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> mean R0 ranges from 2.24 (95 nuccore/MN908947). This CHINESE WHISPERS per cent CI: 1.96-2.55) to 3.58 (95 allows patients with flu-like The good side of bad per cent CI: 2.89-4.39) associated symptoms to rapidly tested with 8-fold to 2-fold increase in and diagnosed. How well-prepared is the world to contain and hopefully, cure, a new the reporting rate.” Even the low- Genome sequencing is the Not Bihar, says Gadkari er estimate of 2.2 implies the dis- first step in trying to generate disease? NCoV will be a test case ease is likely to spread rapidly. a vaccine. The genome has now The other paper, been sequenced from multiple This is despite desperate While the disease has flu-like ber is higher than 1, the disease (https://www.biorxiv.org/con- patients (including patients in attempts to quarantine Wuhan symptoms, there may be a peri- will spread unless patients are tent/10.1101/2020.01.25.919787v Thailand). Genomes from later and other Chinese cities. The od of several days, when an isolated. This R0 number can 1, authored by a team from the infections can be compared to disease has arrived in India, infected person could display no vary widely. Influenza for Guangdong Provincial Center early ones to judge mutations. courtesy a native of Kerala who symptoms. The spread of infec- example, has a R0 of 2-3, while for Disease Control and The rate of mutation can tell was a student at Wuhan tious diseases depends on many measles has an R0 of 12-18. This Prevention says, “The average us how long the virus has been University. An estimated 40 mil- factors. One is, ironically, good means that a single measles incubation duration of 2019- in the “wild”, and where it orig- lion people are in a “no-travel” infrastructure. In the 21st centu- case could lead to 18 more nCoV infection was 4.8 days. inated. The genome of the zone in China. Many commer- ry, infectious cases can travel infections. A highly infectious The average period from onset Wuhan virus is 29,903 bases cial flights into China have been across the planet in a few hours. virus (like the common cold) of symptoms to isolation of long, and of very recent origin, cancelled. The UK is insisting on China with its excellent infras- could be non-fatal, and there- 2019-nCoV and SARS cases because it has low mutations. Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari two weeks quarantine for any tructure can therefore, “export” fore, not so scary. But an infec- were 2.9 and 4.2 days, respec- Scientists estimate that it’s (pictured) at a recent press meet was QUANTUM LEAP traveller out of China, India has a disease more easily than say, tious disease, with a high fatal- tively.” It continues “The 2019- likely to have originated in applauded for the remarkable job done also imposed quarantine. West Africa. We’ve already seen ity rate like say, Ebola, is really nCoV may have a higher pan- bats, jumped to some animal by his department in Haryana. But DEVANGSHU DATTA This is a zoonotic coron- this with SARS in 2003. frightening. demic risk than SARS. The commonly consumed in guests at the event were left scratching aviruses, a virus which can Medical statisticians judge As of now, there isn’t implemented public-health Wuhan, and then to humans. their heads because of a comment he mutate to be transmitted from how infectious a disease is, by enough data to judge either the efforts have significantly The human version is believed made later during the event. When the n December 31, 2019, animals and birds to human calculating a Basic Reprodu- R0, or the fatality rate of NCoV decreased the pandemic risk. to have “first appeared no ear- minister was asked whether his China informed the beings. For example, SARS, ction Number (R0 or R-nought with much accuracy. But However, more rigorous con- lier than October 30, 2019, and ministry could replicate its efforts in OWorld Health Organ-iza- which also started in China is in the jargon). This R0 indi- researchers are making prelim- trol and prevention strategies no later than November 29”. Bihar also, Gadkari replied in his tion that a new coronavirus was believed to have leapt species cates the average number of inary estimates. Two papers and measures are needed to There have been terrific characteristic impishness: “No, I don’t infecting people in Wuhan city from bats and civet cats, to people, one infected person with multiple authors have contain its further spread.” developments in genetic have the capability to do it.” What was (population 11 million), the capi- humans. It is assumed the may infect before he or she been released (neither is peer- Chinese scientists have research in the last decade with he implying? That his ministry didn’t tal of Hubei Province. The first Wuhan virus (now called the is cured (or dies). The higher reviewed yet). done a pretty good job of get- new tools like CRISPR being have the wherewithal to continue the case had been identified on Novel Coronavirus or NCoV) the R0, the more infectious One of these, (https:// ting data to the global scientif- discovered and deployed. How great work, or did he simply take a December 8. Till date, the new also leapt from an animal or the disease. www.biorxiv.org/content/10. ic community. By January 10, well-prepared is the world now swipe at the Bihar government? With virus has infected at least 8,000 bird to a human host and If the R0 is less than 1, the 1101/2020.01.23.916395v2) from China had sequenced and to contain and hopefully, cure, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar being people, caused at least 156 deaths human-to-human transmis- disease is self-limiting. It will a team of Hong Kong academics released the NCoV genome a new disease? NCoV will be a a Bharatiya Janata Party ally, a majority and spread to multiple countries. sions are now occurring. gradually die out. If the num- says “We estimated that the (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ test case. of those gathered were willing to rule out the second possibility.

