India First

Do We Need Aarogya Setu? As COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe over the last few months, governments across the world have had to absorb a flood of information from a 360° window, probably 24 hours a day, and have taken series of decisions to protect their nations’ populations from the dreaded infection. Among the many progressively enforced measures have been restrictions on travel, socialising, commuting, maintaining personal hygiene, and finally lockdowns in many countries. India was the first country to impose a nationwide lockdown, which has been extended twice, with some relaxation in rules being introduced in the second and third lockdowns. Even before the pandemic hit India, Government of India (GoI) has been severely attacked across the political spectrum and beyond for having let the economy go into a tailspin. Irrespective of whether the attacks were exaggerated or accurate, everyone will agree that the lockdown has dealt a body blow to the economy, even as one ne...

Politics For a Purpose In a democracy the primary purpose of a political party is to come to power to serve the people of the country. Moving closer to the real world, raw power associated with top constitutional positions intoxicates like few other human experiences. Often we see that achievement of a constitutional position is viewed as a goal, when in reality, it’s just a means to achieve the noble goal of serving one’s country selflessly. Somewhere along the journey of securing freedom from the British, to running independant India for nearly 60 years, India’s oldest party Indian National Congress seems to have lost purpose. As is inevitable with human nature, politicians across parties and across democracies, seek powerful positions. But how well do all of them utilise those positions of power for which we have elected them? The negative aspects of human nature – like greed and ego – prevail more often than we voters would like! But the Congress seems to be a step wors...