Learning from Modi and Raje

The PM, instead of asking the two sides to amicably settle the dispute, is reported to have told them, that the decision on Hogenakkal project was taken during the NDA, 8220;as if it was a mistake8221;, says the editorial. Similar disputes are vitiating the relationship between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the Mullapariyar dam water for over a year now. The riparian states can learn some valuable lessons from the example set by leaders like Modi and Raje, according to the Organiser.

Mismanaging managers

Slamming finance minister P Chidambaram and the 8220;IMF-trained team8221; for their failure to anticipate inflationary pressure on the economy and address it in time, R Balashankar in an article in the current issue of the Organiser says that the FM owes an explanation to the country on this count.

India is keeping huge dollar stocks to keep the dollar high and the rupee low. A strong rupee would have benefited the consumer but the government is not willing to do that, says the article. There are clear indications of complete mismanagement of the economy by the present regime 8212; that caused inflation.

Pooh-poohing the Congress for attributing inflation to a global phenomenon, Balashankar points out that it was Indira Gandhi in the early 8216;70s who advanced the global phenomenon plea to explain price rise. But the Congress8217; latest take 8212; urging the opposition not to politicise economic issues 8212; is 8220;hilarious8221;. In an election year, this is the 8220;supreme sacrifice8221;, the Congress can ask of the Opposition.

The article further says that economic statesmanship is 8220;sadly absent8221; in this government. The art of policy-making is to find that set of policies, which are economically, politically, socially, and culturally feasible. All the UPA8217;s policies to fight inflation have been aimed at reducing the rate of inflation from what they would otherwise be. Such efforts are likely to have at best only 8220;temporary and superficial8221; success.

Bhutia8217;s golden goal

Complimenting Indian Football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia for refusing to carry the Olympic torch through Delhi, an article says that he scored a 8220;golden goal8221; for all freedom loving people of the world and done India proud. To argue against mixing politics with sports is 8220;sheer nonsense8221;. Beijing wants to make a political statement by successfully holding the games, says the article.

It condemns the UPA government8217;s handling of the Tibet issue terming it as 8220;a sad tale of political mistakes, tactical errors and communist betrayals8221;. Communist parties have all along played a pro-Beijing role and they are unmoved by the atrocities committed by communist rulers of Beijing, says the article.

The CPM has cautioned New Delhi to keep in mind that any help to Tibetan freedom fighters may provoke Beijing to take a similar stand on J038;K and the northeast. The article says the communists have 8220;conveniently8221; forgotten that it was China that nourished insurgency in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur by arming and training secessionists in China and Tibet. They refuse to accept that China is in illegal occupation of a large portion of Indian territory. 8220;For them communists these are disputed areas. Can anyone be less patriotic?8221; says the article.