Azad-Adhir synergy Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is Bracing against Brent the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha while Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is the party’s leader in the It is time for India to be imaginative about its energy strategy Lok Sabha, and recognised as the legislative leader of the principal up for rest of the imports. Indian oil first four months of FY2019 compared Opposition party. Azad lives at 5, refiners preferred West Asia crude as to 83.2 per cent during the correspond- South Avenue Lane, in New Delhi. it was more cost effective; however, ing period a year ago. On the other Until recently, Chowdhury lived in India stopped import of crude oil from hand, India has increased its oil Humayun Road, which is a little over Iran in May 2019 after the expiry of the import from the US. 5 km from South Avenue. At times, waiver granted by the US. It is interesting that the theatre of people in the Congress wish their Lok The US started supplying crude oil the current West Asia crisis is Iraq Sabha and Rajya Sabha strategies to India in 2017, and has become a which is another major supplier to could do with greater synergy. This major source since then. In FY 2018- India. The US sanctions and air strikes could be on the mend. According to 19, import from the US increased more are being seen in some quarters as a sources, Chowdhury is set to shift to than four-fold to 6.4 million tonne. strategic manoeuvre by the country to a bungalow across the lane where JAY CHEEMA & FAIZA KHAN There was a further increase of more establish itself as global supplier of Azad lives and the two neighbours than 72 per cent from April to August crude oil and natural gas. With Iran could get more opportunities to 2019 as the US supplied 4.5 million already closeted, there would be an exchange notes on the party’s tonne compared to the 2.6 million increase in the demand of oil which parliamentary strategy. ndia’s crude import bill in FY-2018- tonne in the same period in the pre- would lead to an increase in prices. 19, when the country had imported ceding year. While Brent crude prices shot up to I84 per cent of its crude oil require- Recent US sanctions have cut off around $70 a barrel due to the prevail- Fewer ‘Modi jackets’ ment, was the highest in the past five Iran from the international financial ing hostilities, since the beginning of The government on Thursday held the years. India spent $111.9 billion on oil system and devalued its currency, January, it has come down somewhat. customary all-party meeting that takes imports in 2018-19 compared to $87.8 decreased the Iranian oil exports to But if the prices shoot up again, there place before the start of a Parliament billion in FY 2017-18. Moreover, two- almost nil, scared off international is likely to be a heavy impact on India’s If the Brent crude prices shoot up again, there will be a huge impact on India’s session. The Budget session begins on thirds of the imports were sourced banks and suppliers even in sectors economy and energy security. A spike economy and energy security Friday. Representatives, 34 in number from conflict-prone regions of the like food and medicine and caused a in prices may also require a reconsid- and from nearly all political parties, world. The increasing hostility decrease in foreign investment in eration of oil supply agreements. attended the meeting, with Prime between the US and Iran might thus energy, financial and shipping sectors. Any increase in the price of crude ingly more reliant on US for meeting adversity of ties between India and Minister Narendra Modi chairing it. MPs have an adverse impact on India’s Contrary to expectations, India oil has a significant impact on infla- its energy requirements, there is a Iran may also hamper India’s future and officials who have tracked these domestic supply and import bill. remained largely unaffected by the tion as it drives monetary policy deci- need to diversify its portfolio of energy energy security and investments in meetings over the past few years Iran is the second largest country cancellation of the exemption granted sions. Retail inflation rose to an over suppliers, and reconfigure its supplier the future. observed that the number of MPs in the Middle East and has the World’s by the US to its sanctions. To meet its three-year-high of 5.5 per cent in network. India also needs to bear in India and the US are two vibrant wearing “Modi jackets” used to be third largest oil reserves. It used to be oil requirements, India increased November 2019, triggered by a rise in mind the tendency of US to impose democracies. Relying on historical kin- nearly a dozen until recently, including the biggest supplier of crude oil to imports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, prices of food items. Any increase in restrictions in the form of sanctions ship with Iran and shared democratic those from some of the regional parties India after Iraq and Saudi Arabia in Venezuela and US. the price of crude oil would impact the against the actions of the countries values with the US, India could help that were not allies of the Bharatiya 2018. Iraq supplied 46.61 million tonne Once the US imposed sanctions on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation that it perceives as hostile to its inter- build a consanguine entente between Janata Party. At Thursday’s meeting, of the total 207.3 million tonne of crude Venezuela’s production and the sale of number commensurately. The govern- ests. That said, Iran’s Ambassador to the two. The proponents of the nation- apart from the PM, Parliamentary import by India in 2018-19, followed crude oil, India had to