Economics Vs. Politics: Didi's Way

It’s again Politics versus Economics. Experts would call it ‘bad politics, good economics’ but there is a huge mass, known as the backbone of Indian democracy will cheer the decision of Mamata Banerjee- to pull out from UPA II on Friday, if her demands of diesel price & LPG price rollback is not met. Manmohan Singh government has to say ‘No’ to FDI in multi-brand retail! Mamata loves to portray herself as a ‘messiah of the poor’ and her line of action in withdrawing support from UPA II is completely in sync with her image. But at the same time Mamata is a shrewd politician, she knows her arithmetic well. So she has deliberately kept an `escape route’ till Friday. What could be the possible calculation for this? Mamata clearly knows where she is standing and making this gesture at this point in time will make congress panicky & will increase her value in the national politics! Congress will try to reach to her through a heavyweight leader, and even if there is a tiny rollback on increased prices, she would agree to stay back in the UPA II, may be by providing with outside support only. At present, she wants to buy time only. Two messages emerge out of this. If there is a Mid Term poll, Trinamool Congress will come with more strength. Though, in West Bengal her government is facing major criticism for various reasons, but those `anger’ is not enough for the Left to regain their previous status. Going to Loksabha poll in early 2013 means, TMC will call the shots to a large extent in the centre! She wants to make her presence felt in the centre. If Mamata comes out of UPA II, how could Congress continue in state assembly? This is also a question of ego. Congress, in past few months, too have threatened to withdraw support from the government, she didn’t bother to care as TMC on its own have 2/3rd majority! This is a message for Left as well. Left is again trying to reconnect with the poor by going to the roots. Mamata hampers their plan in a small way by this gesture. UPA II, which could be nicknamed as ‘SCAMmohan Singh Government’ is in trouble for various corruptions. The scams are coming out like gushing soda. Finding the opportune moment, big, small, tiny allies are playing their cards which make Congress blink first! It is said, economics always takes a backseat in political crisis. Reform is best option in single party rule, not an ideal one for coalition government. Seeing Mamata’s gesture, Lalu, Nitish, Thackerays all have congratulated her and extended a warm hand. Three-day is a big time in Indian politics. Let see who emerges as the winner, Manmohan Singh, the Finance Minister, 1991 or the Manhmohan Singh, the Prime Minister in this Great Indian Tamasha!

Regulatory Scenario of Foreign Direct Investment in India

14th September, 2012 is historic in a sense. After the watershed year of 1991, India has not seen such a ‘reformation bonanza!’ Amongst widespread protest, UPA II government has nodded 51% FDI in multi-brand retailing, 49% in aviation & 74% in DTH. India is now a preferred destination for investment for its political stability, natural resources, and a large number of English speaking populations, well-regulated financial markets, tested legal systems and above all an investor-friendly attitude of the government. Some statistics might help in understanding the same. Cumulative amount of foreign direct investment (“FDI”) inflows into India from 2000-2012 is US$ 243,055 [Source: Fact Sheet on FDI, Aug. 1991 – Jan 2012 of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (“DIPP”)] Investors are attracted towards India because it has the largest democracy in the world along with skilled & competitive labour market & liberalised foreign investment regime. Coupled with large domestic market & highest return on investment, it has become the second largest emerging market of the world. Countries like the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Singapore, Mauritius, France and others did not waste much time to grab the opportunity to tap the potential market in India. As there were (are) several sectoral caps in FDI, most of the initial investment was in the form of Joint Ventures (“JV”).With regular changes in FDI norms, the nature of investment too has witnessed a change. There are some advantages as well as disadvantages of FDI. Infrastructure & technology transfer, increased productive efficiency due to competition from MNC subsidiaries, faster growth of output & employment, threefold consumer benefits (price, quality, and varieties), increasing export, investments & savings are some of the advantages. On the other hand the disadvantages are dominance of industrial sector in domestic market, dependence on foreign technology sources, disturbances of domestic economic plans in favour of FDI-directed activities, cultural change by means of ‘ethnocentric staffing’ (infusion of foreign culture & business practices). Foreign investments in India can be made through five channels, namely: i) Foreign Direct Investment ii) Foreign Portfolio Investment iii) Foreign Venture Capital Investment iv) Other Investments (G-SEC, NCDs etc.) v) Investments on non- repatriable basis Different modes, through which FDI in India can be made, are • By direction (Inward & Outward) • By target( M&A, Horizontal FDI, Backward & Forward Vertical FDI) • By motive (resource-seeking, strategic asset-seeking, market-seeking & efficiency-seeking) India