Day 309

Politics is the thing which is totally unpredictable. More unpredictable than the weather. If the matter is concerned with the Indian politics then nothing can be said about it. Yesterday, there was nation wide strike in India against the price hike in diesel, cutting of the subsidy in the LPG cylinder and the FDI in retail industry. Mulayam Singh Yadav joined the hands with the left block and other parties in the protest of the decisions mentioned above. But after the Trinamool Congress withdrew its support from the UPA government then Mulayam Singh rushed to support the UPA.  This is something which is going beyond my thinking. The explanation which Mulayam Singh Yadav gave that he doesn’t want the communal forces to stay away from forming the government at centre. Now the situation has come to the number game in Lok Sabha. Even Mamata Banerjee was aware of this point. That’s why she didn’t asked the President for the no confidence motion against the UPA government. She is well aware of the fact that either Samajwadi party or the Bahujan Samajwadi Party will go to support the government because both of them are having the more MPs than the Mamata Banerjee.

But I think that the main game is something different. Well, there is no need to discuss anything about the fuel price hike and the LPG cylinders. The main game is in the FDI in the retail sector. The basic difference is that in various categories of the FDI, there are different percentages. For example in the retail industry its 51%, in aviation industry its 49% and in power industry I think it’s about 40% or 48%. If we go in the history of the foreign companies investing in Indian companies then it always had been 51-49 division. The foreign companies have got 49% only. But now according to the new proposed bill, the foreign companies are going to have 51% because there is a clause in the proposed bill that the foreign companies have to invest 50% in the infrastructure development. So they are getting 2% extra. But with this additional 2% hike, the foreign countries will get the controlling power in their hands.  There is another angle also. There is an expectation that the Congress party is going to have something bigger in the FDI. But that’s in the womb of the time. May be after a decade or so that hidden thing will come in the limelight.

The main thing is that FDI has become a necessary evil. Soon or latter, the union government has to allow the FDI in the retail sector. No matter, which party is in the power at the centre? Then also, the same question will be there which is right now. Like every important decision, the FDI in retail is also having the two sides of the question. Good and bad. Let’s see what will happen in the coming time. I just wish it be the good one for the country. 

Day 308

I know I’m not regular these days in writing. It’s not like I’m not getting time. The situation is totally different these days. Actually I don't want to write on something which doesn’t gives satisfaction to me. But today, I’m going to write. I don't want to sit ideal anymore.

These days, there are a lot of uncertainties in the political arena. The breaking news is that the Trinamool Congress has withdrawn the support from the UPA government. All the ministers belonging to the Trinamool Congress will submit their resignation on Friday. This step was taken in protest of the price hike of diesel and removal of the subsidy from the LPG cylinders along with the green signal to the FDI in the retail sector. This has created a political turmoil for the Congress led UPA government. Mamata Banerjee has said that the Congress party wasn’t giving the due respect to the Trinamool Congress. 

I think this is not due to the internal war between both the parties. It’s due to the effect of the recent decisions the UPA government took on the fuel price and FDI. I have observed that Mamata Banerjee is pro-people leader. She always pressurise the government about not to increase the prices of anything because it will hurt the pocket of the common man. But sometimes, it becomes difficult for any government or political party to take any decision. The oil companies were suffering the loss of Rs 20,300 crores before the diesel price hike and the cut of subsidized LPG cylinders. Sometimes we have to face the effect of the hard decisions. Mamata Banerjee has forgotten that the oil prices are not determined by the Indian government. It’s regulated by the international market.

It’s true that the FDI in the retail sector is going to hamper the local community very much. To an extent, I agree on this point. But it’s too early to say anything. The bill has to be passed in the Parliament about the FDI. It’s still a proposal. Government is saying that it’s going to generate more jobs in the retail industry but the business community across the country is saying that it’s going to force them to shutter down their shops. Actually, the ill fame of Wal Mart is playing a crucial role in this. Wal Mart is notorious in cleaning out the local traders. But right now, we have to wait and watch.

All I can say is that the coming days are really going to be tough for UPA government. Many allies of the Congress in the UPA are saying that they won’t allow the FDI in the states where they are ruling. On the political front, a lot of things are going to happen. I don't know whether they are going to be good one or the bad one. Just hoping for the best.  

