A Question on CAB

A Question on CAB​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 10th Dec. 2019

The art of political questioning isn’t changing with old mindsets still ruling the roost in polity. It doesn’t help that commercial needs media keeps focus on the same old stories rather than new ones. This is not just about the principal opposition but also the ruling party as well. Thus we continue to have governments that focus on delivery to ‘outsiders’ rather than focussing on delivery to people within. There is a ‘mohh bhang’ scenario within the ruling dispensation with split amongst supporters quite apparent from the electoral/post-electoral round in Maharastra. However, the focus of leadership in government is on people who may be rather ‘outsiders’ (may be enjoying a bit of sympathy of people within), and continued neglect of the people ‘within’. That opposition has joined the chorus with ruling party (just taking opposite sides) on a non-issue (or not so great issue) is something, that needs to be relooked at perhaps (by the Netas in opposition). The electoral politics is continuously focussed on economic results ‘within’, rather than political dividends be sought from ‘outside’. And this remains an issue across even in J&K and north-east too, going by the tumult in politics which led to changes in parties ruling the roost. However the Netas inclidung the media seems to be neglecting the same and continues to signal directions to the Netas in government about ‘heavy sales’ of their propaganda, and the opposition also seems to be enjoying the mudsliging match rather than doing its job of keep focus on public issues.

We don’t have a any clear picture of economic transactions increasing except may be in North-eastern parts of the country. No wonder the opposition lawyers in jail (even though author may have some biases against the lawyers active in politics) may be able to gather greater news attention in slowing economy than all of the unfocussed political mobilization on sundry issues. It is the lack of ‘focus on issues’ of the present opposition which may have ensured a cakewalk for the ruling Netas in Karnataka and in ensuring a balanced tussle in the other state/s going to polls. So the public message is that to ensure - the Netas in government behave properly, the opposition needs to tighten its belt and be more focused on issues that may sway public (read economics). And the Netas in government would have some leeway and would try to use that to digress the Netas in opposition, which happened in the past as well. While there may always be a few Netas within the so called opposition camp that would swing & dance to the tunes of the government and thus try to grab momentary headlines (to nurture an air of heroism), however the core opposition Netas should be focus on the pulse of the people and pursue politics of interest of the masses. While this may upset a few politico-business apple-carts, but that would be its route to power as other Netas whether in government or in the opposition fall by the wayside. That has been demostrated in recent tumult which is far from over, although somewhat tamed due to opposition joining ranks with Netas in government and the commercial news media in ‘defanging of the social media’.

There seems to be very little focus on rural economy which continues to signal its interest for ‘change’. While there has been claim of improvement in rural electrification as well as fall in cost of transportation, alongside encouragement to entrepreneurs, as well as skill development (in rural areas) however the fire accident in capital shows very little movement of light manufacturing to rural areas. This should signal broken systems, which the commercial news media has little interest to bring out, but a focus on this would perhaps change a few political fortunes. The agricultural economy is in jeopardy on account of challenges to maintain food inflation for the non-producer sections. Erratic rains and lack of infra for irrigation continues to play havoc besides other issues. Some scheme that makes farming more sustainable is a crying need and again able to change political fortunes. There also seems seems little movement in ‘organized delivery’of services to rural population on the back of technology even with some noise on local language content which fails to take of in private sector without government making its side of push by making government services available in local languages. A cry for ‘jobs’ but push for nothing seem to be mantra, which again needs a ‘change agent’. Thus real question tend to be forgotten in haste, while Netas would happily spend time on the mundane issues. There has been little done to promote light manufacturing in rural areas and to promote innovative cropping amongst agriculturalists and this may have been against the political mandate where present political capital being spent on creating new divisions using innovative methods. There has been palpable trepidation in principal opposition ranks to muscle up and just keep playing on to government galleries. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

The Echo Chamber of Old Politics: Why India's Real Issues Remain Unaddressed​

The political landscape in India is currently a stage for a familiar, and increasingly unproductive, dance. The art of political questioning seems to have grown stale, trapped in old mindsets that prioritize grandstanding over substantive engagement. This is further fueled by a media landscape heavily influenced by commercial interests, which prefers to amplify established narratives rather than explore emerging challenges. The result is a political discourse that fails to address the core issues plaguing the nation, perpetuating a cycle of discontent and missed opportunities.