stop oil imports ment could consider reducing the bur- India, Ali Chegeni, welcomed peace first theory need to be imaginative Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and a YSR by 40.33 million tonne from Saudi from that country. According to the den of taxes like excise duty by the initiatives from India to de-escalate about the opportunities that can be Congress MP were seen wearing the Arabia and 29.9 million tonne from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Centre and value added tax (VAT) by the tumultuous situation in West Asia. fashioned for trade, commerce, human jacket. Some attributed this to the Iran, as per the data released by the Gas, crude imports from the the states on fuels. However, this India should look towards balancing advancement, and peace. Delhi cold — which meant MPs wore Directorate General of Commercial Organisation of Petroleum Exporting would dent revenues and widen the its interests as any escalation may clothing that covered their arms Intelligence and Statistics. The UAE, Countries (Opec) decreased to 78 per fiscal deficit of the exchequer. jeopardise its investments in Iran Jay Cheema is partner; Faiza Khan is an instead of a sleeveless “Modi jacket”. Venezuela, Nigeria and the US made cent of the total imports during the While India is becoming increas- (such as the Chabahar Port), and any associate, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

BUSINESS LIFE > LETTERS

vatisation. Those who were brought airline only after it concludes an How Indian food can predict vote choice Unfortunate move back to Air India in February 2019 to internal inquiry constituted in a man- smoothly execute the process ner prescribed. The haste shown by Questions about food, travel and the kinds of sports people engage in can be remained unsuccessful. Now IndiGo and other airlines betrays used as an index of someone’s local versus cosmopolitan orientation whether this second attempt will be their eagerness to bend over back- successful or not, remains a question. wards to please the authorities. The LYNN VAVRECK Sanders’s supporters tend to be younger Despite the deterioration of Air India, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh and more liberal; Biden’s are older and some companies are showing interest Puri’s advice to the airlines to ban ometimes, seemingly nonpolitical more likely to be nonwhite. because Air India has extensive topics can shed light on people’s There were no discernible differences domestic and international network, S political choices, even after on most of the nonpolitical questions traffic rights in important airports accounting for things like partisanship, across the candidates’ supporters in Iowa, such as London and Dubai. But there education, geography and ideology. It’s such as on buying organic foods (most is a catch. Air India has a debt of as if the answers to these questions help supporters of all the candidates think it’s thousands of crores of rupees. This account for some of what traditional important), using Twitter to read political includes long-term debt for the pur- political measures leave unexplained. news (most don’t) or watching television This refers to the editorial “Air India's chase of aircraft. The national carrier When was the last time you had vin- shows on premium outlets (also uncom- new deal” (January 28). One of the is currently incurring a daily loss of daloo or tandoori chicken? Chances are mon). Accounting for things like age and major components of neo-liberal around ~20-25 crore and has a debt if you’re a Democrat in Iowa supporting education soaked up most of the differ- policies, popularly known as “LPG” of ~5,000 crore. Joe Biden, it has been a while. ences that appeared at first glance. (liberalisation, privatisation and Bhupender Ranga Panipat The latest New York Times/Siena Australia, Canada or Mexico or had eaten But, as has also been true in past globalisation) policies, is privatisa- College poll asked 584 possible Iowa at an Indian restaurant were less likely contests, Indian food was a distinguish- tion. This privatisation can be of pub- Undue haste Democratic caucusgoers lots of typical to choose Mr. Trump by 10 to 12 percent- ing characteristic. In Iowa, supporters lic enterprises, public resources and Kamra from flying amounts to poking political questions, like whether they age points beyond the differences of Sanders are its biggest fans: 71 per public services. The process in our One wonders if the airline (IndiGo) his nose in a matter falling entirely were Democrats or Republicans, and explained by other factors like the ones cent of them report going to an Indian country was initiated under the would have shown the same level of within the domain of airline’s internal whether they planned to vote. But it also mentioned above. restaurant sometime in the last 10 Congress regime in 1991 and this has alacrity in slapping a three-month fly- committee. The ban should be put on asked a few less obviously political ones, In a recent paper, David Broockman, years. Biden’s supporters are less likely gained momentum since the ing ban on stand-up comic Kunal hold pending the recommendation of like if they’d been out for Indian food or Gregory Ferenstein and Neil Malhotra to have done so by about 30 points. This Bharatiya Janata Party came to pow- Kamra (pictured) had he targeted the internal committee. After all, the right how important it is to buy organic food. returned to a workplace setting and makes sense. Sanders’s supporters are er. Dismantling the public sector likes of Ravish Kumar of NDTV or to travel is a basic one which can be Questions about food, travel and the showed that these orientations also sep- younger and