Ironic Euphemism for Brazen Betrayal
by Swapan Dasgupta
There is a small minority of Indians who grew up in cities and hill stations where the British influence lingered for a decade or two after Independence. Of them, there must be another lot that developed a liking for the oh-so-English fudge — an extremely rich confectionary made with sugar, butter and milk with a light flavouring of cocoa or vanilla or even chocolate.
I have always preferred the fudge to either lozenges or toffee. There is nothing that gives me greater pleasure than landing up in a quaint English town or a village fair in the ‘Shires and buying a small packet of creamy fudge from one of those sensible ladies who run those quaint tea shops. It is one of those simple pleasures of life — as worthwhile as re-reading an Agatha Christie whodunit on a holiday.
Unfortunately, life isn’t all that uncluttered. Like the perfectly innocuous terms ‘gay’ and ‘queer’ that have been misappropriated by determined crusaders of ignoble causes, fudge no longer conjures happy images of innocent childhood. The term is more commonly associated with a sleight of hand, deceit and manipulation. In the age of innocence, this fudge would have been shunned; in today’s world of cleverness, it has become a political attribute, a byword for canniness.
Take the battle of figures involving Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee and her predecessor Lalu Prasad Yadav. In her intervention in the Lok Sabha on July 9, Mamata revealed that Lalu’s claim that the Indian Railways was in the pink of health with a cash surplus of Rs 90,000 crore was worse than an eyewash — it was a fudge. “One cannot talk about the income and skip the expenditure part,” Mamata told the House, “after spending Rs 28,200 crore on account of the Sixth Pay Commission award for two years, we are left with a cash surplus of Rs 8,361 crore.”
It is a misfortune that the significance of this scandalous revelation by the Railways Minister has, by and large, escaped the political class. What Mamata was alluding to wasn’t a minor miscalculation or an accountant’s error. She was suggesting that her predecessor wilfully misled both Parliament and the nation. Worse, her revelation of the true state of railway finances pointed to the fact that the Budget has lost its sanctity and that official statistics are fudged.
The significance of the fudge is awesome. Less than a year ago, the corporate sector was shaken by the disclosure that Satyam Computer had misled its shareholders about the true state of the company’s finances. The company has been charged with criminal conspiracy, its auditors have been sacked and its chairman is behind bars and may well receive a stiff prison sentence. If Lalu is guilty of concealment and misrepresentation, it follows that his offence is no less severe than that of the hapless Ramalinga Raju. If Raju is prosecuted for playing havoc with the money of investors and banks, does Lalu and, for that matter, the Railway Board get away by fudging the accounts of a corporation funded by the taxpayer? There cannot be different sets of laws for the private and public sector.
Nor does the buck stop here. Lalu was a member of Manmohan Singh’s Government and was repeatedly praised by the Prime Minister for his remarkable performance. Surely the Prime Minister now owes the country an explanation? So far he has been silent.
Fudging, it would seem, is fast becoming a national preoccupation. In suggesting that the fiscal deficit of India stood at some 6.8 per cent of the GDP, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee need not be charged with Laluism, but he was certainly guilty of inexactitude. The figure, as he well knows and as do economists, is only a partial representation of the true state of public finances. If non-Budget items such as the deficit of States, oil bonds and fertiliser subsidy are added to the list, the real fiscal deficit is likely to approximate between 12 and 13 per cent of a falling GDP.
The implications of this are staggering. It means that the Government is bequeathing to the country a debt burden that will haunt the present and the future. Yes, there is a law enacted in 2003 that makes it obligatory for a Government to pursue the path of fiscal responsibility. But the Government has unilaterally waived its own responsibility for following the law — on the ground that exceptional situations warrant exceptional remedies. This means that there is very little faith in the Government actually carrying out its commitment to lower the fiscal deficit in the next two years. If the monsoons don’t come up to expectations, the profligacy with public finances will continue merrily and be justified.
The issue is not so much whether or not the Government has a right to pursue voodoo economics. That privilege cannot be taken away from an elected Government. The more important question is the ethics of selective revelation, bordering on concealment, what in everyday parlance is called fudging. If you doubt what I am saying, just correlate the official claim of a negative rate of inflation with the soaring consumer price index.
