Innholdsfortegnelse for May 20, 2019 i India Today

Election campaigns are a battle of narratives. In 2009, it was the UPA’s MNREGA versus the NDA’s promise of decisive leadership. In 2014, it was the NDA promising development versus a UPA battling anti-incumbency, policy paralysis and corruption. In 2019, two clear conflicting narratives have emerged from the heat and dust of the electoral battle—the BJP’s focus on nationalism, national security and the largerthan-life figure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi versus the Congress and opposition’s emphasis on economic distress and jobs, with a slogan of NYAY or justice for all. That the economy is flailing is beyond doubt. Businesses across sectors, from aviation to telecom, have tanked, and investments have dried up. Data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy shows investment in the October to December quarter at a…

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is designed to be one of the most powerful institutions in the world. It is not only the guardian of the world’s largest elections but has been a beacon of excellence, precision and legitimacy for the world ever since India’s first general election in 1952. In the 2019 election, though, the ECI finds itself in the dock—first for delaying its order on petitions alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had multiply violated the Model Code of Conduct and then for issuing summary clean chits just ahead of the Supreme Court’s deadline of May 6. Commissioner Ashok Lavasa reportedly dissented, but then all ECI decisions are taken by majority vote. Dissent implies objective deliberation, and is therefore welcome. It is…

Many think the Congress fielded a novice from the wrong seat when CM Ashok Gehlot’s son, Vaibhav, 39, stood against Narendra Modi-Amit Shah favourite Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, 51, in Jodhpur, which finished polling on April 29. But Gehlot Sr came to his son’s rescue, camping in Jodhpur, inviting the BJP jibe that he addressed more rallies in Jodhpur than in the rest of Rajasthan. The PM called it “a begging for votes for his son”. Gehlot retorted: “Modi has no idea how important a son is to a father.” Now that polling is over, Sachin Pilot loyalists are hoping Vaibhav loses so that Pilot becomes the CM. Vasundhara Raje’s supporters are wishing a similar fate on Shekhawat, a Rajput whose quick rise in the Rajasthan BJP she and other veteran…

ASHOK BHARDWAJ, 28 SARNATH, UTTAR PRADESH The brocade weaver from Ashapur village had to quit his profession following the downturn in the handicraft industry in 2014 on account of the proliferation of powerlooms. The father of two now earns his living as a painter The Indian economy is in the grip of a slowdown. Economic distress runs deep and is alarmingly widespread. Businesses have failed across sectors, from aviation to telecom. Investments are drying up, having fallen to a 14-year low in the October-December quarter of FY19, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The shadow banking sector, which has easier lending norms and funds a lot of big and small businesses, is in turmoil, such as the collapse of the IL&FS group that financed big…

EXPERTSPEAK “Nearly 47 per cent of the workforce is in agriculture. Unless this sector performs well, ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ will not be possible”ASHOK GULATI Infosys Chair Professor for Agriculture, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations One of the biggest challenges for the Modi government is rural distress and the poor state of agriculture. In fiscal 2017-18, agriculture, which engages 220 million, or almost 47 per cent of the workforce, witnessed a significant drop in performance over the previous year. The growth of Gross Value Added at basic prices from agriculture, forestry and fishing is expected to be 2.7 per cent in 2018-19, as against 5 per cent in 2017-18. This is a matter of concern, as farm incomes significantly affect poverty. The agricultural growth rate—at an average…

In 2014, the BJP won only two of the 42 seats in West Bengal. Since then, the party has done everything possible to make inroads, with opinion polls in March this year predicting that the saffron party may come up with its best showing ever in Bengal this general election. The parliamentary constituencies where the BJP is a strong contender are Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat, Malda North, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Bongaon, Barrackpore, Birbhum, Asansol, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram and Midnapore. Of these, seats such as Malda North, Balurghat, Jalpaiguri, Bongaon share a border with Bangladesh, and so, the BJP has stirred up the issue of illegal immigrants. In Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Darjeeling, BJP leaders are harping on the ethnic identity of the Gorkhas. Birbhum, Purulia, Jhargram, Midnapore are…

Key imports from China $28.7 bn Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and their parts $13.5 bn Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, mechanical appliances and parts thereof $7.1 bn Organic chemicals $2.4 bn Plastic and articles thereof $1.7 bn Optical/ photographic/cinematographic/ measuring/precision/ medical/ surgical instruments. And apparatus parts and accessories thereof Source: Ministry of commerce, GoI Key exports to China $2.1 bn Organic chemicals $1.5 bn Copper and derivatives $1.5 bn Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes $1.3 bn Ores, slag and ash $1 bn Cotton…