perhaps more likely to live means handing over our national Rajdeep Sardesai of India Today curtailed only after observing the due kinds of sports people engage in can be arated technology entrepreneurs from in the college towns or in major assets, our national wealth to the cor- instead of “heckling” TV anchor process of law. used as an index of someone’s local ver- other economic elites in terms of their metropolitan areas. porates, domestic and foreign, on a Arnab Goswami. This is not to defend S K Choudhury Bengaluru sus cosmopolitan orientation. In polling attitudes toward economic and social Of course, it’s not that eating Indian silver platter. The fact is that the huge or condone the uncivilised behaviour during the 2008 Democratic primary, policy. (Tech entrepreneurs are more food leads a person to support one accumulated loss of Air India, which of this comedian on board the flight. Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to: The Editor, Business Standard such questions helped differentiate vot- cosmopolitan than other economic Democratic candidate over another — was a profit making company till However, imposition of a ban for Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg ers who chose Barack Obama in the elites, and the authors think the rise of that’s silly. (And there are voters for 2007, was the result of bungling and three months is in flagrant violations New Delhi 110 002 2008 Democratic primary from those tech could therefore help to reduce eco- whom Indian food is the taste of home.) misgovernance by successive govern- of the rules framed by the Ministry of Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: [email protected] who chose Hillary Clinton. The more nomic inequality and other social and But a voter’s orientation toward the ments. Selling it is nothing but frit- Civil Aviation under which a person All letters must have a postal address and telephone likely that people were to experience political inequalities, as these cos- world is related to candidate choice, tering away national assets for the can be placed on a “no-fly list” by an number other cultures probably unfamiliar to mopolitans start influencing politics and it turns out that eating in restau- benefit of private airlines, domestic them — through travel or food — the and policy.) rants that celebrate less familiar cul- and foreign. > HAMBONE more likely they were to vote for Obama, In Iowa this year, a similar theme is tures is one way to measure where peo- S K Khosla Chandigarh even controlling for things like income, emerging among possible Democratic ple think they are more connected: To education, personality, racial attitudes caucusgoers. The Times/Siena poll those around them locally or to people Sale unavoidable, but… and city living. revealed the same descriptive differ- farther afield. This orientation toward the world ences across the candidates’ supporters Which Democrats will prevail this pri- After an unsuccessful attempt to sell also helped differentiate people who on basic demographics like age, educa- mary season — the cosmopolitans or the its stake in Air India, the government supported Donald J Trump from those tion and race, and on political charac- local-focussed? Something to consider is going to make another attempt. who supported any of the 16 other can- teristics like whether they describe the next time you eat out. The airline, which is in debt, has been didates in the Republican primary in themselves as ideologically moderate or suffering for a long time now. 2016. Voters who had been to Europe, very liberal. For example, Bernie ©2020 The New York Times Therefore, the government is adopt- ing the path of disinvestment or pri- OPINION 11 > STAY INFORMED THROUGH THE DAY @ WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM

Volume XXIV Number 120 ILLUSTRATION: BINAY SINHA policies make it harder to get a job, save money or MUMBAI | FRIDAY, 31 JANUARY 2020 find an affordable home, leaving young idealists think- ing, “Why not try socialism?” But Boris Johnson’s vic- tory in the recent UK election faced with similar youth Protecting bankers support for Jeremy Corbyn shows the victory of social- ism is not inevitable. Govt should not lose sight of wider reforms in PSBs The second fear is of the undermining of the con- stitutional order of the US. The late Oxford political ankers in the public sector have been reluctant to take lending decisions scientist Sam Finer in his magisterial 3 volume, The due to the fear of investigative agencies in case loans turn non-per- History of Government, summed up the legacy of the forming. The government has finally walked the talk on protecting American revolution as embodied in the US consti- tution as “having shown how political power may be bankers from harassment. This is a welcome move because an atmo- B bridled; and it has stood for two centuries as the ulti- sphere of fear has affected the flow of credit to the productive sectors of the mate exercise in law-boundedness. This is a economy with bankers functioning on the understanding that the best safeguard formidable achievement”. As the Hon. Douglas against investigation is inaction. The government announced this week that Ginsberg, Chief Judge, US Court of Appeals for the the Prevention of Corruption Act had been modified and permission would be DC Circuit, explained in his paper for the MPS meet- required for initiating action against public servants. It has also modified the ing, the major reason for this achievement is that the 2015 framework on large-value frauds. As a result, managing directors and chief US has a written Constitution. “To be faithful to the executive officers in public sector banks (PSBs) will not be