When the new BJP –led government took over, there were instant apprehensions that it would adopt a muscular tone and would be very assertive. Initially, it was also expected that the government would send some cold signals to various countries. All trough the campaign, the BJO touched the feelings of most Indians that our foreign policy as not successful and the old methods and policies might have to change. Indians generally felt that a country the size of India was not getting due respect from neighbors.
On June 13, 2014, Nitin Gadkhari, the Roads and Transport minister of India announced a new idea. Actually, it is a very old idea and perhaps, he might have heard of it for the first time and then naturally in his enthusiasm or “Eureka moment “he thinks it is very original and new idea and thus far, no one in the universe thought of it.
India has 4 deluxe private airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Approximately, 70% of all air traffic either originates at these 4 airports or lands there These 4 airports are very expensive and that is the reason flying is very expensive in India.
Just a year ago, no one would have believed Narendra Modi would become Prime Minister. There were many hurdles and no one expected that the BJP would win this election so well. Many politicians bet that there would be a Hung-Parliament and both BJP and Congress would not find numbers to form a government and regional players would play the big role. A thing turned out differently .There was no room for manipulations and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. Ambitious Naveen Patnaik and Jayalalitha went humbly to Modi and bowed. The neglected AAm Admi and middle classes have the highest expectations.
Most countries in the world with natural resources have established a “Sovereign Wealth Fund.” A major portion of the wealth derived from royalties, auction revenues or any other such revenues derived from natural resources or sale of telecom spectrum is deposited in the Sovereign Wealth Fund. Usually, the interest is used for diverse activities. Such countries do not merge the revenues from such sales, leases, rentals or auctions of natural resources or spectrum, etc with the annual budget. Public wants to be reassured that such wealth, which is generated from finite natural resources, is a permanent asset.
The entire country applauded Narendramodi for having avoided alarge cabinet at his swearing-in ceremony. There was satisfaction that a compact Cabinet will be there and it will be carefully watched and that there will be severe performance standards. It was expected that a non-performingminister will be punished and Ministers whodeliver willberewarded.
But suddenly,there seems to be the great pressure coming on NarendraModi for a largeexpansion. The entire BJP party now seems tobe demanding a large cabinet and how such–and-such a person must be included, etc.
In the last few days, a major controversy broke out that the newly –appointed Human resources Minister Smt. smriti irani was only a high-School educated person and hence was not qualified for the Human resources Ministry . It is odd that Ajay Maken, a former Minister in the Congress government, should make a comment on other people’s educational qualification. Not too long ago, when Ajay Maken was the Sports Minister of India, his Congress colleague Mani shankar aiyar made public fun of his degree froma non-elite college of Delhi.
Dr. Pentapati Pullarao is an Economist, Columnist and Public Affairs Activist and has contributed over 650+ articles to periodicals and newspapers in the last 15 years. Pentapati Pullarao is also the President of Forum on Social & Human Rights and a Life Member of Indian Society for International Law, New Delhi. Dr. Pentapati Pullarao had been quite instrumental in taking up the cause of displaced people and actively represented to government on the need to amend Land Acquisition Act of 1984.