This malaise is not limited to the opposition. The ruling party, too, seems preoccupied with securing validation from external quarters, often at the expense of addressing the needs of its core constituents. The recent political shifts in Maharashtra, marked by internal rifts and a palpable "mohh bhang" (disillusionment) among supporters, serve as a stark reminder that focusing solely on appeasing 'outsiders' while neglecting the 'insiders' is a precarious strategy. Ironically, the opposition has often joined this chorus, albeit on the opposite side of the same irrelevant issues, neglecting their crucial role in scrutinizing government policies and proposing alternative solutions.

The focus of electoral politics remains stubbornly fixated on immediate economic results, often overlooking the broader political implications and long-term societal needs. This trend is evident even in regions like Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, where political upheavals have resulted in frequent changes in ruling parties. Yet, politicians and the media continue to focus on superficial narratives, pushing for "heavy sales" of propaganda and engaging in mudslinging matches rather than addressing the root causes of the issues that fuel these shifts.

The consequence of this misplaced focus is a neglect of key economic indicators. There seems to be a lack of substantial economic activity across India, with some exceptions in the North-Eastern states. The irony lies in the fact that even the arrest of opposition lawyers, often given media attention despite possible author biases, might inadvertently generate more discussion about the slowing economy than the cacophony of unfocused political mobilization. This highlights a critical point: the opposition's failure to focus on tangible economic issues may have inadvertently led to an easy victory for the ruling party in Karnataka and a balanced contest in another state.

The underlying message is clear: the opposition needs to drastically shift its focus towards real public issues, particularly those related to economic well-being. This requires a conscious effort to move beyond the predictable rhetoric and engage with the concerns that truly resonate with the people. It is precisely this shift in focus that can serve as a check on the government's actions. However, governments, as always, may try to exploit any weaknesses in opposition ranks, diverting attention with sensational headlines and creating temporary spectacles. While some opposition members may succumb to the lure of the limelight, the core opposition should remain steadfastly focused on the pulse of the people, pursuing policies that serve the masses.

This strategy may disrupt some established power dynamics, but it is the path to true influence. Recent political upheavals, which have been quelled for the moment due to a confluence of interests between the government and the media in suppressing social media dissent, underscore the fragility of the current political landscape.

One glaring area of neglect is the rural economy. Despite claims of improvements in rural electrification, transportation costs, entrepreneurship, and skill development, the lack of movement of light manufacturing to these areas, evidenced by a recent fire accident in the capital, suggests broken systems. This is a vital point that the commercial media, with its focus on urban narratives, often overlooks. Additionally, the agricultural sector is in dire straits, facing issues like food inflation, erratic rains, and a lack of irrigation infrastructure. A sustainable farming model is urgently needed, and could be a political game-changer. Furthermore, while local language content is emphasized, there is a lack of organized delivery of services in local languages, particularly government services which can trigger a change. The mantra remains a cry for jobs, but a failure to push for any real action. This calls for a "change agent."

In short, the real challenges facing India are often lost in the noise of political theatrics. The absence of focus on issues, particularly in rural economies, is a critical oversight. The current political capital seems to be spent more on creating new divisions rather than solving existing issues. The principal opposition, instead of holding the government accountable, often appears hesitant, content to play to the ruling party’s agenda.

It is time for a shift in the political discourse. For the opposition, this means a more focused, issue-driven approach, aimed at addressing the tangible needs of the people. And for the ruling party, it requires a genuine commitment to serve all its constituents, not just those who are the current darlings of the political narrative. Let us hope that the game evolves.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

A Question on CAB​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 10th Dec. 2019