personally responsible written constitution a jurist must make it his goal to Towards a new illuminate the meaning of the text as the Framers for compliance with different timelines. understood it”. Despite some exceptions this was the The government has empowered the boards of PSBs to put in place a norm till the Great Depression and Roosevelt’s deter- mechanism for compliance with various timelines placed by circulars of the mination to pass his New Deal “put the Supreme Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Vigilance Commission. Further, an ‘road to serfdom’? Court’s commitment to the Constitution as written Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds has been set up to examine under severe stress, and it was then that the wheels suspected frauds of more than ~50 crore, which involves people of the rank The classical liberal order is under threat from ‘woke’ progressives began to come off” with FDR’s threat to pack the court of general manager and above. The board would examine cases before inves- (though voted down by the Senate) hanging like the sword of Damocles over the Court’s “adherence to tigation starts. Also, the government has asked banks to set up a committee fter the Second World War, Fredrich Hayek, a more cogent explanation is provided by their experi- their announced understanding of the Constitution.” of senior officials to monitor disciplinary action and internal vigilance cases. young professor at the London School of ence during the Great Recession. Since then there has been an ongoing battle Delays in addressing such cases tend to affect the internal environment of AEconomics wrote a book, The Road to Serfdom, This is best exemplified by the leading charismatic between progressive jurists who believe in a “living” banks and result in inefficiency. which pilloried the growing acceptance of socialism tribune of the US left, the 29-year-old Alexandria (hence changeable) constitution and traditionalists These are all steps in the right direction and should help allay fears among in the UK, and made the case for a return to classical Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). (See Prachi Gupta: AOC, who believe in fidelity to the written constitution. public sector bankers. To be sure, it is often not easy to differentiate between liberalism. He also set up an academy of classical lib- Workman, NY 2019). She was born in Puerto Rico but This debate has been overtaken, argues lending decisions taken in good faith or with malafide intent. It is possible that eral scholars —the Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) — in her parents moved to the Bronx in New York soon Christopher Caldwell in an important book (The Age 1947 to discuss the ideals and ideas of economic and afterwards, where her father had a small business. As of Entitlement, Simon and Schuster, 2020), by the lending decisions can go wrong even after following all due processes. Therefore, political liberty as a counter to the existing collectivist the Bronx had the highest school dropout rate of any Civil Rights Act of 1964, which rightly banned racial an initial examination before the investigation is launched should help bankers. socialist dogmas, which he described as the “Road to county in the state, her father pooled money from discrimination but created a vast enforcement mech- However, it is difficult to argue that these steps will be enough. Legal safeguards, Serfdom”. The MPS held its latest meeting this month relatives to buy a modest house in Yorktown Heights anism to monitor nearly every aspect of American in general, do not always prohibit investigating agencies from launching probes, at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. A in affluent Westchester county, where his two young life for the proper racial balance, acting against racism or even making arrests. major theme was the threats to the classical liberal children could have access to better public schools. “even if there was no evidence of racist intent.” Besides, the government should not lose sight of the broader picture. Frauds order, which had seemingly triumphed worldwide AOC did well in school, and by age 17 was set to pursue Ordinary citizens were afraid to speak for fear of being and non-performing assets (NPAs) in PSBs are not always a result of corruption. since the end of the “evil empire”. a science-based career at Boston University. Then called racist. “America had something it never had at One major worry expressed was tragedy struck, when in 2008 her the federal level. Something the overwhelming major- As the RBI’s latest Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India showed, the growing number of the young in 48-year-old father died of lung can- ity of its citizens would never have approved, an PSBs accounted for over 90 per cent of the amount involved in fraud during both the UK and the US who pro- cer. This destabilised the family.Her explicit system of racial preference”. 