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Journalism of Courage
There8217;s a well-established process in Indian policymaking in which procedural controversies stall or even kill reform. The controversy over airport modernisation is at an early-middle stage of this process. MPs are raising objections over alleged conflicts of interest and questioning the competence of some of the bidders. The doubters are not uninfluenced by politics8212;some are being oppositional because they are in the Opposition, some are critical because they dislike private participation, even at a 49 per cent equity ceiling, in principle. The civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, did try to answer his parliamentary critics. But, going by past experience, only ministerial rebuttals may not be enough. Atal Bihari Vajpayee often intervened to rescue a policy. Manmohan Singh should do the same with airport modernisation.
The prime minister should step in to explain and clarify. He should then throw the weight of his office behind the policy. He has the advantage now of Left leaders like Prakash Karat saying a few sensible things on airport modernisation. Politically, therefore, it is crucial that Manmohan Singh raises the level of the debate, from name calling to reminding everyone how dangerously expensive a further policy delay would be. That would mean arguing firmly against another bidding process. Such an option is called for only in cases of proven, glaring wrongdoing. Not even the protesting MPs have gone anywhere close to saying that.