India returns to the Venice biennale on May 11. With ‘150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’ as its theme, the exhibition has been curated by Delhi’s Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. Roobina Karode, its India art director, says the India Pavilion this year can make us “rethink our complex world”. Excerpts from an interview: Q. How did you go about selecting the artists for the Venice biennale? Nandalal Bose represents the historic chapter; M.F. Husain, the transitional moment and artists from younger generations have been selected to take viewers through the thematic. The curatorial intention was not to have a literal representation of Gandhi in a documentary-like format. Gandhi is not a subject that rests only in sentiment or nostalgia. He is rather the subject of contemporary reflection. Q. Why is…

Colour is intrinsic to the work of Kolkata dream-pop duo Parekh & Singh whose new album Science City is further proof that they are among Indian independent music’s brightest stars. This is evident in the pastel suits that they have adopted as their signature look, as seen in concerts, photo shoots and cover art and in their vivid music videos, which have drawn comparisons to the aesthetic of American filmmaker Wes Anderson. Sonically, Science City—which they are currently promoting through a nationwide tour—adds new shades and tones to the vibrancy of 2013’s Ocean, which was initially released under vocalist, lyricist and multi-instrumentalist Nischay Parekh’s name alone. Their new effort extends the introspection we heard on that clutter-breaking debut. It adds auditory embellishments and outward-looking perspectives to create an album that…

The Congress was actively considering inviting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray to campaign in Madhya Pradesh, especially in seats where the Maharashtrian population is on the higher side—Indore, Bhopal, Betul and Balaghat. He was to be invited not for Congress programmes but to launch free-agent attacks on PM Modi at independently organised functions. The Congress also reckoned that the Muslim voters would ‘understand’ and vote for them. But then something else made the Congress decide against inviting Thackeray. The MNS attacks on North Indians still rankle, and the Congress was worried Thackeray’s presence would alienate this demographic.…

JOB LOSSES 6.1 PER CENT Unemployment rate is the highest since 1972-73 (NSSO); in 2011-12, it was 2.2% 11 MILLION Jobs lost in 2018 (CMIE) 9.1 MILLION Rural informal workers lost jobs in 2018 as against 1.8 million urban informal workers JOB ASPIRANTS 10-12 MILLION Join the workforce every year 18.7 PER CENT Men under 30 years of age (27.2% women) in urban India looking for jobs; in rural India, 17.4% and 13.6%, respectively 28 MILLION Applications for 90,000 jobs advertised by Indian Railways (in 2018) 2 MILLION Applications for 9,500 posts of typists/ stenographers advertised by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission…

Measure: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, with an outlay of Rs 50,000 crore for five years Impact: The outlay has been only Rs 9,050 crore from 2015-16 to 2019-20. Most of the projects are incomplete or are inordinately delayed, such as in Maharashtra Measure: Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, transferring Rs 6,000 per year directly into the bank accounts of small and marginal farmers Impact: Only the first tranche has been distributed so far Measure: Guaranteeing Minimum Support Price (MSP) with 50 per cent additional payment Impact: The method of calculating MSP has been questioned by farmers, many of whom feel they have got a raw deal Measure: Issuing soil health cards Impact: Distribution of the cards has been uneven, with some states languishing Measure: Setting up…

EXPERTSPEAK “The rubber industry suffers from shortage of skilled labour and a duty structure unfair to domestic manufacturers”KAMAL K. CHOWDHURY Former president, All India Rubber Industries Association PLASTICS This sector provides employment to over 1 million people directly and indirectly with massive untapped potential. However, sales have been sliding—from a growth of 12.8 per cent in 2011-12, sales recorded 2.67 per cent growth in 2017-18. Its prospects are further marred by environmental concerns and lack of technology innovation. RUBBER The rubber industry employs about two million people and nearly 90 per cent of the 6,000-plus rubber products are manufactured by micro, small and medium enterprises. India is the third largest producer and second largest consumer of rubber in the world. But the industry is reeling under the onslaught of synthetic…

It might have left Indian cinemas, but Sriram Raghavan’s Andhadhun (2018) is continuing its great run, this time in China. The acclaimed thriller recently became the third-highest grossing Indian film in a territory occupied mostly by Aamir Khan. Its collections surpassed the Rs 300 crore mark. It appears the Chinese too couldn't help but fall for Tabu’s fine portrayal of an unfaithful wife. Speaking of a character who finds herself in conundrums of her own making, Tabu says, “The tough part was that you could never really say ‘this is who she is’. She is different in every situation. She was all heart.” It’s clear, though, that Tabu has since moved on. Releasing on May 17, her next, De De Pyaar De is a rom-com that will see her play…

Q. You finished 24th at your first World Cup in February. What did you do differently to take top spot in Beijing? A. I realised after my first World Cup that I was having a hard time handling the pressure during the last few shots. So, I worked on maintaining my composure, so that even if I had a few bad shots, I would still be able to execute my plan. Q. You have a degree in engineering and law. Why take up shooting at an age when most people choose to focus on their careers? A. I picked up shooting as a distraction from my law studies while at home in Hisar. I started with a rifle before picking up the pistol in December 2014. It all changed when…