2018-19, “... mainly reflecting the lack of adequate internal processes, people and claimed themselves as socialists, mother barely staved off foreclosure This change in constitutional culture, argues systems to tackle operational risks”. This clearly indicates that PSBs need wider advocating the dirigiste panaceas that and eviction. AOC realising that her Caldwell, was then extended to women’s rights, sex- reforms to build capacity in evaluating risks associated with lending. In the had failed worldwide in the past. Thus, chosen medical career would take ual preference and recently to gender identity. “The absence of reforms, PSBs will remain vulnerable to frauds and the fear of inves- in the UK, a 2017 survey found 70 per over 10 years to fructify switched new system for overthrowing the traditions that tigation, despite the safeguards put in place by the government. Since PSBs cent of university students planning to economics and international hindered black people became the model for over- dominate the banking system, their inability to extend credit directly affects to vote for Jeremy Corbyn’s far left relations, in which she graduated throwing every tradition in American life.” The civil Labour party. In the US, young cum laude in 2011 but with “thou- rights revolution was not just a major new element economic activity, although they are losing market share rapidly, both in terms Americans aged 18-29 surveyed in sands of dollars in student debt, in the Constitution. It was“a rival constitution, with of lending and deposits. There are a number of reasons for the government to 2018 said they were more positive DEEPAK LAL adding to her financial burden”. which the original one was frequently incompati- implement wider governance reforms in PSBs because — aside from growth about socialism (51 per cent) than cap- Throughout college, AOC “had wit- ble”. The disagreement over the two constitutions concerns — frauds, NPAs, and loss of market share have fiscal implications. The italism (45 per cent). nessed the corporate greed that “the de jure constitution of 1788 with all the tradi- government is not in a position to continuously infuse capital into PSBs. Various explanations have been provided for this fuelled the financial crisis and watched taxpayers bail tional forms of jurisprudential legitimacy and cen- turn of the young to socialism: The domination by out Wall Street executives who faced virtually no con- turies of American culture behind it, or the de facto left wing professors of the academy, the laziness of sequences. This recession deepened wealth inequality constitution of 1964, which lacks this traditional the “snowflake” generation, and the capture by the and it was the middle and lower classes, dispropor- kind of legitimacy but commands the near unani- Sub-par performance left of the cultural narrative as advocated by the Italian tionately communities of colour like hers, that suf- mous endorsement of judicial elites and civic edu- Marxist Antonio Gramsci. But none of these are per- fered most” (p.17). This and the public activism she cators and the passionate allegiance of those who Central e-NAM law should override state marketing laws suasive. The academy has been left wing in both the had shown since high school radicalised her. received it as a liberation” will continue to polarise UK and the US since I joined it in the mid-1960s. The Professor Edward Glaeser in Boomer Socialism led the polity. Who wins in these disputes —the tradi- he official data presented at a recent workshop on electronic National young have always been dismissed as lazy by the old, to Bernie Sanders (WSJ, Jan 18, 2020) also argues that tional constitutionalist or the “woke” progressives Agriculture Market (e-NAM) revealed that farm produce worth only and I doubt if the US and UK millennials have even young people have been radicalised because the econ- will determine whether the West is now on another about ~91,000 crore had been traded through it since its inception in heard of, leave alone been influenced by Gramsci. A omy isn’t working that well for them. “Many public road to serfdom. T2016. This is just a minor fraction of the country’s agricultural trade and indicates an unimpressive showing of this highly vaunted agri-marketing initiative. Though e-NAM links as many as 585 mandis operated by the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) in 16 states, just about 14 per cent of farmers in the country are registered with it to sell their produce. India’s fraying ties on the global stage What is worse, most of the business transacted through this portal comprises the deals within the same mandi or the mandis in the same state. Instances conomically, socially and politically India must their presence in the Indian Ocean. In November 2019, meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have also come to light where the business is conducted as usual but the data is put its house in order if it wants to enhance its Russia held naval exercises with China and South to discuss Kashmir. regional and world standing in 2020. Two Africa off the strategically important Cape of Good The US remains India’s most important strategic uploaded on e-NAM’s portal at the end of the day. Inter-state dealings, for E domestic developments that are quite different from Hope. On December 27, it conducted naval drills with partner. But with the slowing Indian economy which e-NAM was primarily set up, have been very few — totalling just 136 till one another— India’s economic decline and the China and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, through which unable to sustain the modernisation of India’s mili- now. Most of these transactions, too, have been between the adjoining states Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) — have adversely one-fifth of the world’s oil is transported. Sanctions- tary and with trade ties bogged down by what like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Only affected its Asian and global stature. They have raised hit Iran can now claim that it has two powerful suitors Washington brands as India’s protectionist tariffs, a 21 mandis in eight states have so far acquired the facilities needed for inter- questions about its ties even with friendly countries in the Indian Ocean; Russia can play the lead actor in new take-off in Indo-US relationship seems unlikely. state trade in farm goods. including the US, Japan, Asean nations, Bangladesh, West