has its own distinct policy for promoting foreign investment in the country. As on date, there are some regulatory hurdles for insurance & multi brand retail segments, as there is no consensus of allowing FDI in these sectors. This seems to have given a wrong message to investors from USA, as American President Barack Obama had commented on 15th July, 2012, “They (US business community) tell us it is still too hard to invest in India. In too many sectors, such as retail, India limits or prohibits the foreign investment that is necessary to create jobs in both our countries… there appears to be a growing consensus in India that the time may be right for another wave of economic reforms…” Indian Commerce Minister, Anand Sharma has reassured that the ‘foreign investment environment is conducive. As a result of assurance, FDI in Multi brand retail has been approved by CCEA on 14th September, Friday, 2012. So far, it could not be implemented due to wide political protests, although the Government has allowed it up to 51% under approval route ('Circular 2 of 2011- Consolidated FDI Policy', dated 30.09.2011, issued by the DIPP) almost a year ago. There is immense fear among the small traders & farmers, that once these giants with ‘big discounts’ flooded Indian market, they would lose their livelihood & most of the political parties, both national & regional are supporting their concerns. India has already revised its earlier stand on single brand retail trading. By issuing press note PN- 1/2012 (10th January, 2012), the Government of India has reviewed the extant policy on FDI and decided that up to 100% FDI, under the government approval route, would be permitted in Single-Brand Product Retail Trading, subject to specified conditions. IKEA, world’s largest furniture manufacturer is coming to India with a promise of investments worth 1.5 billion Euros (R10, 500 crore) in two stages via its Indian subsidiary. The company will invest 600 million Euros (around R4, 200 crore) in the first stage and an additional estimated FDI of up to 900 million Euros (around R6, 300 crore). These conditions are as follows: FDI in Single Brand product retail trading would be subject to the following conditions as prescribed in the Master Circular of April, 2012: (a) Products to be sold should be of a ‘Single Brand’ only (b) Products should be sold under the same brand across the world (c) ‘Single Brand’ product-retail trading would cover only products which are branded during manufacturing. (d) The foreign investor should be the owner of the brand (e) In respect of proposals involving FDI beyond 51%, mandatory sourcing of at least 30% of the value of products sold would have to be done from Indian small industries/ village and cottage industries, artisans and craftsmen. This 30% clause, however, has been opposed by several foreign retailers. The government is also considering allowing the foreign companies to undertake local sourcing through a separate entity from that of the retailing venture. As per the present government norms, both the activities have to be undertaken by the same entity. As soon as notification has been made by the Central Government in single brand retail trade, IKEA didn’t waste any time to investment. Now, IKEA has demanded certain ‘favours’ from the Indian government: • It wants India to tweak a clause that will require it to source 30% of the value of goods sold in India from domestic small industries whose investment do not exceed Rs 5.5 crore. • Local firms, which will supply its inventory, should continue to qualify as small industries even if their investments exceed Rs 5.5 crore after their association with the Swedish giant. • It also wants the compliance of the mandatory 30% sourcing condition to be calculated over a cumulative period of 10 years and not annually. • The export value of materials sourced from Indian MSMEs should be included. In simpler terms, this means IKEA can source raw materials from domestic MSMEs but export it to other markets. However, as of now no changes in the single-brand retail policy has been implemented. DIPP has referred the IKEA demands before FIPB. The DIPP will take a decision on any change only after receiving the views of the FIPB. Very recently, the Commerce Minister of India has said that, the process of reconstructing the definition of small and medium enterprises is underway, in order to help the foreign retailers meet the MSME criteria. After much deliberation, IKEA has agreed to comply with India's local sourcing conditions by the seventh year of its operations and has said that it is willing to sell food items under the eponymous brand at its stores. However, there are some issues between the Swedish company's plans and the current government policy, which need to be sorted out before the final nod from the government. However, not all foreign investments meet with such regulatory hurdles. For instance, the Reliance Industries Ltd. - British Petroleum joint venture, which is the biggest FDI in India ever. But on the other hand, the Cairn-Vedanta deal had a long story of facing various legal barriers before it commenced business in India. RIL-BP Deal A 50:50 joint venture formed by the RIL-BP for sourcing and marketing gas in India, taking the overall investment in the partnership to $20 billion or Rs 90,000 crore. BP is taking a 30% stake in 23 RIL-operated PSCs in India, including the offshore producing KG D6 block. This is the