2015 was the litmus test year of the Modi Govt and
Modi style of politics and functioning. Mr Modi promised moon to the people
while contesting elections in 2014. In reality, we knew a lot of it is
marketing plank or promises before elections. It was to Mr Modi’s that he could
sell it and people bought it as well. Achhe din (Better Days) are still a
distant dream. But Mr Modi fired his power behind every idea he sold to the
people. Whether those ideas culminate into something, only time will tell, we
still have three and half years.
DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) seems to be working but
long time to make it overall success. When it comes to the politics, Congress
showed the same chip to BJP and BJP had performed in the opposition. But a good
part came out of it, Mr Modi followed his words of sabka saath, sabka vikas by
talking to opposition leaders to allow the House to function. Let’s see how
Congress tries to scuttle next time and whether anything good comes out of it
or not. But the House will function this year. Rajya Sabha equations are bound
to change a little with BJP gaining more voice in the Upper House.
Aamir commenting on intolerance became a laughing
reference for social media and the media alike. The issue of intolerance did
take a lot of media coverage and perhaps some fear in the minds of the
minorities. Certainly this issue will carry forward in 2016. Congress
can do such things and nobody will notice but high pitched speeches of hard
working PM does get a drubbing for not anything on sensitive issues.
RSS mouthpiece costed heavily on the BJP fate in
Bihar elections. With Lalu 2.0 and Nitish’s third term drubbed BJP in the State
elections. PM’s sharp jibe and derogatory remarks on Lalu and Nitish were
derogatory to his chair even if apt for the leaders of Bihar. Delhi Assembly
became AAP’s headquarters with 67 out of 70 seats won by them. AAP’s fights
with the Central Govt. continued through most of the year and will continue
through 2016 as well. Elections in five states of 2016, that too bigwigs, like
UP, WB and TN and small ones, Kerala and Assam will witness less of Modi, as he
is PM, he should be PM and not BJP chief campaign voice.
On international diplomacy, Mr Modi held various
public meetings and displayed strength of Indian diaspora in USA (East and West
Cost), UK, Canada, Australia and so on. India is definitely gaining respect in
those high diplomatic circles. He ended the year with a surprise visit to
India’s distant brother and arch enemy, Pakistan and hugging Nawaz Sharif
wherein Nawaz Sharif broke the protocol to receive Indian PM at the airport.
What happens next in Indo-Pak relations is a deep story which only time will
reveal?
The need to build healthier planet, India and Mr Modi
made waves in the Paris Climate Summit and India won acclaim from developed
world for the progress in the solar space. Developed world reflected on toeing
India’s line on solar policy. Whether India brings developed finances for
carbon credits or not is a long term play.
Oil, a major pain point of Manmohan Singh Govt. had
dropped to $40 making economy a cakewalk for the Modi Govt. India’s largest
import bill is for oil. With oil cooling, it was respite for the Govt. forex
outflow and Govt. kept hiking taxes on the same which ensured they could meet
the budget targets alongwith the development. It will continue to slide or lay
low for the coming year.
Onions made everybody cry this year followed by
tomatoes for a while and then we had new price index for pulses. A common
food’s cheap of rice and dal is suddenly expensive. It will be interesting to
watch whether Govt. will try to bring correction. Highly unlikely, these are
the new levels and we may see few more points hike in the same.
Yakub Menon was hanged to death and the week before
his hanging, like his life was wavering from hope and despair and so was
country heavily and deeply through those days. The marauder of Priya Singh, who
said, ghusa usme or the only survivor of the rape convicts raised brouhaha and
protests because of his early release as juvenile detainee. A change in law was
required and has been brought in.
Indian economy is holding put against all the odds
and the global turmoil that is happening especially the great commodity crash. The
stock markets lost 26% during the year with some of the big heavyweights taking
the lead. Economy may perform with some of the major projects undertaken by the
Govt. which will keep it floating. The markets are expected to recover due to
great fall but with the US crisis looming, it is hoping against hope but it
will hold fort.
Banking crisis which was a mess earlier is now a pile
of rubble. In addition of the already deteriorating bank finances and the core
sector companies not performing, cement, steel, coal, power, etc aluminium and
copper are also joining the league. Hopefully Govt. does the cleaning act
quickly which is the requirement of the day.
Technology space will break new barriers as we
already record investments in the space with Flipkart, Ola, Amazon and Uber
becoming part of everybody’s life and space. More consumer related apps will be
successful and function in the market. Plus Google, Microsoft and Facebook will
be offering free internet services in rural India through balloons, jets flying
in the stratosphere or perhaps a signal from the moon.
And the year ended with the last laugh by Shah Rukh
Khan, as the campaign started to boycott his film, Dilwale, due to his
intolerant statement, remarks or whatever it was. He made the most horrible
movie of his career that even protestors were put to shame.
