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The muddle of saffron socialism

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9 years ago

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Modi greets BJP leaders on the occasion of the swearing-in of Adityanath Yogi, the new UP CM

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Modi plan for New India is based on a guided economy

By Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr

The Congress party, the communists and others assumed that the pro-poor socialist agenda is theirs alone, and it is the weapon to be used against right-wing parties like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). That is why Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi as well as Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury portray the BJP as anti-poor, pro-rich. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outflanked the traditional left-of-centre and left parties by appropriating the pro-poor, anti-rich slogan for his party, and going by the electoral success in Uttar Pradesh, it seems that it has worked. Modi has successfully forged socialism with BJP features and turned it into the standard of the party.

Modi has not invented socialism of the right. He has taken the idea from BJP/Jan Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, from the rhetorical formulations of Swami Vivekananda about the need to serve the poor, apart from Gandhi’s idea of the rich being the custodians of the riches which are to be used for the poor. But he has consistently harped on his commitment and that of his party for the welfare of the poor. He has projected demonetisation as pro-poor-anti-rich, that is illicitly rich, measure. It remains a debatable point whether UP poll verdict is an endorsement of demonetisation as it is being made out to be in a knee-jerk fashion. The intent of the UP voter in voting overwhelmingly in favour of BJP is quite complex and it cannot be inferred as an approval of the nearly three-year Modi government at the Centre.  Demonetisation remains a wrong economic decision and an electoral victory cannot make it right. All that one can say about demonetisation and the UP electoral outcome, if there is any connection between the two, is that bad economics makes for good politics. Modi’s jibes against the critics of the measure will remain just that, jibes, and they do not alter unsoundness of the measure. As a matter of fact, it is the true measure of populism that it seeks vindication not in terms of its own inherent logic but in extraneous factor.

It will be difficult to label BJP as a Hindutva party alone any more, though it remains a Hindutva party in terms of realpolitik. It has become a populist party, and it is right-wing populism at that because it combines nationalism with egalitarianism of a kind. The dreaded word, national socialism, has to be used despite its negative connotations derived from the German experience with the Nazis, the National Socialists. Speaking at the victory celebration do at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday (March 12) evening, Modi put forward a convoluted argument. He declared that the poor are not looking for sops but they want the state to provide them the opportunity to make their own fortune. The converse of the theorem is that once the poor are able to get on and get off on their own, the middle class need not carry the burden of national well-being. The underlying theme is quite evident: the tax-paying middle class is carrying the weight of welfare measures and subsidies.

If this is the rhetorical flourish of the prime minister, the thinking of Modi government at the policy level is to create a welfare state, which is administered by private entrepreneurs and not by the state, and which is supported by increased tax collections. The prime minister maintains a conspicuous silence on the tax booty, while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is clearly looking for higher tax collections in order to finance welfare measures. The plan will come under stress if the economy does not grow, and tax buoyancy will disappear. The non-performing assets (NPAs) of the public sector banks are a sign of the stress in the financial system. Apart from the evils of crony capitalism that is behind part of the NPA story, there are issues of how the financial system is to bankroll the engines of economic growth. It can be seen in the last three years that public investment is carrying the burden of keeping the growth rate ticking, and there is no sign of private investment picking up. And then there are major problems involved in empowering the poor through educating them, skilling them, and by prodding investment that will create jobs for them. The economy is not at the beck and call of a leader or his party. And even the poor have their own ideas as to how they want to get ahead in their lives. They do not want a paternalist state to make them walk on the straight and narrow path of what the policy-makers believe to be the right path.  It is on the rocks of unbound reality that the best laid plans of the politicians break.

Modi’s vision of New India envisages a national economy managed by the state through private sector that will provide full employment. It is a socialist vision of an indirectly planned economy. It poses a challenge to those who hated the Congress variant of socialism, and despite the market meltdown of the last decade have not lost faith in the ideal of a free market economy. One of the reasons that pro-free marketers supported the BJP was their hope that the right-wing party will get rid the country of the state-controlled economy spawned by the Nehruvian socialists. They will now have to come to terms with the Modi plan of making the free market a handmaid of national power and pride and for serving the needs of the poor. Even if they now decide to become the foot soldiers of BJP’s nationalist socialism, it does not alter the ominous truth established by Friedrich Hayek in his 1944 book, Road to Serfdom. Socialism of any kind comes at the price of liberty.

If socialism as such has turned out to be a failed system, and it can now be argued that Nehruvian socialism could not have succeeded with the best of intentions, then it is inevitable that the epitaph for saffron socialism would have to be written as well, and that sooner than later. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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West Bengal government to launch Annapurna scheme from June 1, offering monthly aid of Rs 3,000 to women

The West Bengal government has announced the Annapurna Yojana, providing Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women aged 25–60 starting June 1, 2026. Existing beneficiaries of the older scheme will be automatically migrated subject to verification.

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2 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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The West Bengal government has officially notified the rollout of the ‘Annapurna Yojana,’ a welfare initiative aimed at providing assured monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 to women across the state. Introduced by the Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, the scheme is structured to foster the socio-economic upliftment of women and will officially come into effect on June 1, 2026.