single-largest FDI flow into India ever and a multi-year commitment. Valuation was justified with analysts having valued RIL’s upstream business at around $30 billion implying $9 billion for a 30% stake. Cairn-Vedanta Deal Vedanta Resources wanted to buy a 51% controlling stake in Cairn India for $9.6 billion. Vedanta Resources was in talks with Cairn Energy, which had a 62.4% stake in Cairn India, to buy a controlling stake in the unit in August, 2010. The deal was done in 2010 but got stuck due to ONGC and Government of India. ONGC and Cairn India had started oil drilling operation in Rajasthan under a Joint Venture. Cairn owned 70% and ONGC 30%. So Cairn had sought an NOC (No objection certificate) from ONGC for this deal with Vedanta, which was denied by ONGC by using the Right of First Refusal or Preemptive Rights as per Companies Act, 1956.But, ONGC did not provide that at the first go citing the issue of royalty for Rajasthan Block, which was supported by government of India, as ONGC wanted to buy the controlling stake. In 2011, the petroleum ministry gave “in-principle” approval for Vedanta Resources’ $9.6 billion acquisition of Cairn India with a set of 11 preconditions. Despite Cairn India's reservations, its current and future promoters -- Cairn Energy and Vedanta, respectively -- accepted the government conditions, following which ONGC waived its preemption rights over the deal. Vedanta Group now holds 60 per cent in Cairn India, while Cairn Energy retains about 22 per cent. The Supreme Court in July, 2012 said, it will be difficult to reverse the deal. Both the deals are valuable examples of the legal issues one might face while doing business in India and an in-depth look at the cases brings to light a substantial number of nitty-gritty’s existing in the current business environment. Both Cairn-Vedanta and RIL-BP are equity-based partnerships. Unlike RIL-BP deal, Vedanta-Cairn stake sale faced a number of regulatory hurdles as the issue of controlling stake was involved. Because of this very issue of controlling stake, the issue of national interest had been raised by the parties as well. According to the SSPA (Share Sale & Purchasing Agreement), an acquisition in this case does not need any approval per se. The acquired entity maintains its individuality. But, once a company wants to buy out more than 50% of the equity stake in the target company, it involves a change in the management and control of the company. In the Cairn-Vedanta case, this was exactly the situation. Vedanta wanted 51% controlling stake in Cairn India where the change of management would be inevitable. Initially Cairn had claimed that its deal with Vedanta was a corporate transaction and not a transfer of stake and hence did not require the permission of the GOI. Subsequently it agreed, albeit reluctantly to the government clauses. Analysts are of the view that the two deals (RIL-BP and Cairn-Vedanta) were completely different. In the RIL deal, the Indian company was selling a significant minority stake; Reliance would remain in charge of operations and retain a majority stake. On the other hand, the Cairn-Vedanta deal involved a transfer of ownership. Besides, the Cairn-Vedanta US$ 9.6 bn deal was a transaction between two London-listed companies and the money would not come into India. The RIL-BP deal, in contrast, is the single-largest FDI in India. Also, the non-existence of a party like ONGC in the deal is another positive sign for the RIL-BP stake transfer. Foreign companies come to India as an incorporated entity by floating a company under the Companies Act, 1956 through JVs or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries. According to the existing norms, more than 49% investment by a foreign company needs prior approval of FIPB. But RIL-BP deal does not need any clearance as only 30% stake is being sold to BP and hence no change in management is expected. Aviation too was a highly debated sector regarding the inflow of foreign money. India allowed 49% FDI by foreign investors i.e. foreign airlines can buy stake in local carriers. Till September 13, 2012 foreign airlines are barred from buying stakes in domestic carriers. Why FDI is so important? FDI refers to capital inflows from abroad that are invested by the foreign entities in a domestic economy to enhance the production capacity of the economy. Presently there are two entry routes to invest in India. Those are:- • Automatic Route • Approval Route/Government Route There are four slabs of FDI ranging from 100% to a complete bar in certain sectors. The slabs are 100%, 74%, 51% & 49%. Some sectors are there where no FDI is allowed. Automatic Route Under automatic route, to invest in India, does not require any prior approval either by the Government or RBI. The only requirement is to notify the Regional office of RBI within 30 days of receipt of inward remittance and file the required documents with the office concerned within 30 days of issue of shares to foreign investors. The conditions are, • The company has complied with the procedure for the issue of shares as laid down under the FDI scheme as indicated in the Notification No. FEMA 20/2000-RB or its subsequent amendments • The proposal is within the sectoral cap Approval Route In many cases, foreign investors need consent from Government of India prior to investments. It is known as approval route. The FDI, which doesn’t come under the automatic route, requires following