Governance and Indian Nationalism (GAIN)

On February 29, 2020, US signed a peace deal with Taliban, which would entail complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. The peace deal will help US to significantly reduce its economic and human resource costs that are attached with military presence in a foreign country. Given the fragile nature of Afghanistan democracy, the country's future minus US presence, is seen with uncertainty and fear. Even though US presence in Afghanistan subdued Taliban's influence in the country, its network with international terror organizations like Al Qaeda, ISIS and Pak based groups like Jaish-E-Mohammed and Lashker-E-Taiba remained active. For example, the recent attack on a Sikh Temple in Kabul resulting in loss of 27 Sikh lives, is considered to be coordinated effort of multiple terror outfits.  With Taliban bidding time for complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, changing dynamics in the war ravaged country could be highly dis...

Post India's independence, US was ideologically inclined to develop close and strategic ties with India. US perceived India to be a natural partner since both the countries shared democratic values.  During the same phase, Mao Zedong, leader of CCP, took control of China in a military coup in 1949. This meant a drastic shift in China's political ideology in favor of Communism. Such transition wasn't acceptable to Americans, who then became desperate to expel China out of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and were willing to give this seat to India. As a result, then US secretary of state, John Foster, made the offer of UNSC seat to Indian Ambassador, Vijay lakshmi Pandit. When the US offer was communicated to Nehru, he declined it terming it as a trap by Americans. Despite America's friendly overtures, Nehru remained adamant over allowing China to retain the UNSC seat, under the pretext that not doing so would hurt Chinese sentiments.  Apart from UNSC seat, US was ...

Sushant Singh Rajput woke up in the morning, went for a walk, spent some time on his Playstation, took a glass of juice, went inside his room and then committed suicide?? Even a layman can understand that the suicide doesn't seem to be a perfect conclusion of prior sequence of events.  Shockingly, Mumbai Police arrived at such a pre-determined conclusion even before it began investigations. The bright and an upcoming actor didn't even leave a suicide note behind, then what was the hurry on the part of the Police to declare Sushant's death as a suicide?  Only after strong public pressure, Mumbai police was forced to initiate investigation in Sushant Singh Rajput's so-called suicide. Nonetheless, P olice summons and consequent interrogation of Bollywood biggies looks like an eyewash to douse the rising flames of justice among public. In a recent letter to PM Modi, Dr Swamy demanded PM's intervention in the matter as the Maharashtra state government seems reluctant in ...

In 2015, Dr Swamy had filed a complaint with Urban Development Ministry regarding RGF's illegal occupation of a building at Raisana road. The building was initially meant to be used as Congress headquarters, however, in 1991, Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, headed by Sonia Gandhi, usurped this prime property located in Delhi.  Dr Swamy also uncovered the financial discrepancies and dubious funding pattern of RGF. For example, RGF's shady sources of donations ( foreign embassies and Zakir Naik)  were highlighted many times by Dr Swamy.   Zakir Naik, known for his provocative and communal speeches, was brainwashing peaceful elements through his channel, PeaceTV. Only after Dhaka Cafe blast, the government woke up to reality and then banned his channel. However, Dr Swamy had already exposed Zakir Naik's ₹50 lakh donation to RGF in 2011, which is now even confirmed by ED's investigations.  RGF has also received donations from foreign embassies (like China) for ...

Former RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan inflicted serious damage to Indian economy due to his flawed monetary policies. Rajan's prescriptions to contain inflation hampered growth in the MSME sector.  For example, raising repo rates, to counter inflation, subjugated demand for business loans, which deteriorated the investment climate. Simultaneously, Rajan had reduced the interest rates on domestic saving schemes (such as FD, NSC etc) that led to erosion of incomes of retired personnel and low-income households. Lower interest on savings dis-incentivised households to invest in saving schemes, which dried up availability of funds for businesses, as savings are a major source of domestic loans.  Few business enterprises used interest arbitrage to earn profits. For example, they availed loans from foreign banks at lower rates and then lent money to domestic players at prevailing interest rates in the market. Therefore Rajan's monetary policy benefited foreign lenders and diminished t...

Dr Swamy is one of the most highly scrutinized politicians of modern India. Being an anti-corruption crusader and Hindutva warrior, curiosity about his life is natural, however, curiosity shall not transform into cynicism due to over-analysis. Dr Swamy's forthright views on different matters have always tormented his adversaries within and outside BJP. Since his opponents don't have anything concrete to target him, they run malicious social media campaigns to dent his public image. However, public also has a responsibility to not indulge in trivial allegations based on rumors. One must have the ability to understand subtle differences and not end up as victims of propaganda. In a world of fluctuating political perceptions, hired spin artists twist Dr Swamy's honest views and past associations to suit the agenda of their paymasters. For instance, Dr Swamy's friendship with Rajiv Gandhi has been twisted multiple times to show him as a Congress man, which is a blatant lie ...

Indian MSME sector accounts for 30% of India's GDP and 40% of India's exports. It is a major source of employment in the informal economy of the country. MSME sector was struggling with multiple challenges before Covid-19 crisis, however, the current pandemic only amplified the issues in this sector.  Current state of MSME sector is primarily due to flawed monetary and fiscal policies of the past and present governments. It all started with import of so-called foreign educated Indian origin economists like Raghuram Rajan, who mindlessly applied western economic theories in Indian context.  During his tenure as RBI governor, Rajan had adopted self-defeating monetary measures that triggered stress in the MSME sector. For example, increasing interest rates for business loans while reducing the interest rates on saving schemes like Fixed deposits. This single step adversely impacted the earning capacity of small income households which form the core of MSME sector.  ...