The "Game" Class Dilemmas
By: Amit Bhushan Date: 9th Apr. 2016
Much is being talked about the "game class" nowadays. There are party ideologues (who won elections in a state) talking about the success of this class and rise in its political influence. This piece is then immediately followed by narration of the writer's own views about their disappointments in respect to the central government and own confusions of the game class. This is even as a subtle hint and overall patronizing tone is maintained that the "game class" can no longer be ignored in political calculations. While the writer may have tried his best to capture what he may have perceived to be woes of the "game" class, but what is certainly missing is a near lack of commentary on the solutions, but a hint that the class is gullible and falls prey to simplistic solutions or in other words how political parties and leaders tend to perceive any political mass of people.
While all this may be fine however somewhat better acknowledgement for the role of game in winning of the party in the state, which could have easily swigged to any direction. The angst and disappointment against a party channelled resources in favour to resurrect another party and leader, is seen as an act of gullibility rather than manifestation that people may want to come out of 'Bandar baant' politics. Their ability to see through pseudo-nationalistic debate is perceived love of magic wand waning along with a subtle hint that now perhaps another political leader can don the mantle of simplistic solutions and to power.
The attempt to have "competition" in politics to have their say is seen as confusion since siding with a political side is perhaps only sign of wisdom in the opinion of the political leaders. Now this may be true for political leaders themselves since they need to compromise to keep the flock together but what about voters who have different priorities which may not be on menu of a single party. Such voters will tend to pick and choose on issues and calling them confused may actually be putting them off. Also the coy-ness maintained by parties around issues such as tax reforms and bank defaults is not hidden from the "game" class and makes it to social media. Same thing may be true about regressive agendas such Holy Cow or Sue-motto Ban on liquor.
Such perceptions of politicians about dumb voters is perhaps developed and allowed to be nurtured and sustained because political leaders are still coy to take up issues like Bankruptcy of political fund-givers, illegal mining, land and property rights, water management issues and other policy issues fanning around illegal wealth and political clout of fund givers who are sought to be protected as well as nurtured. Political parties and leaders want a free hand for themselves to impose simplistic solutions like banning liquor or raise the bogey of reservation as a right of the ''uncompetitive sections (due to several factors)'' to sell ''impossible dreams'' to play to gallery of select constituency (and make their money in the process) even though the policy is a proven failure. This allows them to wash away hands for lack of efforts to rise the capabilities of the people and capacity of the nation to deal with such issues.
Whereas this may be true about socialist politician's way to the bank, we have to contrary the right wing refusing to implement the former Chief Justice's recommendations on cricket/sports and its governance that would improve fair play although may rub some of the current lordship in a not so friendly manner. Now, it is definitely a smack on the face of honesty of the right wing to play by the rules of the game so that they can protect their own fund givers. Added to it is campaign shrill campaign around nationalism or Holy Cow/Temple, with the dragging of feet around banking defaults, Panama files or low priority accorded to illegal mining etc. The current investment continues to be on the same roads and power sector rather than say on waterways or local language computing especially for government works. So even if the game can no longer be ignored, however all attempts are underway to undermine its say.It is not that complete impact of game on politics is negligible. The reforms in policies and procedures related to business simplification seems to be a point.
Scraping of cobwebs on defunct laws or reforms in realty sector seems to be a step in recognition of this impact. There has been a move on waterways and some improvement in digital access in terms of budgetary allocation. Nearly all parties are now claiming strides in improvement of education and are ready to look into local ration distribution though it may be having very little ground impact. Some curbs are certainly there on government corruption with documents being digitized and access via e-service centres. The commercial news media is ready to pick up accesses of VIP culture.Then we also have some areas where political disagreements are showing up as the game class makes its impact on them. The primary one being e-commerce space.
This space is one rising rapidly and is the most kicking sign of impact on the society. Growth in internet services may be next thing on the radar. Retail sector is being supported to raise the bogey of political noise to undermine the sector. Move to raise private sector reservation may only be an attempt to put the nascent sector to cage. Silent moves may be underway in banking unions and railways where political parties and leaders may want to shape up issues their own way rather than submitting to the will of the masses. This is exactly where political disconnects are coming up and competition of vote-bank politics being kicked up to meet political aspirations of ''leaders''. The clear idea seems to drag down the visible growth sector putting direct investment to risk for political one up man-ship.All this amidst coloured reporting makes decision making difficult even if the pro-business but with fair-play and wider distribution with level playing, not being a confusion. Let's see if the "Game" evolves further to defeat them all…