this step. Such proposals are considered by the FIPB. Government approval is required in the following cases: • In sectors with caps, including inter-alia defence production, air transport services, ground handling services, asset reconstruction companies, private sector banking, broadcasting, commodity exchanges, credit information companies, insurance, print media, telecommunications and satellites, Government approval / FIPB approval would be required in all cases where: • When an Indian company is being established with foreign investment and is owned or/and controlled by a non-resident entity or • When the control or ownership of an existing Indian company, currently owned or controlled by resident Indian citizens and Indian companies, is being transferred to a non-resident entity as a consequence of transfer of shares and/or fresh issue of shares. Other than automatic & approval routes, the foreign investments can also come to India in various other ways, like: i) Acquisition of shares route (since 1996) Under the Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) Scheme, investments can be made in shares, mandatorily and fully convertible debentures and mandatorily and fully convertible preference shares of an Indian company by non-residents through Automatic & Approval routes. ii) RBI’s non-resident Indian (NRI’s) scheme There are several schemes for the NRIs to invest in India. NRI and erstwhile OCBs may transfer by way of sale or gift the shares or convertible debentures held by him or it to another NRI. A person resident outside India can transfer any security to a person resident in India by way of gift. Person resident outside India can transfer shares / convertible debentures, by way of sale under private arrangement to a person resident in India. A person resident in India can transfer by way of sale, shares of an Indian company in sectors other than financial service sector (Banks, NBFC, Insurance, ARC,) under private arrangement to a person resident outside India iii) External Commercial Borrowings (ADR/GDR) route Indian companies have been granted general permission for conversion of External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) into shares / convertible debentures, subject to the following conditions and reporting requirements: (RBI Master Circular). Indian companies can issue equity shares, fully, compulsorily and mandatorily convertible debentures and fully, compulsorily and mandatorily convertible preference shares subject to pricing guidelines/valuation norms prescribed under FEMA Regulations. In this regard, a limited two-way Fungibility scheme has been put in place by the Government of India for ADRs / GDRs. Under this Scheme, a stock broker in India, registered with SEBI, can purchase shares of an Indian company from the market for conversion into ADRs/GDRs. Two-way fungibility implies that an investor who holds ADRs/GDRs can cancel them with the depository and sell the underlying shares in the market. The company can then issue fresh ADRs to the extent of shares cancelled. An Indian company can also sponsor an issue of ADR / GDR. The relationship between FII and FDI is intertwined. Number of reforms was initiated in the end of 1990s to attract FDI. FDI is also allowed through FII’s by way of private equity, preferential allotment, joint ventures and capital market operations. However, there are some sectors where FDI is completely prohibited both via automatic route or approval route, primarily from the perspective of national Security concerns & Consumer/industry interests. (a) Lottery Business including Government /private lottery, online lotteries, etc. (b) Gambling and Betting including casinos etc. (c) Chit funds (d) Nidhi company (e) Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) (f) Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses (g) Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes (h) Activities / sectors not open to private sector investment e.g. Atomic Energy and Railway Transport (other than Mass Rapid Transport Systems). (i) Foreign technology collaboration in any form including licensing for franchise, trademark, brand name, management contract is also prohibited for Lottery Business and Gambling and Betting activities. Though there are some complaints against India’s FDI policy, the government has been continuously trying to make it more flexible and investment-friendly. By relaxing certain policies, India has successfully attracted foreign investments in 2011-12, as compared to the previous year. It is believed that the recent decline was temporary. Courtesy: • The Economic Times • The Hindu Business Line • The Business Standard • The Mint • Website of DIPP (Consolidate FDI Policy, 2012, Press Notes, FDI sector wise chart) • Website of RBI • Website of RIL • Website of BP • Website of Cairn India • Website of Vedanta Resource • Website of ONGC • Website of IKEA • Slideshare • http://www.unctad-docs.org/files/UNCTAD-WIR2012-Full-en.pdf • http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GCR_Report_2011-12.pdf

Chronicle of a ‘Reluctant’ TTA

