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OP-ED MAY 06, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

Congress’s trouble,

coal prices and rural distress

Views and opinions from the top commentators in Indian media

he collapse of the Prashant
Kishor plan is merely the lat-
Test missed opportunity for
Congress. How do we understand
the puzzle of Congress’s inertia in
the face of a clear existential crisis,
and what remains of the future of
Congress?
Congress’s decline was not in-
evitable. Sure, as a party with a cen-
trist platform and an umbrella social
coalition, it got caught by the grow-
ing political fragmentation. Yet the
problem is not external change but
the failure to adapt to it. Or, more
precisely, there are structures within
Congress that have consciously sabo-
taged any attempts at course correc-
tion.
Salim Ali, The Times of India

The Ukraine war

lobal supply disruptions due
to the Russia-Ukraine con-
Gflict have sent coal prices
touching historical highs. The cost Ukrainian citizens at the Lodhi Garden seeking support from the Indian Government amid Russia-Ukraine conflict in New Delhi (ANI)
of imported coal in India is expected
to be 35 per cent higher in the fiscal
year 2022-23 compared to the past taking the blame for a crisis. This regime under various headers. The will be possible only once the real
year. Subsequently, power producers has come to light, once again, with concerted pushback by Opposition wage levels of rural labourers see a
paid a premium of up to 300 per cent Narendra Modi pointing a finger, chief ministers — even Telangana’s meaningful increase.
in March to secure coal supplies in couched in the rhetoric of ‘prayer’, K Chandrasekhar Rao, a fence-sit- Published on April 20, a research
the domestic spot market. to states ruled by Opposition par- ter, has raised his voice — shows that note by brokerage house Motilal Os-
Even as coal stocks available ties, alleging their complicity in the there is merit in examining the truth wal provides quite a few reasons to
with state thermal power plants fell, shocking rise in oil prices. At an behind Mr Modi’s allegation. be worried about the lot of the casu-
India also witnessed a sudden rise online meeting called to discuss the -- The Editorial Board, al labourers. The note highlights how
in energy demand in March — the Covid-19 situation, Mr Modi unex- Telegraph India self-employed labourers find them-
hottest in its recorded history. This pectedly requested the Opposition selves at the bottom of the hierarchy
pushed peak power demand to 199 to cut the value-added tax on fuel Rural problem of workers.
GW in the middle of March. The in the states where it was in power, They are pummelled not just by
last week of March saw a 13 per cent adding that his government had cut wo-thirds of the total labor stagnating income levels but also by
higher demand over past year trends, excise duties on petrol and fuel in force of the country resides limited access to credit from banking
accompanied by high electricity pric- November last year. The Opposi- Tin rural areas. It is only nat- and other formal channels. Given
es on the power exchange. This has tion — the Bengal chief minister has ural that their income graphs and the lack of institutional support, it is
left distribution companies (discoms) led the charge — has alleged that it progress trajectories define the pres- rural labourers who have had to face
with two options: Procure expensive has evidence of the prime minister’s ent and future course of the Indian the full brunt of the pandemic, vis-à-
power, but face uncertainty in reve- doublespeak. Mamata Banerjee economy. vis any other category of workers.
nue recovery or resort to power ra- stated that Mr Modi’s prarthana is Sidelining grave concerns over -- Kaushal Shroff,
tioning, as several states are doing. misleading because the Central tax the plummeting income levels of The Wire
on petrol is much higher than that self-employed labourers has culmi-
-- Shalu Agrawal, The Indian Express
of the states. Mr Modi’s government, nated in the current situation, where
Modi’s skills she alleged, has not only fattened its consumption levels and sales vol- Every week, we look at what the top
purses but also not cleared the dues umes across a number of segments, commentators in the Indian media are
ne of the prime minister’s it owes to states. Bengal, Ms Baner- especially FMCG, have taken a talking about and bring to you a slice
mercurial skills is his ability jee said, is yet to receive a princely collective beating. Reviving broad- of their opinions and comments
Oto pass the buck instead of sum from Mr Modi’s parsimonious based consumption in the country

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