PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has told MPs belonging to his BJP that they should impress upon the people the realization that his government’s programmes are not anti-poor. Its pro-poor initiatives range from housing to financial inclusion. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has staged a return to politics with hurling an accusation that the government is putting its weight behind big industry at the cost of farmers and the poor. Sitaram Yechuri has taken over as general secretary of the CPI (M) which may prove significant. The big question is whether he can arrest the continuing drift in his party’s policy. The “rich versus poor” conflict is endemic to Indian politics and economy. The Modi -Gandhi war of words has sharpened it. Yechuri’s appointment adds a new dimension to the spectrum. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a massive victory in Delhi playing on the same divide. The issue has now come to the fore with the stress on better targeting of subsidies and the resolution of the land acquisition controversy. Eonomic liberalization programme introduced in the 1990s has not had a smooth run. The economic policy matters have now specially come under scanner. The global economic perspective has brightened. In India, on the other hand, scams and scandals have cast a gloom and corruption has mounted.
The economic debate is somewhat obscured by political rhetoric. Rahul Gandhi has drawn a line between farming and industry, meaning the poor and the rich. But are farmers essentially poor? The middle class is an amorphous body but very impactful. It has its own problems. What is the distinction between “gareebi” and the “aam aadmi”? Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and Sitaram Yechuri can let off steam uttering pro-poor platitudes. But it may not be right to equate present day ground realities with old cleavages.
