There is need of younger people. Rahul is already No. 2. It does not stop there, it has to go down to the states, districts. New generation of leaders will have to be built up in the states.
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