Opinion Look inwards
It further says FDI in joint ventures would defeat the governments offset policy.
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An article in the CPMs Peoples Democracy criticises the UPA government for opening the defence sector to greater foreign investment. FDI in the defence sector,with lower or higher caps,will not result in the massive inflow of investments as is being touted. Nor will it bring in advanced technologies. These would happen,if at all,only if and when India fully surrenders the domestic defence manufacturing space to international defence conglomerates who will then,of course,retain their monopoly over advanced technologies.
It further says FDI in joint ventures would defeat the governments offset policy. Foreign suppliers,it argues,would obtain a substantial share of the offsets business,maybe half or more depending on how much FDI is permitted on a case-by-case basis.
The article also highlights the security risks involved in defence FDI liberalisation. It notes that security concerns are also raised over telephone equipment built by foreign companies and joint ventures in ports. It claims that permitting higher FDI in defence is tantamount to bidding farewell to self reliance. The article asserts that this policy will destroy the vast industrial infrastructure and capability created over decades,but which are now in poor form.
Bad omen
An article in the CPIs New Age accuses the BJP of fuelling communal riots with the 2014 elections in mind. Accusing the BJP of trying to polarise Hindus and Muslims,it says,the national agenda is cleverly being shifted to these lines with Narendra Modi put at the helm of the BJP by the RSS. Viewing Modis elevation as ominous,the article goes on to assert,the BJP has no other agenda,it is incapable of any other except the divisive one. And it excels in this field as none else. Since Modis arrival,the BJP has taken up a very aggressive communal posture,which has far reaching implications for the politics of the country. The RSS thinks it is the best or the only way to shore up the falling fortunes of the BJP. The article notes the attempt to revive Mandir politics and observes that there has been a spurt in communal violence in Bihar since the JD(U) and BJP split.
Race to the bottom
In an editorial titled Independence Day: rhetoric versus reality,the CPI(ML)s ML Update targets both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. While the prime minister is accused of using his I-Day speech as a platform from which he publicised his governments achievements,Modi was accused of attempting to exploit the occasion to catapult himself from his blood-stained provincial throne to the top job at the Centre. Manmohan Singhs speech this year dealt more with the… legacy of Nehru,Indira and Rajiv Gandhi a clear pointer to the fact that the government is desperately trying to run away from owning up its responsibility for the current crisis.
Compiled by Manoj C.G.
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