There is one story that does the rounds in north block. Mr. P Chitambaram was listening to ideas from left party MPs when one of the MPs asked," Mr. Minister, Are you going to tax rich farmers? Please start it from this budget onwards." Mr. P. Chitambaram gave him a smile and asked,"How long left party has been ruling in West Bengal?" The MP replied,"It has been quite a long time." Mr. P. Chitambaram said,"Please lead the way from West Bengal and whole India will follow sooner or later."
Yes, double speak comes to my mind when I think about left parties. These sixty men have virtually blocked every right movement of the government. It is really sad for India Inc. when it badly needs second generation of reforms. I don't know why these men are so much afraid of job losses. The labour reforms is need of the hour and it must be startedsooner rather than later. The same goes with consolidation of banks, the same resistance when the government decides to offload its stakes in a PSU...What the government should do?
India is not a political laboratory where these left parties want to try those experiments which have failed almost in every country. The government is not meant to do business, the government is meant to manage the business as a regulator. In my opinion, if a sector has strong government companies, the private or public companies in those sectors suffer due to undue preferences to government companies and it goes without saying. (There is another debate going on that why only retired Indian officers should manage all the regulatory bodies...It is a very valid point.)
I don't understand why left parties are so much averse to reforms. If they really mean what they say, why West Bengal chief Minister is visiting foreign countries to bring FDI in West Bengal. Has West Bengal been so sick that it can't be cured without bringing FDI and left party support it because they are wholly responsible to de-industralize West Bengal? Why only West Bengal needs FDI and why not 28 other states of India?
I never heard left parties trying to bring nation's attention to other neglected areas like, health sector reforms. These left parties never have inclination nor the time to work on these issues. India is a country where some district headquarters doesn't have a full fledged hospital even after 60 years of independence. Can Left parties make a 5 year raodmap to achieve this goal and publish it in public domain.
India Inc. is receiving attention from the whole world and everybody wants to do business here. This year onwards, emerging economies (India is a part of it) are producing more than half the world's GDP. It is a very significant shift ( Earlier in 1820s, India and China were responsible for producing over 80% of world's GDP). India Inc. must take every right step to grab this opportunity with both hands. I have no doubts in able leadership of Dr. Singh. India should start second set of reforms and march its way to become global leader in manufacturing and consolidate its number position in IT and ITES sector (The 11th plan proposes to open 30 IIITs to address the gap in supply-demand of software professionals which is a very welcome step).
Lets hope the left allows Dr. Manmohan Singh(India Inc.) to do what it allows Mr. Budhdhadev Bhattacharya (West Bengal) to do. The left party must not hold India Inc. hostage because of the number games in Indian parliament and always remember that history will not leave any stone unturned to eliminate "left" from the political arena if India Inc. misses this golden opportunity now.
