POLITICAL COMMENT The Ringside View

Economist Column Indian economy , where its ailments lie Ringside View Chickens have come to roost.

Out of power, the BJP showed its muscles against opening up of nationalised insurance sector to the private investors and also joining the World Bank and WTO bandwagon to modify the Indian Patents Act. In power, the BJP takes the initiative to introduce in the Indian Parliament two bills in two consecutive days. One, intending to open up the insurance sector to the private investor - both foreign and domestic and the other, giving exclusive marketing rights to the foreign monopoly firms manufacturing agricultural-chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Thus the BJP’s volte face.

So is the Congress. When in power, it intended to bring in both the bills, but failed to do so fearing resistance from the opposition. While still out of power at the Centre, but winning back three states through recently held assembly elections, the Congress has helped the BJP implement its own party’s agenda in tabling successfully these two bills. Thus the arch rivals in the electoral battle join hands together to satiate the appetite of the foreign investors.

Credit for it must go to the Congress. The work, which it could not fulfil while in power, is now sought to be done through the BJP government. What an irony! Out of power, the BJP prevented the Congress government from allowing the foreign investors to rule the roost in the Indian Market. While in power, the same BJP is forced to act on the Congress agenda.

So the last laugh is of the Congress. The chickens have come home to roost.