In last few days I have received two phone calls & an e-mail from the prospective TTAs of IIM Calcutta. The query was how to prepare for the GD-PI & what is the job profile of a TTA? Now at the very outset I want to clarify that I was a ‘reluctant’ trainee teaching associate, so my views might not reflect the approach of a ‘serious’ & ‘committed’ person. Now, if your employers know that you are not involved enough in the assigned work(s), it is their duty to wring out from you. It wasn’t any exception for me as well. As the days went by, subjects kept piling on me, sometimes five subjects in a single term of three months, attending each of the classes (sometimes from 8.30am in the morning to 7.15 pm in the evening) earned me a tag of ‘reluctant TTA’. Habitually, I am a friendly person. So I made friend with many of the students. That was actually a potential danger. It could lead you to a huge trouble. Complaints may be raised against you for being ‘close’ to the students! And now, the most essential part of the story. TTAs need to work with one-to-one basis with several faculties. You have to act according to their professional necessities. If there is any friction, you might have to face the consequences. I acquired a name of ‘two sides of a same coin’ as I was not able to meet up the expectation of a certain faculty. It was clearly told that the subject TTA had stopped the students from attending a class of a certain subject. His argument was well accepted & naturally enough, no one was bothered to check the attendance sheet of that day! Had they checked, they would have found actually how many students didn’t attend the class that very day! Anyways these are small incidents which are common to all work places & please keep in mind this was an experience of a reluctant TTA. TTAs, those who are serious, committed, sincere, they never ever had faced this. Deserving TTAs always get their dues & for that you just need to ‘perform’. Actually the job is a total fun. I, being ‘reluctant’ & ‘insincere’ was not able to accrue advantage of being a TTA. But there is immense scope, if you really want to use the opportunity of being a part of this august institution! The first thing is learning. Both in & outside the classroom, there are ample opportunities to learn new things. New subjects, known subjects in a different perspective, developing cases would give you an immense pleasure. It is really fun to see how some of the students go to ‘transcendental meditation’ mode as soon as the class starts. You would find how engaging the lectures could be, it would definitely force you to question so many things! These are inside picture of a classroom. Outside learning could be of many kinds, from good to bad to ugly! The next big thing is the evaluation of answer-scripts sometimes with the answer key and sometimes not. I was among those fortunate people who never ever got an answer key from any faculty, in place I had to solve the answers first to prove my knowledge & competency to check the copies. Don’t worry, these were treatment for a ‘reluctant’ TTA, serious people always get the key (to success). Once the copies are displayed, flock of students would come to request you marks by 0.25 to 0.75 for go to the next grade! This is the biggest challenge I always faced. They bombard you with questions … Now the most crucial part, you have to work with atleast 3 faculties at a time. In my case it was never a less than 7 in each of the trimesters. Now, those who are serious & committed would get a chance of gaining indirect experience of various fields from them. Believe me or not, this rapport is essential in some cases. But keep it mind this is from a ‘reluctant’ person, who was reluctant in this too. After working with some of the faculties, I bet, you would have the feeling ‘what a class!! You won’t even realise that 90 minutes have already gone past!!’ If you wish you can have a baby nap in the class, yes, in normal term, this must not be done in the classroom, but TTAs who had slept/missed the class was never tagged as ‘reluctant’. You must not acquire that tag by keeping your eyes wide open! I used to enjoy interaction with the students. This depends on your nature. You might like it, might not. Actually TTAs are thought to be a bridge between the admin & faculty & students & faculty! One of the most enriching experiences is Institute lecture series. Luminaries from different field come to the institute & share their experiences. It was a great learning. Canteens are spreading across the campus. Some coffee shops too are there. Eat well to run fast. (Sometimes faculty sits so far away from TTA block, that additional calorie is required to take that journey ). Many times you might have to miss your food for pending works, though this is true for a reluctant TTA, not for serious persons. I consider the campus as the most beautiful place. It has a magic in it, so even after I left, I keep going back to there. With seven lakes and caring trees with blooming beauties of known-unknown flowers, you would feel it as a different world. Howrah Bridge toward the Faculty block & Hooghly Bridge towards the newest hostels would definitively give you a feeling of your small world in a single place! I was (am) so deeply in love with the campus that I become a photographer!! I never clicked photos before I came here, now people call me a good photographer! So, not to worry! Step in and be ready to make your own journey! In times to come you will surely discover ‘everything is relative’ here!! I can guarantee, this is going to be one of the most enriching experiences of your life, even if you belong to ‘reluctant’ block! PS: I am dedicating this piece to one of the faculty I have worked with consecutively for five terms. I owe many things to that person.