The art of political questioning isn’t changing with old mindsets still ruling the roost in polity. It doesn’t help that commercial needs media keeps focus on the same old stories rather than new ones. This is not just about the principal opposition but also the ruling party as well. Thus we continue to have governments that focus on delivery to ‘outsiders’ rather than focussing on delivery to people within. There is a ‘mohh bhang’ scenario within the ruling dispensation with split amongst supporters quite apparent from the electoral/post-electoral round in Maharastra. However, the focus of leadership in government is on people who may be rather ‘outsiders’ (may be enjoying a bit of sympathy of people within), and continued neglect of the people ‘within’. That opposition has joined the chorus with ruling party (just taking opposite sides) on a non-issue (or not so great issue) is something, that needs to be relooked at perhaps (by the Netas in opposition). The electoral politics is continuously focussed on economic results ‘within’, rather than political dividends be sought from ‘outside’. And this remains an issue across even in J&K and north-east too, going by the tumult in politics which led to changes in parties ruling the roost. However the Netas inclidung the media seems to be neglecting the same and continues to signal directions to the Netas in government about ‘heavy sales’ of their propaganda, and the opposition also seems to be enjoying the mudsliging match rather than doing its job of keep focus on public issues.

We don’t have a any clear picture of economic transactions increasing except may be in North-eastern parts of the country. No wonder the opposition lawyers in jail (even though author may have some biases against the lawyers active in politics) may be able to gather greater news attention in slowing economy than all of the unfocussed political mobilization on sundry issues. It is the lack of ‘focus on issues’ of the present opposition which may have ensured a cakewalk for the ruling Netas in Karnataka and in ensuring a balanced tussle in the other state/s going to polls. So the public message is that to ensure - the Netas in government behave properly, the opposition needs to tighten its belt and be more focused on issues that may sway public (read economics). And the Netas in government would have some leeway and would try to use that to digress the Netas in opposition, which happened in the past as well. While there may always be a few Netas within the so called opposition camp that would swing & dance to the tunes of the government and thus try to grab momentary headlines (to nurture an air of heroism), however the core opposition Netas should be focus on the pulse of the people and pursue politics of interest of the masses. While this may upset a few politico-business apple-carts, but that would be its route to power as other Netas whether in government or in the opposition fall by the wayside. That has been demostrated in recent tumult which is far from over, although somewhat tamed due to opposition joining ranks with Netas in government and the commercial news media in ‘defanging of the social media’.

There seems to be very little focus on rural economy which continues to signal its interest for ‘change’. While there has been claim of improvement in rural electrification as well as fall in cost of transportation, alongside encouragement to entrepreneurs, as well as skill development (in rural areas) however the fire accident in capital shows very little movement of light manufacturing to rural areas. This should signal broken systems, which the commercial news media has little interest to bring out, but a focus on this would perhaps change a few political fortunes. The agricultural economy is in jeopardy on account of challenges to maintain food inflation for the non-producer sections. Erratic rains and lack of infra for irrigation continues to play havoc besides other issues. Some scheme that makes farming more sustainable is a crying need and again able to change political fortunes. There also seems seems little movement in ‘organized delivery’of services to rural population on the back of technology even with some noise on local language content which fails to take of in private sector without government making its side of push by making government services available in local languages. A cry for ‘jobs’ but push for nothing seem to be mantra, which again needs a ‘change agent’. Thus real question tend to be forgotten in haste, while Netas would happily spend time on the mundane issues. There has been little done to promote light manufacturing in rural areas and to promote innovative cropping amongst agriculturalists and this may have been against the political mandate where present political capital being spent on creating new divisions using innovative methods. There has been palpable trepidation in principal opposition ranks to muscle up and just keep playing on to government galleries. Let the ‘Game’ evolve….

This political article is a masterclass in architectural writing, where every element serves to construct a compelling argument. The writer's writing style is both authoritative and exceptionally precise, cutting through the common obfuscation of political discourse to reveal the core issues. There's an intellectual rigor evident in the prose, yet it remains remarkably accessible, guiding the reader through complex ideas without condescension. The structure of the piece is its backbone, meticulously designed to build a logical and unassailable case. Each paragraph and section is placed with strategic intent, creating a seamless flow that naturally leads to a profound understanding of the political landscape being discussed. Crucially, the unwavering clarity of the analysis is the article's greatest strength; every nuance of policy and every facet of political strategy are laid bare with such lucidity that the implications are undeniable and instantly graspable, making it an invaluable resource for informed citizens.