At one time, particularly after smooth public relations professionals started regulating the flow of information, many Western Governments were charged with being a hostage to spin. In India, the quality of non-cricket spin is still amateurish. But we have moved to a higher level of political management. We are now a nation driven by fudge.
What a shame, it isn’t the real thing.
(This article was first published in The Pioneer on July 12, 2009.)
Comments
22 Responses to “Ironic Euphemism for Brazen Betrayal”
Now, what is BJP doing regarding this in Parliament? Why do they not put government to the task on these issues?
BJP raised black money as one of the major issues during elections. Now, even after one than 1 and half month, they are completely silent on that issue. Now, why do you expect people to believe BJP next time over when they raise any such issue? Why that should not be dumped as election gimmick by people? And then you talk about decisive leadership…
Here is another example of fudging. When international crude price was above $140, Government claimed that they are selling it at the loss of Rs. 11/liter (retail price then was Rs. 50). This was told to common man with big advertisements in all news papers. So overall cost of one liter petrol was no more than Rs. 61/l. Now, when Government is selling it @45 (still claiming that they are losing money @Rs2/l), it implies oil is costing government approx Rs 47/l. How come, when the current market prices are less then 50% of the peak price, it is still costing Government just 23% less then its peak cost? Something is wrong somewhere.
Under this government, the sanctity of parliament, morality, ethics etc. have taken a beating of no parallel. Still MMS could manage to keep his image as a clean politician. The entire credit goes to the sheer ineptitude of BJP leadership. Wake up guys before it is too late…….
The article would have been much more readable had you started from 4th paragraph.
Fudging of accounts is a very serious issue,unfortunately in India nobody is accountable.
This one instance is enough to show how ineffective and biased the media is and i do endorse the view of Mr. Manoj Agarwal, why does BJP fail every time to act as a responsible opposition. Your simile is appropriate. If Raju is accused and put behind bar for wrong disclosure of account. Lalu deserves even more severe punishment as he has fooled a billion or so people, we all know that MMS have been very deft in handling such issues, just wash his hands away, don’t act as if he knows anything about it. Now its time for opposition to make the right noise and make the government answerable and accountable.
Everything is fudged including Journalism.Who will take massage to aam admi?.Mr Advani are you awake?.
Just sleep, we can raise this issue in the next ten yrs. Let the BJP leaders take sufficient rest from the loss and petty quarrels.
IN EVERY STATE WHERE CONGRESS WIN’S I NOTICE THAT, THE VOTES WHICH ARE ANTI CONGRESS ARE DIVIDED , IN TAMILNADU, U.P.,A.P.,MAHARASTRA, SITUATION IS WORSE FOR CONGRESS BUT IN ANDHRA, IN EACH CONSTITUENCY FIGURS ARE LIKE THIS :
TDP 300000
PRP 175000
INC 325000 .
MEANS BY ONLY 25000 VOTES CONGRESS WINS AND EVERYWHERE IN ANDHRA SITUATION IS SAME FOR CONGRESS.ALMOST 500000 LAKHS PEOPLE OPPOSING CONGRESS.THIS IS NOT IN A.P. ONLY.
LOOK AT MAHARASTRA - RAJ THAKARE (MNS)
TAMILNADU - DMDK
U.P. - SP,BSP,
IN KERALA AND WEST BENGOL VOTERS ARE CHOICE LESS,BECAUSE COMMUNIST ARE WORST SO THEY CHOOSE BAD MEANS TRINMOOL (BENGOL)AND CONGRESS IN KERALA.
AND LOOK AT THE STATES WHERE CONGRESS AND BJP ARE ONLY TWO PARTIES , THESE STATES
GUJRAT - BJP WINS
M.P. - BJP WINS
CHATT. - BJP WINS
KARNATAKA - BJP WINS,
SO IN NEXT POLLS SOME HOW MANAGE ALL ANTI CONGRESS PARTIES TO BE UNITED UNDER BJP TO FIGHT CONGRESS, OTHERWISE IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO BEAT CONGRESS.