Didi o Didi... !!

‘Fall of Bastille’ took place on 13th May, 2011. No, I am not referring to the French Revolution which is still the ‘ most significant turn’ in world History, but I am talking about ‘Jasmine Revolution’ as told by many in Bengal led by firebrand Mamataa (this is her new spelling, may be for certain Numerological purpose) Banerjee. With the change of guard in West Bengal after 34-year, many people have believed now they can see the ‘change’ (in Bengali Paribartan).
Mamata led government is only 11-month old, and by this time as expected she is redefining the terminology of ‘democratic autocracy’. You may question, why I am taking the word ‘autocracy’, it is simply because her party is ‘one man army.’ Whatever ‘Didi’ will decide that will be final, if anyone tried to modify the script the fate will be either Dinesh Trivedis or Kabir Sumans!! The only thing count in this party of ‘Maa-Mati-Manush’ is loyalty points (towards Mamata of course)!!
I am not going into any details of the governance issue. Those who can see with or without glass can easily see the ‘change’ in the real sense of the term. So, no use wasting time here. Rather I would like to like to draw attention to the embedded nature of cartoon & politics.
Kutty, R K Lakshman and many others have earned their ‘bread & better’ only through political cartoons. Right from Nehru to Indira, Sonia, Rahul, Lalu, Vajpayee, Manmohan singh, Advani, Mayawati, Jayalalitha & almost all the politicians come regularly on the cartoons. There was time politicians used to feel sad had they missed the front page of the daily on that day’s cartoon! Take for example; Lalu Prasad Yadav-he is probably the politicians who had been caricatured, cartooned maximum no. of time both in regional & print media. Critics say, he also ruled Bihar in an autocratic manner, but did he put anyone behind the bar for making his cartoons?
So, what made didi so angry? Why didn’t she tolerate this kind of simple joke? For that matter, the cartoon those who have seen is not at all abusive, it is a line from Satyajit Ray’s ‘Sonar Kella’ where it was discussed how to get rid of ‘Dushtu Lok’ ( Evil person)! In the cartoon Indian Railways have been depicted as ‘Sonar Kella’ (Golden Fort) which was shown by Mamata to Mukul (present Railways minister) & Mukul was asking about ‘Dushtu Lok’ Dinesh Trivedi who was vanished & Mukul would get it (assumed)!!
Actually, the problem is not in the cartoon, it is the problem of Narcissism. Mamata is so pompous that whoever even jokingly saying anything against her, he/she is becoming her target. She is driven by the aphorism ‘I can’t be wrong!’ But she knows she has been doing so many things which are not right, so it is actually a battle within. Thus, she has become so intolerant.
Just before West Bengal Assembly Election, city intelligentsia rallied against Left Government with the-then CM Budhhadev Bhattacharya’s pictures on hand where it was written “ I am a man-eater” ( Ami Manush Kheko)” “I have done no wrong by killing people” (Merechhi besh korechhi), “My hands are stained in blood” (Amar Duhat Rakte makha) etc, (& many of these slogans were either exaggeration or wrong), still no one was put behind the bar as our Constitution has given us the Fundamental Rights of Freedom of Speech & Expression (Artcle. 19A).
Didi, who I always believed is a very good actress on the political stage, actually is not able to act anymore. Her true self is unfolding before the people & she is losing temper every now & then. Once she was storming the police station for releasing her party goons, calling rape a ‘framed incident’, demolishing ghettos for expansion of roads and justifying her acts, painting the city blue etc. etc. She has told ‘Ganatantra (Democracy) in place of Dalatantra (Party diktat), what she is doing now? No, I am little wrong , her’s is not even party-driven, it is almost the rule of ‘Great Dictator!’
Some years back when Left went for ‘Operation Sunshine’ (driving out the hawker from pavements), she sat at Gariahat crossing to beg for them, now when she is doing the same thing, and no one is there to say anything! Before coming to power she told ‘No Mao-Fao’, now she only has instructed the joint force to continue and as a result there were some success too!! There is plenty of such kind of examples.
I believe, this toon-tamasha has actually made her scared, because she is slowly understanding her frantic remarks, eccentricity is not at all going well with the public, and this is a high time to consolidate power. And how to that? The answer is witch-hunt!!
