Hallmarks

Anyone who critically looks at the chequered history  of democratic governments in the world would find that for a democratic government to become a successful and delivering one, it should have many, if not all, of the following hallmarks.

1. Matured leadership with vision.

2. Ability to provide stability in governance.

3. Absence of conflicting ideologies within the Government.

4. Political ideology which keeps common man’s welfare above everything else.

5. Ability to build a feeling of security and confidence among the people.

6. Orientation towards an egalitarian society. 

7. The will to keep corruption at bay.

8. Respect for dignity and civil liberties of citizens.

9. Respect towards the established legal system.

10. Non-interference in the free functioning of the fourth estate, i.e. the media.

It is the paramount responsibility of an enlightened electorate to become instrumental in setting up such a government.

The Nation Is Watching

It is common knowledge that the factor having the highest impact on cost of living is the prices of petrol and diesel. These commodities with prices consistently on swift increase have a tax component of about 50% and 34% respectively and have been kept outside the purview of GST, which itself was introduced for rationalisation of prices. Even the highest tax rate under GST is only 28%.

Treating petrol and fuel as two major sources of revenue for developmental projects as was being done by most of the governments at the centre so far has a highly adverse impact on the economy and the life of the common man. Alternate sources of revenue should be explored like more steps for unearthing black money, taxing the agriculturists, curtailling public expenditure, increasing industrial production and the like. Too much of dependence on petrol and diesel for earning revenue for any developmental activity needs to be brought down. The government at the centre and also of the States should intervene expeditiously instead of waiting to see the price crossing century. Petrol and diesel should at least be brought within GST framework to give some relief to the common man.

Fuel Economy

The doubts expressed by many when the dynamic fuel pricing was introduced by the Government about two years back giving freedom to the oil companies in India to revise the fuel prices in very short intervals have been vindicated by the subsequent frequent hikes witnessed in the price of petrol and diesel. Small price hikes in close succession are not much different from slow poisoning of the economy. Irrespective of the inflationary figures being churned by the Central Statistics Office which do not have any semblance to the reality, the cost of living is being severely affected by the very frequent rises in fuel prices.

The fact being that more than 60% of the price of petrol consists of central excise duty, VAT, dealer’s commission, entry tax, OMC margin and State Government taxes (with a similar pattern in the case of diesel also), it is well within the central and state governments to bring in adequate mechanisms to keep the price hike under check. The central government is stubbornly reluctant to bring fuel prices within the ambit of GST either. Bringing fuel prices within GST structure would reduce the prices by more than 25%. Incidentally,  it is a miracle that the fuel prices remained unchanged for 19 days before the Karnataka Assembly polls.

Fuel price hikes in quick succession are affecting almost all segments of the economy and making life a miserable experience. It is shocking that precious little is being done by the powers that be to address the situation prevailing on the fuel price front. It is high time that the governments both at the centre and of the States took steps not only to apply brakes on fuel price hike but also to bring down the prices to a reasonable level. Otherwise, the wave of national resentment which is gaining strength may become uncontrollable.

Their Fancy, Our Burden

In every election, there are some candidates who contest from two assembly or Parliament constituencies at the same time due to many reasons including their over-confidence or over fear. The main motive of such candidates is undoubtedly to seek insurance against any shock defeat. Some of them win both seats as well, but they have to leave one as legally they can represent only one constituency at a time. Relinquishing one seat imposes an avoidable bye election in that constituency resulting in unnecessary burden on public funds.

The absence of any legal bar in a candidate contesting from two  constituencies when he can represent only one is illogical.  Further, it is totally irrational and grossly unjust that the public exchequer has to bear the cost of an unnecessary bye-election imposed solely by the fancy, or confidence, or fear of such candidates. It is high time that the Representation of People Act was amended to bar a politician from contesting an election from more than one seat. This suggestion was mooted in several forums and before several authorities including the Election Commission (EC). It is learnt that the EC is now seized of this issue and contemplating a move in the matter.

Whither Democracy?

Democracy will become a reliable form of government when and only when the electorate vows to send only those with high educational background  and moral strength to the assembly and the parliament. You can fight today's system only with high levels of literacy. There is hope only if educated and liberal minded individuals enter active politics.  And, looters, goondas and thugs doning the mantle of people's representatives is the most disgusting sight in a democracy. There is nothing to prevent this mishap, happening in a massive way.

The Ever Eluding Black Money

The common man in India has been seeing and will continue to see that the anti black money measures instituted by any Government at the centre strongly alienate many powerful segments of the society from the establishment. These segments include politicians, real estate mafia, hawala dealers, fake currency dealers, terrorist organisations, film industry, sports world,  fake charitable trusts, rich agricultural land owners, money launderers, hoarders of black money, corrupt bureaucrats, educational institutions, hospitals, some sections of professionals and self-employed, dealers in cash oriented / non-receipted transactions, income tax evaders, etc. They become irritated and antagonistic against the establishment which does not promote their interests.

Majority of these segments are so powerful and influential that they can virtually control the economy and even the media and turn the wheels of the economy and the nation in their favour. This factor has been standing and will continue to stand in the way of the success of all anti black money measures ever instituted and will be instituted in future by any central government.

Then the question arises – what can be done to eradicate black money? For this, many laws of the country need to be revisited, overhauled and re-written. The task is huge and stupendous.