Stop blaming Government; suggest solutions
It is not that relief is elusive through the hardships emerging from the current demonetisation drive of the Government. The recent decisions to allow the use of old Rs500 notes by farmers to buy seeds and increase the ceiling of cash withdrawal for marriages up to Rs2.5 lakh; the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) providing 60 more days to repay the loans; and petrol pumps dispensing cash against debit swipe, will all ease out at least some inconvenience across the country. Of course, these are not absolute measures that offer a total solution to the current cash-crunch. Meanwhile, the opposition parties, blocking both the Houses of Parliament from functioning, provide dim hopes of a mature response to a national issue.
They must understand that they are wasting a huge sum of public money by obstructing the regular business of Parliament. At a time when the country is undergoing a massive economic reform, and the common people are facing inconvenience in daily life, the opposition parties should discuss and debate the matter rather than stall proceedings. As the Government is ready for a debate over the demonetisation process, why is the Opposition shying awayIJ Why is it using different tactics to blame the GovernmentIJ It is clear that the Opposition knows very well that despite facing problems, a majority of the people are supportive of the Government’s demonetisation decision. It must remember that public patience wears thin when it realises that the genuine taxpayers suffer at the end of the day, only because many in the brackets of super-rich and upper-rich evade paying their tax dues to the nation. Therefore, commoners want stringent crackdowns on the black money economy, which also fuels corruption and terrorism. Populist netas like Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee should not misread the writing on the wall: The country needs systemic cleaning. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and the tattered left should give up, though they will not, targeting the Modi Government for all the wrong reasons.
The Government's attempt to introduce new measures will send a positive signal to the people. Millions of farmers across the country need a helping hand for the upcoming Rabi season. On the production of identity cards, farmers, they will be allowed to purchase seeds from all State and Union Government outlets, and agricultural universities. This pragmatic move will help silence a large number of demonetisation critics who are currently determined to create a negative environment, saying the lay citizens are bearing the brunt of the drive while the the culprits have got away. As the wedding season is on, the raising of the withdrawal ceiling will help many families. This is a welcome measure, but the Government could have perhaps done it a bit earlier. The RBI, providing an extra two months period to settle the existing loans for housing, car, farm and other liabilities, will lessen the burden on the creditors for now. Simultaneously, making cash available in more than 700 petrol pumps through debit card swipe will bring relief to the daily commuters and the business community as well. However, the Government needs to take further decisions after reviewing the situation as it has been unfolding. The crisis cannot be allowed to linger for long.