Is the BJP-led NDA government doing better than the Congress-led UPA government?
In October-November 2013, food inflation was extremely high in Delhi with onion and tomato retail prices per KG was Rs 100 and 80-90 respectively. Many of my friends narrated me their story that they made numerous visits to Okhla subzi mandi (south Delhi), Ghazipur subzi mandi (east Delhi), Sahibabad, Noida and other NCR towns vegetable wholesale market in desperate attempt to get these vegetables. Due to rains and other short supply issue, they were completely missing from retail market and Delhi govt and CM Sheila Dikshit was in panic mode as state election was just one month away. BJP CM Sushma Swaraj lost Delhi state election in December 1998 only because of similar high cost of onion and tomato prevailed in Delhi at that point of time. After that congress CM Sheila Dikshit maintained 15-year tenure but a 4th term win seems unlikely just because of high onion and tomato price.
There was another big problem for CM Sheila Dikshit in Delhi during November 2013 state election. Her reputation was dented due to series of crime and corruption cases. The brutal ‘Nirbhaya’ gang-rape case was in the minds of people as series of agitations in Delhi streets for nearly a year helped people drift away from congress. Generally, Delhi city people are business minded and self-centred who don’t get involved in social or political agitations but Nirbhaya agitation changed that. People had feeling that if an experience lady CM cannot handle rising rape case, who can handle this?
Security guards for tomato
Anti-onion price hike protest
Indira Gandhi with onion garland
Due to this double crisis, what congress/UPA 2.0 govt can do? They need to do something to cheer up the mood of the people when 5 states are going for elections. Onion helped Indira Gandhi’s return to the centre after 1980 when she would wave garlands of onions at political rallies to upstage the bickering Janta Party. Congress understands the onion price issue and tears it can bring to voters’ eyes. Congress came up with a plan as cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement on 16 November 2013 gave an opportunity to government.
Sachin Tendulkar retires from international cricket
On very next day, 17 November 2013, UPA 2.0 government declared country’s highest civilian award ‘Bharat Ratna’ to Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar (award was given later). Since Cricket is a religion in India and Sachin Tendulkar is the God of Cricket, most of the Indian population cheered with this news. This was for the first time that a sports person was awarded the highest govt award which was mostly awarded (sometimes to self) to sitting PMs, Presidents, Noble laureates, scientists and politicians. There was some minor controversy as few people raised the name of past sports legends like Hockey player Dhyan Chand who deserves this award prior to Sachin Tendulkar. But by and large most people were happy. I am not criticizing the govt decision but the timing of the decision.
There was a strong political motive to declare this award at a critical time for congress party. 5 states - Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram were going for polls in less than 15 days and indications show congress will lose most of them. There was a strong reason for this anti-congress wave. Did awarding Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar just before the election helped congress in any manner? The results proved otherwise.
5 state elections in November-December 2013 – Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram results are:
Delhi – BJP got 32 out of 70 seats and maintained its vote base without much gain or loss. Congress got only 8 seats and newcomer Arvind Kejriwal of AAP got 28 which means almost entire congress vote bank shifted to new AAP just due to corruption and high cost of onion & tomatoes. Kejriwal who took vows in his children’s name that he will not give or take support from corrupt congress took congress support to be the CM for first time for 49 days.
MP – Shivraj Singh Chauhan of BJP made a good comeback after 10 years (2003-2013) as CM when many experts predicted anti-incumbency and change of government.
Rajasthan – Congress government of Gehlot lost and BJP’s Vasundhara Raje became CM.
Chhattisgarh – BJP won against direct fight against congress.
Mizoram – The only state out of these 5, congress managed a consolation win. Later UPA 2.0 govt made Sheila Dikhsit Mizoram governor for a brief period and her political career ended. Incidentally, Mizoram is a furthermore state of north-east where football is much more popular than Cricket. There may be possibilities that even today many people in Mizoram do not know about Sachin Tendulkar!
So, congress’s gamble to create ‘a feel-good factor’ just before 5 state elections in 2013 by timing ‘Bharat Ratna’ award to Sachin Tendulkar backfired. This gives indication that congress can politicize ‘Bharat Ratna’ and other Padma awards. It is clear President Rajdendra Prasad was under pressure to recommend Bharat Ratna for Jawaharlal Nehru and it can be said Nehru awarded Bharat Ratna to himself. Congress party nominated Gandhiji for Noble peace prize three times and Jawaharlal Nehru 12 out of 16 years when he was PM. The reason is obvious – Nehru’s international stature as ‘champion of non-alignment’ and ‘third world country leader’ must have increased with reputed international prize which will help congress party. Despite two terms as President, Rajdendra Prasad’s post-retirement relationship with Nehru was not good and there were many controversies. Indira Gandhi had loyal people as President and hence getting Bharat Ratna while serving as PM post was not a problem for her.
Incidentally, politicians with great achievements in freedom movement and nation-building got much delayed Bharat Ratna like Ambedkar (1990), Sardar Patel (1991), Gopinath Bordoloi (1999) etc. Misuse of power was again seen during UPA 2.0 era when Padma awards were given to people loyal to the family.
Different governments have different priorities
The onion crisis in November 2013 was not due to natural disaster like excess rains. It proves how ineffective highly educated economist PM Dr. Manmohan Singh who can be side-lined by congress politicians. Indian government exported nearly 30,000 tonnes of onion to bring down onion prices from Rs 80 to Rs 70 a kilo and imposed a minimum export price of $ 650 per tonne in August 2013 to restrict shipments in a bid to rein in prices. The export came despite a supply crunch in the market at that time. But despite previous experience and an impending disaster it did not put a ban on onion exports.
Compare this with Modi government’s initiative in 2022 to buy coal at discount from Australia when China stopped buying due to trade war, purchase of discounted oil from Russia during Ukraine war considering domestic consumer price sensitivities. Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan appreciated Indian purchase of Russian oil despite sanctions at multiple forums and also Chinese netizens appreciated Indian foreign policy independence. Also, Modi government restricted export wheat and rice to maintain domestic stock as many indications are showing slower global economic growth in 2023.
Picture source: Google/PTI/santabanta.com
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