Elections are due in seven months and Sonia Gandhi, who is widely seen as the country’s most powerful politician, wanted to ensure that her government spreads a strong message that they believe in parity uniform welfare.
Regardless of a niggling opposition, the UPA government successfully discussed, debated and passed two landmark bills in a week in lower house of Parliament. One bill gives right to poor Indians to get food grain at minimal prices and the other bill seeks to provide just and fair compensation to farmers, while ensuring that no land can be acquired forcibly.
In spite of having opponents for both the bills, they were debated and passed with enough numbers required. Instead lawmakers from various states were seen asking for more food grains at lower prices for the poor.
The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party reiterated as to what the bill would cost to the country, but it did not had the courage to oppose it as it would have put on stake a major chunk of votes, just seven months ahead of general elections.
Despite claims that the Food Bill will actually cost very little extra to India, the truth is it will prove to be a big blow to the country’s economy by raising the grant bill and making it difficult for the government to contain fiscal deficit. It will also become a major source of graft.
On the other hand, the land acquisition bill fits in with Sonia’s welfare vision. In the last two decades of capitalism, thousands of hectares of land has been taken over by mining, industry, and real estate barons. This was a good step towards growth, but proved catastrophic for the farmers.
The speed at which India is growing, it would require more land for setting up of industries and plants for development. And this new law ensures that those who have to give away their lands are not betrayed in the process. However, experts say this will lessen acquisition and increase the cost of doing business in India. This would open doors for corruption among land buyers.
Elections are due in seven months and Sonia Gandhi, who is widely seen as the country’s most powerful politician, wanted to ensure that her government spreads a strong message that they believe in parity uniform welfare.
Then there is lot more happening in BJP. It bluffs that they have a suitable leader for the country in the face of Narendra Modi, but they cannot get themselves to declare him as the prime ministerial candidate because as expected there are many other prime ministers-in-waiting in the party.
The Congress is playing its aam aadmi card, backed with empowering laws. But what efforts are BJP making before elections? Instead of taking steps towards the development of the country, the party has appointed Amit Shah as in-charge of party affairs in Uttar Pradesh. Shah is a politician from Gujarat, who is out on bail in a fake encounter case. Is this the plan BJP is making? Is this how they plan to woo voters?