This has to bear in mind; she is actually running a state government single handedly. 11 months is a long time in politics and naturally she has become tired. Fear, insecurity coupled with narcissism she is running the state as her household.
The cartoon is just the beginning; to cover her shortcoming and failure to deliver the election promises plethora of things are waiting for us! Indeed West Bengal now is in real danger! Didi justifies all her act through Rabindranath Tagore, I don’t know which lines will be suitable for her now. I would rather suggest her to read ‘Samanya Khati’ (Little Loss) to understand the condition of the state!
Those who are telling ‘Mamata has changed after coming to power’ they are wrong. She was never a different person, her pretensions gone well with the mass and to get rid of the Left they have voted her to the power! Now, by taking the self-destructing route, Mamata is actually making a statement for future why sometimes democracy is not very useful tool in a state like India!
Didi, this is high time to change yourself or else there will be similar war-cry for ‘Paribartan’ may be less than 5 years of time.

PS: I might be put behind the bars for this article

Ordeal of being a Woman

The opening line of the conversation was “… I strongly believe my husband is the only person who can touch me or so to say I would allow that person only for any kind of physical contact…”. The listener on the other side of the table interrupted the speaker in between, “…unless you also like the person who wants to touch you…” At that point of time the speaker said, even if that’s the case, no physical contact please!!
Dear readers don’t draw your conclusion at once; kindly bear with me for some more time.
The conversation was between a senior colleague and a junior one. The junior colleague had been ‘harassed’ by one of her senior colleagues & to get the right direction she stated the whole thing to another of her senior colleagues who happened to be a male. The explanation by the male colleague was “it is rampant in work place, many of the employees might approve of this situation… avoid that person at your best and what I believe you must have misunderstood him.” Naturally, that girl didn’t get any justice in this issue and had to settle everything ‘amicably’ and forced to believe “it was just a touch for consolation, no other intention was there”.
The second incident is followed by this one. Within few months, that junior colleague’s character has been questioned, morality was raped and expectedly she had not been given any chance to defend her. And who was responsible for this, no one but that senior colleague who knew the previous incident. Just for his own benefit he didn’t waste to take the route of character assassination. The girl didn’t continue there as she was mentally destroyed & was tired fighting a lone battle.
The essential lessons from these are, girls are always vulnerable & targeted.
Now we are shedding tears for baby Afreen and want to give the cruelest punishment to her father, who didn’t even deserve to be called a ‘human being’, but unfortunately in every parts of this country, be it rural or urban, this is a regular phenomenon, most of the stories are buried deep under.
In name of honour killing, innocent girls are killed mercilessly. Khap Panchayats are giving the verdict in this regard and without a word of protest rest of the people are accepting and following their dictum. Less we talk about infanticide, better for India as well as Bharat which boasts of being a super power!
Girls are not safe any where, be it home, on street, work place; name it you will get several examples to justify your points. At home she gets abused in various ways; many times she has to accept ‘being a girl is a sin’. On street, some jobless youth and some frustrated men want to fulfill their sexual strive by eve-teasing or harassing them and at work place if one doesn’t agree to be office spouse, she always faces the consequence (though sometimes girls themselves approach mostly to their seniors for easy promotions.) Single girls are the easiest victim and soft targets if she is of marriageable age. Men, mostly married, would show their ‘commitment’ to their families and would frame the girl, if she doesn’t agree with him. Actually these ‘wife-lovers’ are nothing but perverted souls who needs a ‘partner’ outside of his home to satisfy his lust & desire and they believe ‘single’ means ‘available on the bed’…
Can we really say India is changing? There might be some examples where women are super achievers, but what is the percentage of that success? Indian patriarchy still believes and spread, girls are ‘burden’ girls means ‘dowry’ etc, educating them is a futile exercise, if girls are not married within a particular age she will ‘bring down her family status’!!
‘Rising India’ is ‘advancing’ with this baggage. No one questions, those who question, they cannot change and those who can change they won’t do.
Let me go back to the conversation I have referred to. Had the last sentence been different (read yes, if there is mutual likings for each other, physical contact is welcome) that junior might not (won’t have faced) face some of the consequences…
So, girls/women are still nothing but an object for play, pleasure and…
Women are bearing for more than a century, degree might be different, but the status remains same.. so in no time explosion has to happen.. not the ‘feminist’ explosion but for ‘equality’ in the real sense of the term!!