Day 307

I’m confused about what to write today. You will think that what’s the unusual phenomenon in that? But today I’m confused about picking the topic. What should I write about the price rise of diesel and cut of the subsidy in the domestic LPG allotment? We all are aware that now the household will get only 6 LPG cylinders per year on the subsidised rate of Rs. 399. After that it will at Rs. 746 per cylinder. The government is saying that the increment in diesel and cutting of the subsidy will fetch Rs. 20,300 crores to the exchequer. But these will increase the burden on the middle class family of the country. The price of every essential commodity will go high due to the increase in the freight charges which will be due to increased diesel price hike. Now the cooking is also going to be effected. What the Congress led UPA is doing these days? Now it has allowed FDI in the retail sector to 51%. The only thing is that the MNCs will require a local partner in dealing with the customers.

I’m unable to understand one thing. Dr. Manmohan Singh is credited to boost the Indian economy two decades back when he was the Finance Minister. But now as a Prime Minister, he is unable to save the Indian economy. Now he is getting directions from Sonia Gandhi. Now after taking these decisions, he is counting Sonia Gandhi to counter the political pressures which he is going to face in the coming days. He has to face the opposition of not only the opposition parties but from the coalition parties also. After two years, the general election is there. So there must be some political move to counter the pressure of the inflation to lure the voters. The plus point with any political party in India is the memory loss of the voters. Indian public forgets the issues very soon. In the starting there will be protests and all. But later on, the public will forget every thing. 

Day 306

Sometimes, the word game of Thackeray family amuses me a lot. They are people who speak all the nonsense and tries to create disturbance. Till now, they have failed. Now the RJD chief, Lalu Yadav has given an answer to them. Thackeray family is saying that Bihari migrants are the behind the crimes in Mumbai. I’m unable to understand their cheap mentality. In Mumbai, people from every part of the country are living in harmony. They can’t claim that Mumbai is for Maharastrian only. Lalu Yadav has openly said that Thackeray family has gone to Mumbai from Bihar itself. So according to their own statement, they should leave Mumbai as soon as possible. Even the Congress leader, Digvijay Singh has said the same thing by quoting the book of Raj Thackeray’s grandfather. But the main thing here isn’t about the verbal game between these people. The main thing is that all the people are free to work from anywhere in India. Already the country has been divided on the basis of religion and caste. Now why Thackerys have adopted the cheap mentality of targeting people from Bihar and are dividing the country on the basis of language and region? Instead of keeping themselves engaged in these types of cheap things, they can think about the betterment of state and the country. 

Day 305

Today I don't have any topic to write. Actually, I have a reason for this. My studies are keeping me occupied so I’m not having much time to do something extra curricular. But now I have to learn about time management. Time management is going to help me in future also. These days, studies, assignments and presentations are keeping me engaged. But I need to have some time for extra curricular activities also. Without that, I won’t be able to have the command over the current affairs. This is not only going to help me in getting a nice placement but it will help me in after getting placed in a good company. Basically I want to write something new apart from the general topics on which I have written like politics, sports, corruption and the current things which have influenced the daily life in India.

Day 304

I know it has been more than a month now since I wrote my last post in my blog. Well I came back to India on August 8. But I reached my home on August 9. I stayed at home for 12 days before coming to Varanasi. That period was really nice. Enjoyed everything. After spending two and half months in foreign country and then coming back to home gives another feeling. I didn’t accessed internet when I was at home. But after coming to Varanasi, I got the hectic life schedule. Attending tedious lectures. Got busy in explaining my experience at America again and again. I went to my home again for four days due to some official reasons. Then again I’m back in Varanasi. Now life has taken serious turn. In coming three months, many companies will be visiting the campus of my B School. So the tension of getting a decent placement is now hanging on my head. The competition has started. Companies have their basic strategy and aim to select the best students from the B School. Likewise the students are having sole aim to have a decent pay package. I can’t promise that I’ll write regularly. But I’ll try to be regular. Just like I did in America. Writing about the daily routine. At least that will be the best thing to do. Writing won’t get hampered and I won’t be having confusion about what to write?