Population and bureaucracy: Taboo topics that PMs don't talk about

These two problems, population and bureaucrats, constitute massive balls and chains around the economy's legs

Next year — if this virus that China has exported spares me — I will turn 70. During this time I have watched 60 Independence Day speeches by 14 prime ministers.

The first three were in 1961, 1962 and 1963.  I attended those at the Red Fort where our father patriotically took us. After that I have listened on the radio and watched on television

Every speech has been an exhortation to the citizens to do their bit for the country, while the government does its bit for them. Not quite Napoleonic in form but the message has always been