Q Why does India still not have one Muslim leader with pan-India appeal seven decades after Independence? A. There has been no semblance of political representation for decades even at the municipality or gram panchayat level. Only if that grows can there be a leader. Q. Even among Muslim voters, Muslim leaders do not have uniform appeal across regions. Why is this? A. Muslims are not a homogenous community. The culture of a Tamil Nadu Muslim is distinct from that of a Hyderabadi Muslim. So having a pan-India appeal is a challenge. Q. Why do Muslim leaders restrict themselves to issues relating to Islam and not socio-economic development? A. We should definitely talk about all issues. It is high time we prepared for and participated in debates. For a start,…

INDUSTRY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION Industrial growth, down under UPA-II, did not pick up in the past five years INFLATION THE DOUBLE WHAMMY Low food inflation relative to the index for all commodities meant the farmer got unremunerative prices for his produce while having to pay more for his purchases, causing distress. Also, with incomes down, farmers have cut back on big-ticket spends—new houses, wells, water pipelines—squeezing rural employment opportunities INCOME NET NATIONAL INCOME Income growth fell and remained flat during the Modi years WAGES AVERAGE WAGE RATES FOR LABOUR Wages have seen a sharp drop from 2014-15, explained by the stress in sectors like agriculture…

EXPERTSPEAK “Government measures are finally bearing fruit...however, disbursement of monies announced in the schemes has been slow”RAHUL MEHTA President & chairperson, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India The textile industry in India includes the manufacture of yarn, fabric and readymade apparel. It was about $108 billion (approx. Rs 7.5 lakh crore) in size in 2017, and contributed 2 per cent to India’s GDP. The industry is also second only to agriculture in providing employment—51 million people were engaged directly in the sector in 2017-18 and another 68 million indirectly. Now it is a struggle for survival for many small scale units. Apparel exports declined from $17.1 billion (approx. Rs 1 lakh crore) in 2015 to $12.25 billion (approx. Rs 85,000 crore) in 2017, according to industry estimates. The falling sales and…

EXPERTSPEAK “The time before a general election is favourable for buyers as they can bargain hard with developers who need to sell units for more liquidity”ANUJ PURI, Chairman, Anarock Property Consultants The real estate sector was already battling a fall in demand when it experienced the twin disruptions of demonetisation and GST. Traditionally a safe haven for parking illegal money, the sector has seen some purging with the implementation of the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill. However, even lower prices have not been able to bring buyers back into the market, resulting in huge unsold inventory across the country. The default by Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) dealt a further blow to realty companies. The $120 billion (approx. Rs 8 lakh crore) real estate and construction sector, the…

ON MAY 3, THE UNITED NATIONS Security Council (UNSC) designated Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist, ending weeks of hectic diplomatic manoeuvring between India, the US, the UK, France and China. The Narendra Modi government was quick to claim it as a diplomatic victory for the country under its watch, dubbing the UNSC’s move the third strike against Pakistan after the surgical strikes in September 2016 and the air strikes this February in Balakot. “This terrorist will not be able to enjoy privilege in Pakistan now. This is the third strike. The arrogance of Pakistan has been shattered,” Prime Minister Modi said at an election rally in Rajasthan on May 3. Getting Azhar listed was certainly a diplomatic win for the Modi government. Yet even what should have been…

Urdu poetry is often equated with nostalgia for a romanticised past. How popular is it today, though? The question has several possible answers. One way to sample the data is to look at the Twitter following of some popular poets. Rahat Indori has over 400,000. Not bad for a 70-year-old former Urdu professor and painter from Indore, unfamiliar with the virtual world. There is no dearth of people who call him the most popular Urdu poet today. For mushaira organisers, he guarantees auditoriums packed with young people, not just in India but across the world following the Indian diaspora. His books sell well, attests Satyanand Nirupam, editor at Rajkamal Prakashan, the largest Hindi publisher that released two volumes of his verse in Devanagari script. He has popular songs from hit…

Cabinets, padukas and armours might seem disparate, but used by artists showcasing their work at the 58th Venice biennale’s India Pavilion, these objects all have one person in common—Gandhi. Titled Our Time for a Future Caring, the pavilion this year will feature artists like Nandalal Bose, Atul Dodiya, Iranna G.R., Jitish Kallat and Shakuntala Kulkarni. It is after eight years that India is returning to Venice, the world’s oldest biennale. Though the theme for the overall biennale is ‘May You Live in Interesting Times’, the Indian government, wanting to celebrate 150 years of the Mahatma, gave its artists the theme of Gandhi. Mumbai-based Kulkarni is taking to Venice two cane armours and a set of seven performative photographs that see her navigating public spaces wearing them. Part of her 2012…