Asia; China can show off its global naval power. The official snub to Amazon’s offer of investment Thus, e-NAM has so far failed to serve its prime objective of letting the Iran, Saudi Arabia, and even the European Parliament. Meanwhile, India’s last-minute decision to stay out has not enhanced India’s reputation as business- India and its mercurial American strategic super- of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership friendly country. Additionally, India’s stance on farmers sell their produce in the country to any buyer who offers the best price. power partner are challenged by their ascending — after taking part in several years of negotiations — Kashmir and the CAA has adversely affected its The reasons for the sub-par performance are many and fairly apparent too. rival, China. Simultaneously, India must advance did not burnish its image in Southeast and East Asia. image as a modern secular democracy among Most of the essential preconditions for the success of a seamless common agri- progress to improve the life chances of its citizens. Absent from Asia’s multilateral trade agreements, how American and European lawmakers. cultural market for the country as a whole have yet to be fulfilled. These include The CAA, which would make religion a test for much will India contribute to the region’s economic Generally, the practice of international power pol- a single trading licence valid across the country; uniform mandi levies in all Indian citizenship, will not empow- future? And with its slowing econo- itics shows that talk of non-interference in domestic states payable at a single point; hassle-free inter-state movements of traded er India to cope with a technologi- my, always straggling behind that of affairs is futile. Questions raised in the US Congress goods; standardised quality parameters for agri-commodities; and credible cally advancing world, if only Asean, Japan and South Korea, India about India’s democracy cannot be lightly dismissed. assaying facilities in all the participating mandis. because the Act highlights the can hardly be perceived as the Asian Congressmen can block arms sales to India, or pursue extent to which New Delhi is counterpoise to rising China. sanctions because India will buy the S-400 missile The Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium, which oversees the func- marching backwards into its own The CAA has also had a bearing system from Russia. International history also reveals tioning of e-NAM, has recently introduced several novel features to woo traders atavistic version of the past to cre- on India’s ties with friendly countries. that a country’s economic weakness and socio-political and farmers, particularly the Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs). These ate a Hindu-majoritarian state in In December, the outbreak of vio- strife are exploited by foreign states. include farm-gate and warehouse-based trading for the farmers and FPOs and the 21st century. lence in northeast India that followed India’s eroding economic cachet and polarised the systems like shopping carts, bunching of invoices and part-payment facilities For some years after 2004, India the passing of the CAA prompted society will lead the US, Japan and Asean countries for the convenience of traders. However, these amenities and services are also was one of the world’s fastest grow- Shinzo Abe, the India-friendly to question its capacity to become a major Asian power. likely to end up facilitating only intra-state, not inter-state, business unless the ing economies. Today, it is not even ANITA INDER SINGH Japanese premier, to cancel his annu- A government enjoying a political majority is doing one of the top 40. And it is unable to al summit with Prime Minister little to revive the economy and stabilise the socio- farm marketing laws of states are aligned with the model APMC legislation modernise its armed forces and Narendra Modi. political situation. The backward-looking, strife-pro- drafted by the Centre. This requires cooperation from the states, which is not defend its position in the Indian Ocean without the India’s neighbour, Bangladesh, is offended by the voking CAA is simultaneously displeasing India’s forthcoming in full measures. Though many states have amended their APMC help of the US. CAA. New Delhi’s reference to immigrants from democratic friends like the US and Japan, while failing Acts, most of the modified statutes are not strictly on the lines suggested by In the 21st century, maritime power is a determi- Bangladesh as “termites” could only strain their ties. to win the support of authoritarian Saudi Arabia. Both the Centre through the model Bill. If the government is serious about the nant of “great power”. China’s economically and strate- Bangladesh’s foreign and home ministers recently democratic and autocratic friends are of economic success of e-NAM — which it should be, given the benefits of a wider market gically important Belt-and-Road Initiative displays its cancelled their official trips to India. Foreign Minister import to India — the democratic US the most. The for the farmers — it should consider the idea mooted in the Economic Survey increased naval presence in the international waters A K Abdul Momen opined that the CAA “weakens European Parliament’s critique of the CAA will cast of the Indian Ocean and has received the support of India’s historic character as a secular nation” and any its shadow over the EU-India summit in March. Are (2014-15) to enact Central e-NAM legislation overriding the state marketing Russia and Iran. They are countries that New Delhi “uncertainty” there could affect its neighbours. New Delhi’s economic ineptitude and socio-political laws. This is