26-11-2014: WEDNESDAY THE REVIEW OF THE INDIAN PRESS Indian dailies express their concern on performance of Modi government as it completes six months in office. At the time Modi government took over the Indian economy faced many challenges, some are tackled but expectations are high. Six months is too short to take a realistic stock of the government’s performance. Paper opines this government has a great advantage in that it cannot really be held hostage by fractious allies. So, it has no reason whatsoever not to deliver on its promises. Dailies also commented on the appointment of India’s special representative for boundary talks with China. THE INDIAN EXPRESS in its editorial heading SIX MONTHS ON writes at the time Modi government took over the Indian economy faced challenges on four major fronts: currency instability, high inflation, political uncertainty and a growth-cum-investment slowdown. The Modi government can claim that the first three don’t pose significant worries now. The rupee is no longer vulnerable to speculative attacks, while actually being the best-performing emerging-market currency this year after the Chinese yuan and the Indonesian rupiah. Inflationary pressures have receded substantially in the last six months. Also, never before in 30 years has India had a government as politically secure as this one and in a position to implement second-generation economic and governance reforms. But there seems no respite still when it comes to the fourth challenge of growth and investment. Going by the latest data available on industrial production and also results declared by companies, the numbers aren’t likely to be encouraging. This, after what looked like a promising April-June period, which saw the economy register a 5.7 per cent annual growth, the best in nine quarters. That momentum does not appear to have sustained. This government’s true test will be in the next few months leading to the budget and thereafter. THE HINDUSTAN TIMES in its editorial heading THE ACHHE DIN MUST TAKE SHAPE NOW writes that the first six months of the Narendra Modi government have gone quite well. Softer global commodity prices and lower crude oil prices have helped keep inflation down and emboldened the government to deregulate diesel prices. But government will have to do some real changes in the form of eradicating red tape and a plethora of rules and regulations that make doing business in India difficult. Paper adds on the foreign policy front, he has done a good job of re-energising relations with the US and the Indian diaspora there. The diaspora active once again will turn out to be in India’s benefit in future as they can be a powerful lobby group. His engagement with the neighbours again could, if things turn out well, bolster India’s security in a relatively hostile region. But tricky issues like FDI in various sectors, agricultural reform, labour reform, black money and whittling down wasteful expenditure are all challenges before the government. Expectations were sky high when this government came in promising that ACHHE DIN was here. Now is the time for that day to start taking shape. Another issue discussed by dailies is appointment of special representative to resolve the boundary dispute with China. THE TIMES OF INDIA in its editorial heading GREAT LEAP FORWARD writes that Since assuming office Prime Minister Narendra Modi has displayed an ability to take decisions on the foreign policy front be it his invite to SAARC leaders for his swearing-in ceremony or his recent visit to Fiji representing India’s new ‘Act East’ emphasis. Such fresh thinking is precisely what is needed to solve the long-standing border dispute with China. A permanent solution to the problem would require both sides to adopt a pragmatic approach. In this regard, the most realistic plan would settle the border roughly along the present line of actual control. The government is ideally placed to strike a deal with Beijing without being accused of compromising national interests. A deal with China would not only usher in a new era of India-China cooperation but also provide momentum to resolve other border disputes with India’s neighbours, including even Pakistan. ______________________
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:47:36 +0000
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