Monday, October 22, 2007

India's Left-Anti-Americanism only ideology???

The conduct of the Left ever since the UPA came to power three years ago has been subject of many a discussion. Here is a party, which is firmly against globalization and the involvement of foreign companies in our economy. The irony is that the Left Front is following the policies the Left claim is killing India. Buddha babu claims industrialization is the only way forward, whilst Karat and co protest against FDI in retail (Wal-Mart), SEZ’s and now the nuclear deal.
The Left is in a position of great power in the present political set up. They can arm twist the Congress as much as they want and still get away with it. Karat and Yechury agree that only reforms will take the nation forward, yet they do not want foreign (especially American) companies entering the economy, claiming to protect the interests of the small scale traders in this country. Are the experiences of the past not enough for the comrades? The growth India has seen over the past 15 years is double the growth we achieved for the first 40 years of Independence. Even after acknowledging the effectiveness of the post-liberalization policies they are loath to foreign involvement. The Nuclear Deal lays open the mindset of the comrades. They claim the deal will compromise the nation's Sovereignty. Are we such midgets to not stand up for ourselves? Yet the deal offers India respite because it allows us to come out of nuclear isolation. Even China's 123 agreement does not contain the benefits accorded to us. The Left's rigid opposition seems to stem from the fact that the US is such a major partner is the deal. Perhaps, they would not have minded if the deal was with China or Russia. It is time the Left realises that their ideology is outdated. Reforms and Industrialization will take us forward. We cannot let regressive elements besmirch our march forward.