UPA - Yearly Report Card

Let us see what the UPA government achieved in the last 1 year or so. Its achievements, failures, advantages and handicaps.

A Prelude:
The UPA Govt inherited an upbeat economy with a remarkable GDP growth rate touching 8. It inherited an impeccable stature that India enjoyed in the international arena with India enjoying a good relationship with US, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and started having good relations with China. The Cross Border relationship with Pakistan and Bangladesh were about to get better.

The sensex was picking up, the FDI was destined to soar new heights day after day, the manufacturing industry was picking up and the infra-structure was picking up.

In spite of these, the NDA lost on two major grounds. Lack of reforms in the unorganised sector and Agriculture. They made blunders in not giving the required importance and attention to these 2 sectors.

So, lets see what the UPA changed. We will give them a thumps-up if they retain the good and cure the struggling sectors.

Lets see the achievements:

1. For the year as a whole, total agricultural production has,risen marginally by 1.1 % (from around 9 % preceeding year). With agriculture still a large portion of the GDP it is difficult to raise the GDP without much improvement in the agri sector. But, this much is achieved inspite of Tsunami and the irregular monsoons. Good work farmers.

2. Fiscal deficit decreased in 2004-2005 from 9.4 % of GDP to 7.9 % in 2004-05 despite higher oil prices and tsunami. The credit goes to the Financial Minister, Mr.P.Chidambaram

3. Employment guarantee bill which seeks to do something for the marginalised. But, to claim this as an achievement is yet to be seen.

4. The achievments in the petroleum sector is remarkable. The Petro minister Mr.Mani Shankar Aiyer has won many accolades in the African, South American continents and the middle east. He surely deserves the credit.

5. Dayanidhi Maran's contribution in the Information sector is noteworthy, with his tie ups with the Japanese and the chinese industries. The introduction of "TamilNadu One" and the dream of "India One" is a great leap.

6. Kamal nath, the Commerce and industrial minister has done a wonderful job in the WTO meetings by taking the lead within the developing nations. His brand slogan "Served from India" is picking up speed.

7. Taking VAT one step more closer to implementation.

8. The right to information bill is enacted into law.

9. Kashmir, has seen the start of a Bus service from Srinagar to Muzafarrabad. After about half a century the people of Kashmir have a chance to meet their loved ones and relatives. There is nothing equivalent like seeing smiles in the face of ordinary men, who have lived thro' terror for the past decade and a half.


Did they go wrong anywhere?

Ofcourse they went wrong in more than one.

1. Though the Tsunami relief works were remarkable, they changed their stand on accepting the international aid too very frequently. Turning down might be a matter of pride, but, shud be done without irritating the helping hand.

2. Democracy. Shame on us. The high profile drama enacted by both BJP and the Congress in Goa in the name of safe guarding democracy has brought an irreversible black mark on the nation's pride as the largest democracy.

3. Alas, Congress didn't stop with Goa. Its continuation in Jharkand and recently in Bihar is not even work mentioning here. How can they even think of doing this in this information era? 1975 was a different time. Today is the media age.

4. PM, the supposed to be the highest authority in the Govt doesn't seem to enjoy the real power. What is the point in having the Potential without the real Power?

5. The communists have dragged him in every possible encounter. Be it the appointment of Montek singh ahluwalia or the dis-investment. Infact, the communists declared within hours of the election results that they will scrap the dis-investment ministry. What signal will this send to the investors both FII and FDI or whatever?

6. There was no significant development in the transport infra-structure. No budget was allocated for the golden quadrilateral project. Isn't it a Silly behaviour? Is this a matured Democracy? Scrapping the previous govt's devlopment activities isn't prudent or doesn't serve the ulterior motive of nation building.

7. Railways. Its better not to say anything about this.

8. Agricultural reforms. Yet to see an output.

9. Terrorism: They revoked Pota. Started negotiations with the Naxalites. But, this has not served in the national interest. They have actually become stronger and more open. The Maoists are getting stronger in Bihar, Jharkand and the PWG is getting a strong hold in Telangana.

10. An Indian soildair was shot dead by the Bangladeshi rifles. There was no action taken or it was not taken to the bangladeshi higher ups politically. The same mistake was done by the BJP govt in 2001. Doing the same mistake again amounts to foolishness.

11. Nepal: We again lost the train in pushing our agenda in Nepal. Nepal is shoing signs of going the Tibet way. It might soon be lost to the Maoists. Shutting the doors by pushing hte democratic agenda and revoking it back was foolish both ways. If Pushing Democracy is not in the national interest then, dump democracy and see the nation as a whole.

12. The relations with the US, Russia and the G8 were at historic high at 2003. But, Natwar seems to be not doing the job at his best. The relations have started soaring. The reactions to the sale of F16 to Pak wasn't prudent.


Advantages of this Govt:

They have some great advantages when compared to the previous govt.

1. The finance ministry is looking impressive with the PM himself and another intelligent, straight forward P.Chidambaram in the Finance Miniter and a much better Montek singh Ahluwalia in the place of K.C.Panth as the planning commionner.

2. Mani Shankar Aiyar is at his carreer best as the prtroleum minister.

3. Dayanidhi Maran proving his father Murasoli as an able executive than a politician.

4. Kamal Nath again pushing the agenda quite well in the international market.

Handicaps:

This Govt had some bigtime blows.

1. Communists ... lesser said the better

2. Lalu .. again no need to give reasons

3. Mulayam ... his muslim appeasement is beyond stinking

4. The year end (2004) seems to have been a curse on the nation. the nation witnessed the death of two great souls and thousands of innocent ones to Tsunami.

5. The legendary P V Narasimha Rao left India. He was not even given a proper cremation in Delhi. As Nehru once said in his speech after losing 1962 war, I am saying this... My heart goes to the family of Narasimha Rao...

6. Another one was the death of J N Dixit. National Security Advisor to the PM. If he had been there, ManMohan wouldn't have done the blunder with Nepal. People realise only when we are absent. Dixit, the nation misses you. Misses you now, that your successor is no where near your potentiality.


Any pessimist will ridicule saying that the direction India is heading towards is bound to get doomed.

But, I beg to differ. India will progress irrespective of who is in power. With a powerful media, once the tranparency bill comes into full action, things are bound to get changed. Though the pace of reforms are slow, we will keep progressing.

We need to appreciate ManMohan's assessment. Though people might think that he is moderate and humble by awarding 60%, I would still say that he is generous. I would only award 45% to this Govt's performance. This is surely a thumps down.

Yet, this govt has passed the first test, though not with an impeccable performance.

- Murali