Economist & author Surjit Bhalla tells Shekhar Gupta why he forecasts 330 LS seats for Modi/BJP

#OffTheCuff #SurjitBhalla #loksabhaelection2024
In conversation with ThePrint's Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta, former Executive Director of IMF and author, Surjit Bhalla talks about his new book 'How We Vote', and discusses at length India's growth story, voting behaviours of people, economic health of India and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Chapters:
0:15 to 4:46: Introduction of the book
4:46 to 8:13: Economy & Elections
8:13 to 12:27: Role of inflation in voting
12:27 to 14:58: Is economy over factors like nationalism?
14:58 to 17:58: Predictions for 2024 LS polls
17:58 to 20:58 Historical data on BJP & Congress
20:58 to 24:17 Economic welfare and nationalism
24:17 to 28:45: Delivery of schemes under Modi govt
28:45 to 29:41: Redistribution of Income and Growth
29:41 to 32:07: The lack of good quality data & interpretation
32:07 to 38:13: Economic welfare & elections
36:39 to 42:40: Role of a Contrarian
42:40 to 45:52: Does a charismatic leader influence voter behaviour?
45:52 to 50:20: Modi improved quality of life
50:20 to 52:32: The case of MNREGA scheme
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[@rajanachiket3172]

Mr Bhalla an economist who deals with numbers and models, and Mr Gupta a journalist who is a storyteller. Both are speaking in different languages. Those who studied Economic Model in college may agree with me

[@Liberty55555]

both cant predict in any language

[@pratikgupta3029]

Quite irrelevant discussion going on .... Somehow Shekhar trying to raise Congress points viz Demonetization, Core Vote etc etc

[@krishnaramachandran7722]

@@pratikgupta3029 You have to discuss the pros and cons of both BJP and Congress in any debate and he is trying to doing that. Modi will still probably win because he did many things well.

[@dilipapte3544]

Mr. Bhalla You have hit the nail on the head. In fact Mody has used modern technology to (unintentionally) to solve the most difficult problem in modern economics, that of perpetual tendency of concentration of economic power, via fiscal policies.

[@pardeeptandon]

This technology was introduced by Rajive Gandhi, who ushered in the telecom revolution, and Nandani, who introduced AADHAR during the Congress tenure.

[@user-wh3ql8lu9v]

12:14 Jai Shankar is attending the event. So must be something great to listen to.

[@rajbunsha8834]

How did you notice him

[@hello3524]

Yes, I saw Mr Jai Shankar. But somehow I cud’nt convince by and large, although economy certainly a key factor, but not alone. I think that’s what Author wanted to say but somehow he cud’nt explain it well

[@user-wh3ql8lu9v]

@@hello3524 Economists trying to describe political scene through economic ratios is the most superficial take. I think he was just adding his “ideas” to the situation and trying to sell the book. But his economic insights are spot on. Politics is consensus building a narrative. That is why Modi is building consensus on say, “Viksit Bharat” and opposition is trying to fracture the consensus on it by saying “Equal Distribution” both are right and both are wrong. At the end it will be the narratives victory. Either way narrative is a potent instrument in driving the future of the nation. TLDR; Bhalla is saying Adam Smith and Keynesian economics are favoured by Modi, whereas opposition is favouring Amartya Sen’s economics.

[@ambarkumar7046]

Good catch

[@drmonabansal]

Mr. Bhalla, so patiently answered everyone, including the sarcastic ones, asking basically the same question, over and over again. On the other hand, Mr. Gupta did not let go any single change to give the conversation an anti-Modi sentiment. Guys/gals sitting in this AC room can go on refuting to the nth degree about the economy or the policies Mr. Modi implemented for the poor, coz their life got least affected, before or after these policies. It's the poor who saw a transformational change in their lifestyle whose votes will determine the outcome of this election.

[@pardeeptandon]

Like a true Hindutva Hafimed and Bhakt educated at Whatapp University, you believe that a transformative change in Lifestyle has taken place for 82 crore Indians who survive on the charity of 5 kg of grains.

[@SamratGuha007]

Why Sekhar is keep speaking and not giving the opportunity to Bhalla to answer?It is not Sekhar's blubbering what attracks us here.We are here to hear Bhalla's arguments.

[@user-tg1io1ie6v]

Kyun bhai? Sekhar ji also spoke well

[@think4522]

yeah i also felt irritated while listening to his constant murmur the way i felt irritated to your verb usage

[@sunilshegdeable]

We Indians are all nationalist. We will vote for anyone who makes us proud. I have been living 30 years overseas. In only in the last 10 years that people from overseas treat us equal and say INDIA a great country. 👍

[@think4522]

so It's for the foreigners to say India is a great country?

