As a result of UPA government’s mishandling of several sensitive issues, India is today facing numerous challenges like:

Democracy maligned

After the cash for vote scam, there is little credibility left for our elected leaders. Our main triumph, as being the world’s largest democracy sounds a little hollow today. Now, it is not democracy but plutocracy (wealthy rule over the poor) that has been imposed on India.

Threat to Territorial integrity

Kashmir seems to be in a hopeless situation. For the first time we are watching live on TV, discussions & debates whether we should give up a part of the country. There are live images of Indian flags being burned; leading columnists are asking questions which would have been considered as anti national anywhere else.

Rising Regionalism

Is it a crime to talk in national language? India’s most respected film artist had to apologise on his wife’s behalf for daring to speak in Hindi. And a local unelected regional leader openly challenges the police commissioner to come on street, without wearing uniform. The state government does not even have guts to file a case, while his goons go on a rampage across Maharashtra.

Unabated Inflation

The prices of almost all essential commodities have doubled over the past three years. Economists may argue that it is a global phenomenon, but low wages and poverty is not a global phenomenon. There is no concept of social security in India, unlike other countries where inflation effect is absorbed by government.

Pseudo secularism at its worst

In the name placating minorities the government has crossed all limits. In Andhra, Christians will be subsidized for a visit to Vatican. Delhi has reservation and education subsidies for Sikhs, Parsis & Jains but not for poor Hindus. Although it is common knowledge that they are high above in the per capita level and don’t need subsidies.

Terrorism Threat

Serial bomb blasts seems to have become a monthly feature in Indian calendar. The response by our home minister is always the same, that we must be patient and not take revenge. But there is absolutely no will power to counter terror. Almost all educated people want strict terror laws except our home minister who is mysteriously reluctant. To make matters worse, some cabinet ministers are openly supporting terrorist organizations.

The UPA government has postponed the winter session. The entire focus of the present government seems to be in somehow operatinalizing the Indo – US nuclear deal. There is a view that the government is in a hurry to sign some large contracts related to defence and nuclear supplies and is not bothered about the nitty gritty of running the country.

As humble citizens of India, we would request the election commission to chair an emergency meeting and discuss about the modalities of holding an early general election. Hope they act before it is too late!

If we go a few decades back, Enron was considered as a landmark in foreign direct investment and solution to all our power crises.

In a joint venture with U.S. companies General Electric and Bechtel, Enron was to build the power plant. The project was not open to competitive bids and that the deal was too costly. World Bank analysis questioned the project’s economic viability, citing the high cost of importing and using liquefied natural gas relative to other domestic sources of fuels. Even the power purchase agreement was kept top secret. The project was a colossal failure riddled with allegation of corruption and Enron’s highhanded behaviour. Subsequently for the first time ever, the Indian government agreed to underwrite the liabilities of a private company.

Ironically the players are the same. In India, congress government in centre is negotiating with the US lobby. G.E & Bechtel were the partners with Enron. They are also major nuclear reactor suppliers. Fuel and equipment is imported and power is too expensive.

There are too many similarities to ignore. The end result would be the same. Junk equipment worth billions of dollars will be bought at taxpayer’s expense. It will be made tax exempt. Fuel will be imported. People will get power at unaffordable rates and state government will end up subsidizing it.

All in the name of national interest and attainment of power self sufficiency, we are again falling in the trap.

There are so many alternatives to solving the long term power crises. First privatize the power distribution companies. Delhi government has shown tha way. Losses are down by over 50%.Build a network of hydel plants across the Himalayan states. Setup a power trading company to buy surplus power and sell it to the power deficient states.

Why don’t we learn from history?