Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Heir apparent adept at lip service

So, the next big thing in the Congress visited Gujarat, criticized the Modi administration alleging that it worked "only for the rich" and assured jobless diamond workers of help from the centre -
Gandhi addressed nearly 900 jobless workers at Sardar Smruti Bhavan in the
diamond hub of Varachha where
he invited jobless diamond workers to
speak about their problems and promised to take up their issues with the
Centre
. Emphasizing on 'aam aadmi' focus of his party, Gandhi asserted:
"For us the common man comes first." [Link]
(Emphasis added)
So what happened to the promise?
Jobless for four months now, diamond
polisher Paresh Morakhiya is now worried about his family's survival. The
interim budget was his last hope, but there was nothing in
store
for him and thousands like him. [Link]
(Emphasis added)
The Interim Budget has left disappointed
several thousand diamond workers, who either have been laid off or on the verge
of losing their jobs in Surat's diamond industry. [Link]
Nothing came of it. Rahul was merely continuing the same grand Congress tradition of all talk and no action. It also speaks volumes of his influence in his own party. But that did not stop him from promising anything. It is also an indication of the vindictive approach towards the BJP in general and Modi in particular by the Congress. Modi has been seeking help from the centre to help out the diamond industry in the state, yet the interim budget had nothing for it. And Rahul is being sold by the media as the panacea to all our problems, the only one who can take us forward!
In his token criticism of the Tata Nano project, Rahul failed to realise that it will help generate thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly for the people. So, it is the same 'aam aadmi' that will benefit who Rahul fears will be left out.
So while his party at the centre couldn't care less for the diamond workers, some of them are beating adversity by going back to farming -
Hit by recession, thousands of displaced
diamond workers in Gujarat are returning home to rediscover their farming roots.
And the cash crops they are growing in a matter of months is bringing some
sparkle back to their lives.

"When the diamond industry flourished
I earned about Rs.60,000 per year. Now I expect to earn Rs.1.6 million after
harvesting nearly 800 mounds of cumin seed," said Rajesh Dabhi of Sangasar in
Ahmedabad district. [Link]
Availability of electricity, irrigation projects and check dams seem to have done the trick. The Congress certainly did nothing for agriculture. Does Rahul have any ideas for turning adversities into opportunities?

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