Captain GR Gopinath founded Air Deccan and is considered a pioneer in the low-cost airline sector. He recently joined Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party.While there is euphoria and a sense of optimism about Arvind Kejriwal leading AAP to victory in Delhi, especially among the youth and educated middle class across the country who till recently were cynical, despondent and largely apathetic, there are increasing concerns among the same people at some of the conflicting statements from AAP on major policies.
May be AAP leaders should have refrained from shooting from the hip their personal opinion and should have instead announced that the party has just come to power, and admitted it is still young and inexperienced in matters of governance. Though a couple of them were outstanding professionals before they joined AAP, they will need some time to deliberate internally and form a panel of economists, defence analysts and foreign policy experts as well as identify civil servants with integrity and come out with an informed policy document.
There's nothing to be ashamed of. The party needs time to settle down and get its act together. Nobody can grudge that concession to AAP. It is just a few months old. But what they have achieved, in transforming the very nature of politics of this country is stupendous. They have shown that you can win elections in India without the backing of money, muscle and caste power. They gave hope and optimism to the country where none existed - not just to the educated and urban middle class but the to the entire social and economic strata of people who backed AAP in Delhi and brought it to power.
The ban on FDI in retail is a bit of a shocker, especially the manner in which it was done. AAP is in danger of being branded like other political parties of resorting to cheap and populist measures and opposing for the sake of opposing. This means it is running the risk of losing the huge ground swell of support and optimism. It will send a wrong message to investors that India is an unstable country with regard to continuity in economic policies.
The AAP is unwittingly also playing into the hands Indian Oligopolies who were opposing FDI in retail so that they can have a monopoly. Which means it is ok for Indian Retail Corporates to rape India and not Foreign Corporates. That's exactly the 'crony capitalism' that benefited under previous governments. I think personally opening up retail to FDI and more competition is good for the farmers and also the economy and the country. The view of small retailers is unfounded. That's the old BJP lobby of small traders. Their fears are unfounded. No Retail Corporation can shake our Udupi hotels or mom and pop groceries. Even in the West, the corne- store thrives. No Pizza Hut has dislodged Italian eateries.
But the larger point is AAP must step back and deliberate and not do any thing in haste in terms of policy decisions. It must take its time and come out with a long term vision for India that will remove poverty and improve living standards and create a happy society.
We need to build not only a 'corruption- free' India but also an economically strong and vibrant India which ensures millions of entrepreneurs, not just big 'crony capitalists', create wealth and jobs, and see that the benefits of better standards of living and job opportunities percolate into the deep bowels of the country instead of the teeming millions hankering after cushy government jobs which offer an opportunity to make easy money on the side. Nobody wants a corruption- free poor India.
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