FOR MAHARASTRA ASSEMBLY ELECTION YOU MUST TIE UP WITH RAJ THAKARE IN MUMBAI, THANE ,PUNE, NASHIK AND GIVE HIM 50 SEATS OUT OF 288 (SS 130 BJP 108) SO THAT YOU GET MAGIC FIGURE OF 144 .IN MY VIEW IF YOU DO ALLIANCE WITH RAJ THAKARE THEN BJP-SS-MNS GET AT LEAST 180 SEATS , BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VERY TIRED OF THIS CONG-NCP GOVERNMENT.
AND IF DO NOT TIE UP WITH RAJ THAKARE THEN CHILD OF 3 MONTHS ALSO SAY SURLY THAT CONGRESS-NCP WINS. JOKE APART THINK ABOUT POLITICS ,IF YOU ARE NOT IN POWER THEN WHAT USE OF DOING POLITICS. ONLY DOING PUBLICITY STUNTS BY AGITATING AGAINST U.P AND BIHARI’S AND POWER SECTORS LIKE RELIANCE, WHAT YOU GET , NOTHING.
FOR BJP ,YOU MUST COME IN POWER IN MAHARASTRA OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE FINISHED IN NEXT FIVE YEARS.
Journalists were thrashing BJP on every major newspapers during the elections. What is the BJP central leadership doing to come up with a strategy to face the attacks of Media and Journalists ?. People like Teesta Selvad, Nandita Das, Nantional Human rights commission, National commission for minorities are all actively involved in attacking BJP. How is the BJP going to face these attacks ?. Please explain.
Manoj agarwal your comments are really nice. I don’t think the BJP central leadership is analytically reading the newspapers and doing some homework when they goto parliament.
My Brothers who all are here participating on this forums.
We should have one aim and target right now like arjun in mahabharat. Just discuss and make enough noise for BJP to convince shiv sena and MNS to forge a alliance during the coming maharashtra polls. I am sure the anti-incumbancy will throw a verdict in favour of BJP-SS-MNS Coalation and throw out the Corrupt & pathetic Congress-NCP.
We should make just enough noise rather than writing BJP is finished or there is no hope. Hope is there my friend and we are this hope who rather just to critisize BJP just make our voice heard to them and make them win after the huge loss of indian election.
I dont why is BJP into so much chitan and infighting when it can come into power in one of india’s finest state and rule the financial clout of mumbai.
So brother all i see a sweet victory.
Arjun, I believe BJP’s president Rajnath Singh is currently talking to MNS president Raj thackery. Hope the rivalry between two thackery’s end and they work collectively. The split in apposition is going to help congress-NCP if the BJP-MNS-Shiv sens don’t work together. The same results that came in L.S will come in assembly elections if the apposition is not united.
why congress will win in maharashtra
congress = corrupt, useless and little communal
bjp + ss + mns = more corrupt, more useless and absolutely communal..
so you see both groups are in the negative.. but one is a lesser evil than the other.. hope FOBJP understands this vital point or perception in Indian Junta..
Besides just making a noise about it for a few days, is there anything more purposeful that is going to happen.
Why isn’t Swapan commenting in the same tone and cynicism on a recent report about BJP’s Karnataka CM renovating his official and personal house from a really HUGE taxpayer’s fund?
Lets forget electoral numbers for a moment and think about the budget.
There’s only one pro-liberalization and pro-industry party in India and its not the Congress party.
For example, Congress is very shy about privatization/disinvestment and has capped the limit at 51% meaning Government still has a controlling stake. This definitely is a turn-off for the private sector. BJP has proposed 74% disinvestment which is a good move.
However, BJP cannot articulate anything properly.
Ironically, a party that had innumerable orators at one stage is POOR now. Whats Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s response to “alleged” virginity tests? I dont know. On the other hand look how Congress is gaining mileage on the UP issue of Rita Bahuguna. This is the difference.
Congress party has to get one thing right.
“Liberalism does not mean appeasing minorities, Actual liberalism is economic liberalism which is an antidote to poverty. It will save Govt lots of money from ponzi schemes like NREGA and subsidies”
But an economist PM doesn’t seem to understand this which is strange. Ultimately they stand for pseudo secularism and pseudoliberalism but get votes because of their media coverage.
