DEVELOPMENT
CRYING WITH THE POOR BUT
SIDING THE RICH - AN INDIAN DIMENSION
SIDING THE RICH - AN INDIAN DIMENSION
Writing in the ‘India at 50’ George Mathew concedes “The present stage of economic administration in India represents an ambiguous social philosophy, which weeps for the poor but sides with the rich. Interest of the working classes are sidelined in the name of economic competitiveness, which in turn is sacrificed on the alter of corrupt and criminal practices”.
A New Delhi date lined report by a national daily reported “Rotting Grains to Benefit Liquor Mafia”. It was quoting BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who was taking part in a symposium in the capital. He told the gathering that liquor manufacturers could benefit from food grains worth some `60,000 crores, rotting in government godowns. He acknowledged the fact that the alcohol is being produced from rotten and poor quality food grains in Maharashtra under a state sponsored racket of giving the subsidy of `10 a litre. He surely knows what is he talking about, since he runs, in his civil avatar, a sugar mill in Nagpur with an ethanol plant. Chetan Kamble, an activist had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court to put an end to this subsidy racket flourishing in Maharahstra under its 2007 liquor policy. Most of the beneficiaries of the policy, reportedly, are close relatives of politicians from Maharashtra's coalition partners – NCP and Congress. The policy, ostensibly stipulates the use of rotten and poor quality food grains, since for different reasons food grains can get spoilt besides being of poor quality, and therefore can still be put to use, was the argument. Fair enough. ‘But Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, (the former CM of Maharahstra, who enacted the 2007 law) why the first beneficiaries of this state largesse of givings`10/- subsidy have to be your sons – Amit and Dhiraj?
It is a good question. Among the other known beneficiaries according to Chetan Kamble are Govindrao Adik, MP and former Maharshtra Congress President. Then you have former Dy. Chief Minister Vijay Singh Mohite Patil’s relation running Mohite Patil Agro industries in Solapur. Then you have Vikram and Ranjit, sons of NCP – MLA Baburao Shinde, controlling Vithal distilleries in Solapur. In Nanded you have a son-in-law of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, owning Pioneer Distilleries, also beneficiary of this state largesse.
So, it is very clear that the national wealth which is clearly meant for distribution in its redistributive exercise of 5 year plans are looted and syphoned off by people in power to benefit themselves, their relations and cronies. There are some 28 distilleries that have come up in Maharashtra to enjoy this government subsidy scheme.
Isn’t it the same story all over India and for all the 63 years of free India, of crying with the poor and siding the rich. Yeh Mera India.
A New Delhi date lined report by a national daily reported “Rotting Grains to Benefit Liquor Mafia”. It was quoting BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who was taking part in a symposium in the capital. He told the gathering that liquor manufacturers could benefit from food grains worth some `60,000 crores, rotting in government godowns. He acknowledged the fact that the alcohol is being produced from rotten and poor quality food grains in Maharashtra under a state sponsored racket of giving the subsidy of `10 a litre. He surely knows what is he talking about, since he runs, in his civil avatar, a sugar mill in Nagpur with an ethanol plant. Chetan Kamble, an activist had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court to put an end to this subsidy racket flourishing in Maharahstra under its 2007 liquor policy. Most of the beneficiaries of the policy, reportedly, are close relatives of politicians from Maharashtra's coalition partners – NCP and Congress. The policy, ostensibly stipulates the use of rotten and poor quality food grains, since for different reasons food grains can get spoilt besides being of poor quality, and therefore can still be put to use, was the argument. Fair enough. ‘But Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, (the former CM of Maharahstra, who enacted the 2007 law) why the first beneficiaries of this state largesse of givings`10/- subsidy have to be your sons – Amit and Dhiraj?
It is a good question. Among the other known beneficiaries according to Chetan Kamble are Govindrao Adik, MP and former Maharshtra Congress President. Then you have former Dy. Chief Minister Vijay Singh Mohite Patil’s relation running Mohite Patil Agro industries in Solapur. Then you have Vikram and Ranjit, sons of NCP – MLA Baburao Shinde, controlling Vithal distilleries in Solapur. In Nanded you have a son-in-law of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, owning Pioneer Distilleries, also beneficiary of this state largesse.
So, it is very clear that the national wealth which is clearly meant for distribution in its redistributive exercise of 5 year plans are looted and syphoned off by people in power to benefit themselves, their relations and cronies. There are some 28 distilleries that have come up in Maharashtra to enjoy this government subsidy scheme.
Isn’t it the same story all over India and for all the 63 years of free India, of crying with the poor and siding the rich. Yeh Mera India.
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