The whole of India will be closed today because all the Opposition parties have called for a nationwide strike to protest against inflation - in particular, against the recent hike in fuel prices. However, like Chacha Manmohan S Gandhi, the Opposition too seems to have lost the plot. There is this excellent feature story on Rediff today on the common man's perception of the strike. The feature is a slide show, with a different voice speaking on every page. And they all say the same thing - that the strike is a hoax; that they will be hurt; and that you cannot fool all the people all the time. I strongly recommend that you go through the Rediff story before reading on. It proves that this strike is not "popular."
What also emerges from this reading is that we Indians are NOT being "represented" at all in this socialist democracy. All the political parties are part and parcel of this Total Chacha State. As with all their "politics," this strike too is mere gimmickry. If they knew anything about inflation, they could have voted against the Union Budget. They did not. There is never any meaningful debate in Parliament in our socialist democracy. During the debate on the Budget, all these Opposition parties "sold" their votes for wads of freshly printed rupee notes.
What do citizens do? I suggest a nationwide Pink Chaddhi Campaign. Let us all send Pink Chaddhis to Chacha Manmohan S Gandhi, to Boss Sonia, to the Finance Minister and to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India - the four principal culprits. They have caused inflation with reckless government spending, huge deficits, and irresponsible printing of currency notes.
As far as today's strike is concerned, I'd say - ignore it. Let it be business as usual. If any political party goons attempt to shut down business, shoot them.
It is precisely this that is going to happen in South Goa. Here, the District Magistrate has ordered the police and the paramilitary forces to ensure all businesses, all shops, and all transporters carry on their trades without disruption. I hope every DM throughout India will take the same stand.
And as for the suffering citizen: buy 4 Pink Chaddhis and post them to the real culprits. And send an extra large one to Chacha - for he calls himself an "economist," and in his long career (entirely spent within the bowels of The State) he has also been Governor of the Reserve Bank. The buck should stop with him.
Explanatory Note: "Chaddhi" is the Hindi word for ladies' underwear. Recently, there was a spontaneous Pink Chaddhi Campaign against a political goon squad leader that was a huge success.
why not pink chaddis for Advani/Gadkari/Sushma/Jaitley as well?
ReplyDeleteI welcome government's decision to deregulate gas prices by removing subsidies. When governments decide to subsidize a commodity it disrupts the free market forces. After all has anyone asked where does govt get the money to subsidize oil? It's from your own pocket in the form of taxes or worse by printing press other wise called inflation. That's right! Printing money that you don't have, causes inflation. Price rise is just an after effect.
ReplyDeleteNow the protest shouldn't be for asking Subsidizing the gas prices again. But it should be for reducing your taxes that was used to cheapen oil prices in the first place. That saved money should be returned to people who best know what to do with their money.
But alas!! What do I see... People complaining that govt is sleeping, it is not doing enough, who will solve common man's problems.... blah blah.. more blah.... Sorry friends.. The problem is not govt being asleep. The problem is govt is very much awake. The problem is not that govt is not doing enough, but that out is doing too much.
Ever wondered why prices of consumer electronic goods always tend to decrease inspite of inflation? Well that is because govt is not involved in fixing their prices. Their market prices are determined by supply and demand and competition among manufacturers. If these goods can manage, then why should govt fix prices of essential commodities at all. It is high time that we stop demanding that govt should reign in the prices, as they are the problem. Govt should stop distorting the market forces and get out of this price fixing mess. Market knows better!!