SJ , congress is a disaster to India. Gandhi’s are the reason for India become a heaven for Islamic fundamentalists. Please don’t post your comments here. You guys are the big reason for India soon joining the club of Islamic nations.
Congress is responsible for the influx of Muslims from Bangladesh. Congress is responsible for problems in Kashmir, West Bengal, North Eastern states. Congress is responsible for the China problem, Pakistan problem and also congress is responsible for the Black money that is in all the Swiss Banks. Screw congress party if you need India to come out of slavery to Gandhis. Gandhis are tragedy to India . People don’t see it unfortunately as they are brainwashed by Media and Pseud-secularists.
Congress created Muslim league and is creating inumerable muslim leagues in India which will eventually create another Pakistan out of India.
I am appalled to see that even TOI has now become Hindu and BJP basher paper.
My suggestion to BJP is that please ensure that the external manioulation is stopped in elecion once and for all by getting rid of the EVMs.BJP already got support of many parties across the spectrum on this and would be advisable to take this issue aggressively.
BJP is going through a phase of NO LEADERSHIP.
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi seems to be the only the person who finds respect on the floor of the house but there is no acceptiblity of his leadership within the party ranks. People like Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj are pampered too much to be in the spotlight undermining the credibility of the leadership qualities inherent in Dr. Joshi to take on the party forward to a new high.
Mr. Advani’s body language says it all that he is no more interested in active politics and have given up on his ambition to be the next PM. He is no position mentally to lead and elevate the party to higher strata to be seemingly different than congress in its reactions.
LK Advani is a wounded soldier and is no more capable to fight any sort of battle.
It would be wise on part of BJP to immediately hand over the reins of the party leadership to Dr. Joshi and project him as the next PM candidate.
Anushman, you are correct in your comments. Advani is a wounded soldier and a wounded soldier should be taken out of the battlefield to avoid further damage to the party. If RSS has given the leadership to a young candidate like Bhagavat why can’t the BJP retire the Advani and replace him with a young and ambitious leader who can take the party to the next level. For the sake of one person the party can’t be crucified. Even the Ratha yatra proposed by Advani should be given to some body else . Advani should keep his ego aside and let a young leader be groomed and trained.
SKG I just differ with you to the point of giving a youth the leadership at present. It would require time for a young leader to rein in the transition phase in BJP. For that, I had suggested Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi as the most capable leader with a vision and his inclination to the Swadeshi and Bharatiyatva to give BJP the proper direction and a roadmap to regain its stature as Party with a Difference.
Dr. Joshi being an eminent educationist is also respected accross party lines similar to Atalji.
It is hightime the second rung leadership accepts him for the good of the party’s future building and passing on through to a smooth transition.
Anushman,I don’t see a problem with Murali Manohar Joshi. I think he will not hesitate to attack Congress when needed. He can easily lead the party for next 5 years.
There are two eminent threats running as an undercurrent I hope the BJP Leadership sense it and arrest the same in time to address them by taking adequate steps.
THREAT NO.1 : BJP has lost the Junagad Municipal elections and its seat tally has come down from 33 to 21 and Congress has won. Narendra Modi should address the reasons which led to the defeat and arrest the flaws in time so that such a defeat is not faced in next Gujrat Assembly Elections. Congress is strengthening in Gujrat and gaining ground into BJP votebank.
THREAT NO.2: The Media Houses are all inclined to Congress and Anti-BJP. It is high time the BJP should address this media menace immediately at war footing as it is running a propaganda for the UPA to cover up all their political blunders.
The BJP if it choses to face these media channels should be aggresive in attacking the anchors all out.
Anshuman, It has been more than two months since elections results came and almost all major political parties like TDP, CPI, CPM, AIADMK , SP expressed dissatisfaction with the Media. It is ironic that BJP has not uttered a single statement against the arrogant Media. BJP really needs to address this issue. Is any body listening ?. Neither a RSS member nor a BJP cadre has expressed their frustration about the Media.