[@umarhaq670]

That’s why indians are getting killed in US every week

[@hareshmehta1772]

Living abroad doesn't prevent him for being Indian citizen!

[@think4522]

@@hareshmehta1772 read the second line mehta . 1772

[@think4522]

@@hareshmehta1772 i won't have replied generally but your ignorance made me . also go abroad if you want to

[@sunilgokhale5693]

How refreshing! Two adults talking about important matters without shouting and without cutting each other off. Thanks Mr Bhalla and specially Mr. Gupta. As a Modi-wadi I I hold you in high esteem as a rare well researched, sensible pandit who is mostly neutral.

[@hello3524]

I'm not sure what world Mr. Surjeet is living in, or if he conducted his research on some distant planet. There's a particular minority community in India that doesn't vote based on the conventional criteria; their voting criteria are completely different from what you've described, like economy. You're aware of this but hesitate to address the elephant in the room. Unfortunately in India, whole politics is revolves around them because they does voting in mass. Neither Shekhar nor any elite intellectual, whether from the left or right, dare to tackle tough topics, which is disappointing. That's why I've lost trust in most elite economists or intellectuals, regardless of their ideological leanings. There are plenty of examples to support this point. As mentioned, everyone knows it, but nobody wants to address it.

[@Youtubechnl1]

Agree. Caste, Religion, Egoism of state identity opposing the central government’s leader identity. These factors matter to people’s emotions a lot, sadly.

[@AP-do6sv]

I have been a subscriber for over 3 years and a paying member, unfortunately this election season most reporters at this house have not been sticking to their central position. Its leaning too much to the left (congress). I am unsubscribing, will log back in when you guys return to your senses post elections.

[@VK-bk7gi]

I’m contemplating the same

[@yasho.]

yes..except shekhar 100% of the nwesroom is commie or openly left leaning

[@friendsgroup470]

Good bye Subscribe to republic tv

[@koljoy]

Politics is a complex game. While I agree with economist Mr Bhalla that it is mainly about the economy, at the end of the day, it all comes down to perception. Every political party tells their own story and tries to convince people. The way people are convinced is the deciding factor. Storytelling is an art, and it may not affect people of all ages at the same time. There are three types of voters: those who are committed to a political thought or regional aspiration, those who support a particular path but may change their stance if the situation changes, and those who are completely undecided, mostly young voters. Often, results are decided by the young generation's perception of the government or the opposition, especially when the number of young voters is higher than older voters. When Mr Bhalla says that we are pretty self-centred, I agree. Generally, people stick to their own ideas and findings unless there is a big issue like prices or something that people face daily. However, issues like nationalism are all about perception. Whether India's position in the world has improved or not, a common man on the ground has no idea, but he starts believing it if the perception is more convincing. The other crucial factor is people from lower-middle-class or lower-income backgrounds who understand the ground reality well and their decisions play a significant role in elections. "And last but not least, 50% of our voters are women. A large portion of them do not take much interest in politics or even news as a whole. When it comes to voting, it's either based on family thoughts or if there is any particularly women's issue, as well as issues related to the kitchen and household. Other feminist issues can also be a deciding factor."

[@raghunandhkotike7305]

A wise and shrewd observation. The two percent voter decline for the Congress got transferred to the BJP in every phase Simply attacking the ruling dispensation and confining to criticism leaving the Congress ruled states for wooing the minorities, corruption, silince of governments when the Hindu community is exploited/tortured resulted in lising confidence of the Hindus in particular and even minorities got vexed. A party has to assure equality in treatment, a promising leadership which the BJP has been playing to some extent whereas the congress has started leaving the ground in battle. BJP deserves one more chance to rule the nation atleast for making Indians holding their heads high with pride.

[@user-qd2ho7lp2h]

In w.b,in villages after villages, mgnrega money is used by the men and women to buy daily lottery tickets of DEAR company( by the way it is highest donor of electoral bonds in w.b tmc,and some other states).

[@kedarmukherjee5007]

😊😊😊😊

[@sridharmahalingam8190]

If SG is honest he must give his frank opinion if India alliance comes to power will the country prosper, have the same commanding position in the international fora.

[@sankalp6872]

A 3rd term for Modi is a must. We are Hindus, Nobody will even take us as refugees if India goes broke like Venenzuela. "PM Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he's taken 400 million people out of poverty," Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan.

[@theplutonimus]

Now even the "Foreign subverters" are praising Modi........

