The dilemma of Indian politics: The missing right

Politics of FDI

The victory of UPA 2 on FDI in retail in the Lok Sabha made headlines in several Urdu papers. Munsif on December 6 carried a prominent front page report. Prior to the debate in Parliament, Jamaat-e-Islami's bi-weekly, Daawat, commented: "The unprincipled stance of political parties on FDI in retail... and their somersaults in the game of numbers has proved that no party has any principled or solid view and, chameleon-like, they are changing colours with the situation". According to Jadeed Khabar, the manner in which the government agreed to the vote showed its double standards. "It shows the government is not bothered about the sanctity of Parliament or democratic principles and only wants to protect its interests... and is prepared to go to any limit in this regard."

Cash in hand

ON THE proposed cash transfer scheme, Rashtriya Sahara, in an editorial on November 28, writes: "Even though it will take some time for the new scheme to prove its merit, and it is not certain if it'll be foolproof and free from defects, yet it certainly is a sincere effort and the first towards reform in this sphere and has been welcomed." The editorial adds: "There is no doubt that some political gain is always a part of any government welfare scheme. But is it a sin? The real question is whether the benefit to the Congress after this step is more important than the benefit it would bring to the people at large... The opposition is afraid of the very thought of the electoral gain the new scheme would bring to the Congress."

The editor of the daily Inquilab, Shakeel Shamsi, in his column, writes: "The decision to implement this scheme in our country is good. But many have doubts about how accounts will be opened and how the amount will reach its intended recipient... It seems this would be another new way for touts and the corrupt to pocket money. But a good scheme cannot be opposed merely for fear of the dishonest."

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