Under this new initiative, financial benefits will be transferred directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of qualified beneficiaries using the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

Strict eligibility criteria outlined

According to the official government notification, specific guidelines have been established to determine eligibility for the monthly cash assistance:

  • Target Age Group: Eligible women must be between 25 and 60 years of age.
  • Employment Status: Applicants must not hold permanent government employment or receive a regular salary or pension from the central government, state government, statutory bodies, panchayats, municipalities, local bodies, or government-aided educational institutions.
  • Tax Criteria: Women who are income tax payers are excluded from the scheme.

Automatic migration and scrutiny rules

The new order clarifies that all current beneficiaries of the erstwhile Lakshmir Bhandar Scheme will be automatically migrated to the Annapurna Yojana. However, the transition involves a rigorous filtering process. Individuals identified as deceased, shifted, deleted, or recorded as absentee electors during the SIR-2026 exercise or voter slip distribution will be systematically excluded from the beneficiary list.

On the other hand, individuals who have filed appeals before the SIR Tribunal or submitted applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will continue to receive financial assistance until their applications are legally resolved by authorities.

Application process for new beneficiaries

For fresh applicants, a dedicated online portal for the Annapurna Yojana will be launched on June 1, 2026. To ensure transparency, all new applications will undergo a strict multi-tier verification process by designated local administrative officials:

  • Rural Areas: Block Development Officers (BDOs) will manage the verification and inquiries.
  • Urban Areas: Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) will oversee the process.
  • Kolkata: Officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will handle applications within their jurisdiction.

Following field inquiries, verified reports will be uploaded directly to the digital portal. The respective District Magistrates and the KMC Commissioner will serve as the final sanctioning authorities in their corresponding jurisdictions to approve the disbursement of funds.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for first official meeting with PM Narendra Modi

Newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay embarked on his first official visit to New Delhi to hold a high-level meeting with PM Narendra Modi, focusing on economic aid, fertilizer supply, and water rights disputes.

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2 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay and PM Modi

Marking his maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to deliberate on a wide range of state-specific matters. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, who led his fledgling party to a historic victory in the recent assembly elections, took the oath of office on May 10. While the Prime Minister had previously extended his congratulations via social media, this marks the first formal in-person meeting between the two leaders.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister departed from Chennai on a chartered flight at 10:00 AM. The high-profile meeting with the Prime Minister is slated for 4:30 PM, where Vijay is expected to submit a comprehensive memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu’s long-pending welfare and developmental demands.

Key state matters on the table

The core of the discussions is expected to center around financial assistance and clearances for major infrastructure projects in the state. Media reports indicate that the Chief Minister will heavily push for additional funds to bankroll ongoing developmental initiatives.

Furthermore, the interstate Mekedatu water dispute remains a high-priority issue. Chief Minister Vijay has already written to the Prime Minister, urging him to instruct the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the Detailed Project Report submitted by Karnataka for a reservoir at Mekedatu.

Other critical administrative concerns to be raised include ensuring an uninterrupted supply of fertilizers for the upcoming Kharif farming season and the removal of the 11 percent import duty on cotton to protect the raw material supply chain for the state’s textile industry.

A packed diplomatic itinerary

Accompanied by a team of senior officials and select cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister’s itinerary extends beyond the Prime Minister’s Office. Vijay is likely to sit down with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to directly advocate for financial backings for key state portfolios.

The new administration has also drawn national interest for its structural innovations, including retaining critical departments under the Chief Minister—such as Home, Police, and Women Welfare—and carving out a dedicated cabinet-level Artificial Intelligence department, making Tamil Nadu only the second state in the country to do so.

Navigating a complex political landscape, the TVK-led government, which holds 108 seats in the assembly and enjoys backing from coalition partners including the Congress, Left parties, VCK, and IUML, is also using this trip to engage with national opposition leaders. Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during his stay in the capital.

Before wrapping up his tour, the Chief Minister is slated to participate in a cultural event at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where he will formally inaugurate a statue of the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar installed by the Tamil Nadu government. Sources indicate that Vijay will conclude his official engagements and return to Chennai on Thursday.

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Assam clears Uniform Civil Code bill, becomes third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat

Assam has officially become the third state in India to pass the Uniform Civil Code bill. The legislation was cleared by the state assembly on Wednesday despite strong objections raised by opposition lawmakers who claimed it impacts minority rights.

Published

4 hours ago

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May 27, 2026

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himanta

The Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed ‘The Uniform Civil Code, Assam, 2026 Bill’, making it the third state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to adopt a uniform legal framework after Uttarakhand and Gujarat.

Opposition flags concerns over rights during house debate

The bill was taken up for final passage in the state assembly on Wednesday, sparking a heated discussion among lawmakers. During the legislative floor debate, opposition MLAs strongly voiced their concerns regarding the proposed law, stating that the legislation will hurt and compromise the fundamental rights of a certain section of society.

Despite objections from the opposition benches, the treasury benches cleared the passage of the bill, cementing Assam’s position as the latest state to move away from diverse personal laws in favor of a uniform code. Media reported that the legislative move follows extensive political discussions in the state surrounding civil regulations. With this enactment, Assam joins Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which have previously passed their respective uniform civil codes.

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