Narendra Modi’s great leap forward

[Joe Shearer]

Both of you make really good points.

Joe, I agree that demonetization should have followed after more systemic reforms. But frankly, I feel that BJP is very likely to lose in 2019 and it might never have had a better time to do so. Our voters like freebies the kind that Congress gives instead of developing our country with a longer term vision.

A solid point. I have to agree with you.

This clever trick will resonate more with bhakt and non-bhakt alike than the steady and systematic progress that would do us all permanent good.

BTW, I am deeply in agreement with the original article you posted, just in case you have a different impression.

I must dig out the brilliant article by Samar Halarnkar in - was it the Hindustan Times? - that someone forwarded to me. He was of the opinion that we are in for a sustained period of perpetual revolution, to keep everybody off balance. This would unfortunately also involve a weakening of the human rights situation; laws and constitutionality would run at a discount. Bure din aaye huwe hain.

And Congress is against any kind of reform whatsoever - administrative, economic or legal - and thus demonetization is something they would never ever have done. They are a status quoist party. In fact, I'd argue that they are inherently in favour of increasing rules/regulations and making the system more complex to increase Raj.

I might get beaten up by a good friend, He Who Shall Not Be Named, but I have to remind all that for forty years I have thought that the Congress is gangrened.

It is said that perfect is the enemy of good. In that spirit, better now with some mess than never while dreaming of something better.

Agreed. No quarrel with that.

The shock cost to the economy cannot be brushed under the carpet, but the recurring gains to India in terms of a one time cleanup of the system, bank recapitalization, and annual increases in tax payer base along with a big boost to the cashless economy cannot be brushed aside either.

There is some major misunderstanding here.

I am suggesting that the same thing, done with better implementation and greater understanding of the hardship that poor people go through, would have been great.

If the BJP even now delivers on a few more things by 2019 like
- GST,
- Labour Law reforms
- Industrial law reforms and
- Stamp duty reduction/removal along with lower capital gains tax rate.

They would have done absolute wonders...and they would certainly have my vote.

My fear is that the BJP, per se, is incapable of doing so; they have no administrative experience. Look at the bungling of the present ministry; about the only performers are Suresh Prabhu and Piyush Goel.

It's Modi you want to vote for.

 

[Dash]

I am suggesting that the same thing, done with better implementation and greater understanding of the hardship that poor people go through, would have been great.

everyone is suggesting and parroting this word "better implementation" but no one has come out with what would have been a better way and why that way would have been more effective.

A detailed analysis of pros and cons of both of the way will be in public interest. You as a person can shed some light.

 

[Deadpool]

BJP will win 2019, mark my words, key for them being the electorate. Most of our young who gets to vote for the first time are educated and don't see a 1000 rupee note dangled infront of them as an incentive to change their voting outlook. They may take it for spite, thats for sure but. Modi won 2014 elections because he played to these youngsters aspirations. With these actions you can be certain, he will further consolidate his votes. He is lucky that the present electorate is patient enough to support him during the tough phase even if it is mildly inconvenient in the short term.

I doubt that they will win for a variety of reasons. The electorate has been remarkably patient. We would perhaps become the only country in the world to go through demonetization without panic and riots on the streets or people losing faith on the currency and the currency collapsing.

However, the patience is waning thin. The constant change of rules is giving the people a sense that the Govt. is clueless. If this lack of cash is not sorted out by starting of January, people will change from being supporters to being against the move.

And if it turns out on Jan 1, that the move did not get hoards of black money out for the Govt, it will end badly for BJP.

Also, the opposition is now going to play hardball. They are stalling GST. Similarly they will stall other reforms in the pipeline just so that BJP appears ineffectual.

And if jobs don't pick up dramatically which seems hard now as economy will have subdued growth because of this demonetization for atleast 6 months to 1 year, then people will go against what they expected from Modi.

And oh, I am not a Bhakt before someone take my opinion to a naught.

Even Bhakts are humans and even Bhakts get to vote. So whether or not you're a bhakt is irrelevant as long as you can discuss things rationally.

I dislike the elitism that people display when labeling anyone as 'bhakt' as though they are not worthy to be seen as human beings. Pretty same for how people are labeled as 'sickulars' as though the word implies 'traitor'.