allowed under List III of the Seventh Schedule (Concurrent List) of views as India’s friends. But both have far stronger Other friendly Muslim-majority countries are not truculence risking India’s good ties with practically the Indian Constitution. The state laws could continue to govern spot physical trade and investment ties with China than with India. backing India through thick and thin. Last October, all of its friends? trading at the local level. No doubt, the states would resist such a move, but The foreign policies of countries are shaped by New Delhi hailed Saudi Arabia as “a valued friend” there seems hardly any alternative to it. complex factors and the strategic partnership between for showing an interest in investing $100 billion in The writer is a founding professor of the Centre for Peace China and Russia reflects their wish to challenge global India’s energy sector. Now Riyadh has agreed to and Conflict Resolution in New Delhi. primacy of the US. That is why they are expanding Islamabad’s request to hold a special foreign ministers’ Website: www.anitaindersingh.com

the Muslim League, Mr Gupta doesn’t Muslims who were a problem. It was the discussion of the economy, which is in offer what can be called a credible Congress. That’s why it is difficult to see sharp contrast to the paragraphs on The evolution of the BJP explanation. why the BJP treats the two as being two other topics such as foreign policy and But he is right in reminding us that sides of the same political problem. internal security. There is only a million Muslims. to set the record straight and, for that the Congress gave Jinnah a After all, the greater damage has passing mention of either Mr Gupta starts at the beginning reason, is a valuable contribution. It disproportionate share of been done by Congress socialism than demonetisation or the Goods and but omits many details, perhaps shows how, politically at least, India’s representation in the provincial its assiduous wooing of the Muslims. Yet Services Tax, the twins that the critics because they are slight. But then, this is greatness lay in allowing different legislatures. That gave Jinnah the first while the BJP has made the Muslims the accuse for the economy’s downfall. not intended to be a detailed history of ideologies to exist. Sadly, that is hint of Congress weakness, which he “other” it has embraced Congress This is one more thing for the second the BJP but a sort of beginners’ guide. under serious exploited when socialism. edition to tackle and it should explain BOOK REVIEW It performs that role admirably. threat now. BHARATIYA JANATA the Congress had Mr Gupta might like to explain this in the BJP’s preference for a greater-than- The 20 chapters are designed to Mr Gupta has PARTY: Past, Present to choose the second edition. warranted role for the state in T C A SRINIVASA RAGHAVAN answer the sort of questions that the not seen it And Future between political Narendra Modi and Amit Shah: It economic activity. English-speaking middle class necessary to deal Author: expediency and is widely conceded that the BJP after Nor has Mr Gupta discussed the his book is a calm, unhurried and occasionally asks. The answer may not with this Shantanu Gupta principle in 1946. 2014 is not the same BJP before that Modi-Shah duo’s general hammer-and- Tadjective-free narration of how and satisfy it but the facts are laid out particular The odd thing year. The two men who transformed it tongs approach to governance, not least why an ideological alternative to the succinctly. middle-class Publisher: is that in 1916 it so completely are Narendra Modi as of which is the undisguised Left, represented by the Congress since Thus, to cite just three examples, question about Rupa chose to give in to prime minister and Amit Shah as party demonisation of Muslims and Marxists. 1937, has evolved in India. That’s what’s there’s a chapter called “Who Taught the threat to Price: ~695 Jinnah’s president. This makes no sense except as a way of good about it. Muslim Appeasement to the political demands for Yet the chapter on the post-2014 winning national elections. What’s bad is that Shantanu Gupta Congress”. There is another called pluralism. That Pages: 608 greater than years is the weakest. It restricts itself to a Despite these shortcomings, this is fails to explain when the flag bearer of “How the RSS Came Into Being” and a weakens the justified justifiable narration of achievements. It one of the better books on the BJP that, that alternative, the Bharatiya Janata third called “The Advent of Deen Dayal book’s appeal. representation in also lists all the problems that the BJP as the author says, with its nearly 90 Party (BJP), grown child of the Jana Upadhyay and the Jana Sangh Muslim appeasement: So why did order to present a united face to the a party and the government that it led million members, is now even bigger Sangh, turned left itself. Truth be told, under Him”. the Congress “appease” the Muslims? British. In 1947 it chose to give in to him had to tackle. There’s no question that than the Communist Party of China. today’s BJP is almost exactly like the Each chapter seeks to explain exactly After a long and accurate narration of for a disunited India. Only Gandhiji after a decade of Sonia Gandhi rule That being so, it is time the party Congress of the 1970s except in the what happened and what the context the events leading up to the Lucknow resisted. these were difficult and several. adopted acceptable political tools than matter of how to treat India’s 200 was for it. In that sense, the book seeks Pact of 1916 between the Congress and In that sense, it wasn’t really the But what’s lacking is a proper the ones it is currently using.