P Chidambaram
P Chidambaram is former Finance minister of India.
Articles By P Chidambaram
Across the Aisle: The day of reckoning
The sensible course for the government and the RBI is to put aside the issue of reserves and focus on the immediate concerns.
Across the Aisle: Those who are left behind
As long as Sardar Patel lived, he did not forgive the fanatics who killed Mahatma Gandhi (as Home Minister he had banned the RSS for 17 months), but both the RSS and the BJP have found it expedient to forget that chapter of history.
Across the Aisle: Power lies in non-use
The government’s initial concern was only about interest rates but, on that issue, Dr Urjit Patel was on a strong wicket — he had the support of the Monetary Policy Committee. Soon, the government realised that interest rate was not the only ‘hurdle to growth’; other fault lines had emerged
Across the Aisle: Things fall apart; the Centre cannot hold
There is an old saying ‘Misfortunes don’t come singly’. It seems that the gods are not smiling on the Indian economy.
We have failed our children
While ‘Right to Education’ vastly expanded enrolment of children, not enough attention was paid to the quality of the schools, the teachers and the instruction.
Across the aisle: In J&K, the road to disaster
J&K is polarised as never before. Jammu is at odds with the Kashmir Valley, Leh leans towards Jammu and Kargil leans towards the Valley, but both Leh and Kargil also assert their identities.
Across the aisle: She wanted reasons, here are 10
Was the Defence Minister telling the truth when she said that she was not aware if Dassault had chosen a private sector company as the offset partner?
Across the Aisle: Good Aadhaar, Bad Aadhaar
The NDA tried to sell the false notion that if a person could not identify himself the person would not have an identity.
Five steps to Nirvana
External events are impacting the Indian economy. The government is unwilling to alter or calibrate its positions on the projected growth rate, government expenditure, NPA resolution, and tax enforcement. The government seems to believe that it can tide over the crisis by further muddying the muddied waters!
A big ask in election year
The consequence is that the government revenue has become oil-dependent, government is loath to give up easy revenues, and there is mounting anger among the people as prices of petrol, diesel and LPG soar every day.
Across the Aisle: Black to white magic
RBI had done no study or preparatory work; yet the Central Board of RBI hurriedly met on November 8, without an agenda and without a background note, and dutifully “recommended” that the notes may be declared no longer legal tender.
Across the Aisle: Jobs- The make or break issue
The reality is that a loan of Rs 47,268 is not sufficient to create a job. That amount may be enough to buy some tools or furniture or install an air conditioner or a refrigerator. It may be used as additional working capital. By no stretch of imagination will Rs 47,268 create an additional job.
Across the Aisle: Emulate, do not envy
The first year was promising and the second year too started well. The first major blunder was demonetisation on November 8, 2016. This was followed by other blunders — flawed and hurried implementation of GST and tax terrorism.
Across the aisle: Mr A B Vajpayee, RIP
To most of his party colleagues and the RSS, he was the right man to lead the ‘right’ party. To many belonging to other parties, he was the right man in the wrong party!
First anarchy, now autarky
Autarky will never be dead and buried six fathoms deep. It has a way of rearing its head from time to time, and that is what seems to be happening now under the BJP-led NDA government.
Across the aisle: Engaging with Mr Imran Khan
Mr Imran Khan has said that if India will take one step forward, he will be prepared to take two steps forward. That may simply be posturing on the eve of being sworn in as Prime Minister, but nothing will be lost if we take Mr Khan at his word and appeal to him to deliver on his words
Across the Aisle: Debate, questions, but no answers
The no-confidence motion was lost, so was an opportunity to answer the questions of the people.
Across the aisle: France wins honours, Croatia wins hearts
Can small countries match big countries? They cannot ever in land area or population or military power, but they can in other parameters that actually matter to the people.
Across the aisle: BJP renders aid and advice to LG!
Both Najeeb Jung and Anil Baijal knew exactly what they were doing as Delhi L-G , yet if they did act in a peculiar manner, it was not because of ignorance but because of subservience.
Su-raj (good governance) and Ms Swaraj
During the last four years, mobs of both kinds — the one, on the ground, and the other, in the virtual world, have grown in number and size.
