Standout Economy

YOU DON’T EXPECT an Opposition politician to acknowledge the good work being done by a minister. Our politics has always been bereft of such decencies, such a bipartisan spirit. Particularly since the advent of Rahul Gandhi as the sole arbiter of the once glorious Congress, anything other than a visceral hostility towards the Modi government is certain to earn you a black mark. Therefore, even in private, do not expect someone like P Chidambaram, who unlike most of his party colleagues, can at least claim domain knowledge, to concede that Nirmala Sitharaman has performed rather well in a difficult global environment, including the two-year Covid hiatus.

Despite the trying times, she does seem to have shepherded the finance and corporate affairs ministries rather well. All key indicators like GDP growth, GST, direct income and corporate tax collections, even consumer inflation, et al, attest to her remarkable performance. Don’t agree? Okay, consider GDP growth and consumer inflation in any of the neighbouring countries. Or in a major Western country. Ours is a rare standout economy thanks to the prudent management of the country’s finances despite a vastly enlarged welfare net.

This is exactly what Ajit Balakrishnan, the widely-respected IT industry veteran, may have had in mind when the other day writing in a pink daily he called Sitharaman “perhaps the best finance minister we have ever had.” High praise? Yes, indeed. And well-deserved, too. Post-retirement, Balakrishnan sits on various official and non-official committees, helping frame policies in the fast-changing tech sector. And as far as one knows, he has always been free from any political agenda, any partisanship.

AT LONG LAST, there may be relief in sight for the members of the capital’s elite Gymkhana Club.

Like the proverbial cats who invited the monkey to resolve the dispute only to regret it later, something similar seems to be happening at the Gymkhana Club, with members getting increasingly fed up with the periodic diktats of the official administrators who seem to be completely clueless about the club culture, nay, its conventions, and light-touch regulations. After all, the club boasts of the crème de la crème of society. No other club in the country boasts of over 26 acres of prime land abutting the prime minister’s residence. And of thousands on the waiting list for membership which may come, if at all, after four decades, or so.

In a club with such hoary traditions, you don’t imagine they would go about making up for the supposed losses by virtually ordering even outstation members to compulsorily pay a fixed amount, regardless of whether you ‘actually’ spend it or not. Or, later, upon

discovering that there are a few members behind in the payment of dues—tell us of a club that doesn’t have such members—and come up with a rude solution. Which is to issue an edict from on high, without sounding old members, that henceforth, all members must deposit a sizeable amount in advance if they want to avail of the club’s services. Why such distrust? Why not allow them to pay through a card, credit or debit, or in cash, as in the India International Centre, while an advance deposit could be optional?

Regardless, the club members now pin their hopes on the Supreme Court, which at long last has resumed hearing the plea against the Babu Raj. A majority of members hope to give a better account of themselves upon the return of self-rule, rather than risk yet again an invitation to the superannuated babus to lord over them.

BOTH HOUSES OF Parliament in the recently concluded Budget Session witnessed bitter acrimony and noisy walkouts. No surprises, there. However, what caught my eye was the short speech by the nominated member of Rajya Sabha. Given five minutes by the presiding officer, Sudha Murthy, the wife of the Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, really an accomplished person in her own right, made two telling points to a largely empty House. One, girls aged between nine and 14 must be vaccinated against cervical cancer in a nationwide free programme. And two, at least 90-odd destinations across the country other than the designated world heritage sites represent our rich civilisational moorings and need to be put on the tourist circuit. Hope the line ministers were paying heed.

Ajit BalakrishnanDelhi Gymkhana ClubIndian ParliamentNirmala SitharamanUnion Budget 2024