[@rravisankar3355]

Not really. The FF (freedom foundation) types have since long heavily invested on large numbers of Trojans within and abroad.​@@theplutonimus

[@Maiazaadhoon]

Why you want disaster to continue

[@Jun_kid]

@@Maiazaadhoon It is disaster for you, for us it is celebration time!!

[@Maiazaadhoon]

@@Jun_kid What’s the point, am an individual with brains and not a bot with hidden identities

[@vaidyasethuraman452]

The contrast was stark- one , an expert based on data and analysis and another - a story teller with human bias called journalism. Great point Shekar Ji re Trust; but the trust on Nehru and his daughter was based on "zamindari following mindset"; today it is based on "delivery of performance" as cited by Mr Bhalla. Your sly reference to " trust overriding economic data" applied to Nehru and Indira- no data whatsoever, but not to Modi - I know you have other ideas on this.....My two cents- Good journalism is one with out bias and based on what the ground says, not sitting in Delhi and talking to also rans most of the time.

[@subhrangsudutta8029]

A magnificent episode (no.is missing) of 'OtC' with equally mind-boggling high ended humors sm of which gone over our heads. Regards

[@sridharmahalingam8190]

As a father of an international journalist iam ashamed lutyens media journalist like SG in their antimodi attitude are openly campaiging for a kitchadi india alliance to make Rahul their idol as a PM which will take this country backwards by 20 years.

[@theplutonimus]

Sure, SG is campaigning for Rahul. Are Bhai poor old man, leftists say he's andhbhakt, right wingers say he's Congress bootlicker.....

[@mg.f.9023]

PM is taking India to the Nazi Fascist era, backwards by 80 Years.

[@madhuragarwal6948]

Actually I find him most neutral just stating facts

[@krishnaramachandran7722]

He is neutral unlike Times now, India Today, Republic and now NDTV.

[@theplutonimus]

@@madhuragarwal6948 He is tho. Butthurt people from the right and left can't bear it when he isn't spewing their propoganda

[@mg.f.9023]

“The health of a mother and child is a more telling measure of a nation's state than economic indicators.” - Harjit Gill

[@sankalp6872]

"PM Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he's taken 400 million people out of poverty," Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan.

[@mg.f.9023]

@@sankalp6872 Then why PM calling a community as Infiltrators? These community are not Indians?

[@sankalp6872]

@@mg.f.9023 He called Rohingyas infiltrators and they are indeed infiltrators. Also, I don't care for the community. If that special community of yours cannot be like Abdul Kalam and instead unleash "beheading" and acts like Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blasts then they are not Indians and worthy of Pakistani citizenship.

[@sankalp6872]

@@mg.f.9023 He called out Rohingyas. They are "inflitrators". Also, your special community is NOT Indians unless they are like Abdul Kalam. They are a burden upon India if they are serial criminals like the ones who "did" the Kanhaiya Lal or Rameshwaram Cafe.

[@nobody4u77]

​@@mg.f.9023bcoz they're infliltrators. You are also an infiltrator .

[@skbandi7782]

The reason why congress in Karnataka & TA seems pure economics, here personal economics / benefits. So Mr Balla seems right.

[@butterchickenandnaan]

Bruh Jaishankar is in thr audience

[@ajeysangai521]

I am not sure if Mr. Bhalla establishes that economic development is the dominant factor, what seems to me is that his argument is that it is the most consistent factor than being the most definite.

[@premtiwari3161]

Surjit Bhalla is a deep thinker and with logical conclusion based on data- I hv always found his views objective and on sound data. We need such economists in the chaotic Indian atmosphere .

[@saratchandraprayaga6930]

Shekar more of such joint sessions. Dr. Subramanya swamy like people claim economy is in shambles. When gst, income tax from companies and individuals is growing fast how is it possible economy is down. If there is some inflation it means there is more cash with people as rural and urban demand and sale of all goods have gone up. Even rbi Das makes a big issue of veg prices, which is purely seasonal. If people didnot have cash how are crores of dmat ac being opened. Could you clarify the perfect state of economy. At least Surjit says bjp coming back best news.😅😅 adding if economy is down then definitely now people are paying taxes sincerely in last 10 years which was not the case with congress ruling .

[@rohanigal3924]

Divide the video into parts please

[@abagwe9887]

Is Jayshankar there in This Room....

[@sunilshegdeable]

Yes nationalism is always the top notch.

[@suppiahmurugesan8343]

It is very rude for Shekar to pointing his fingers to who should ask the next question when the guest is answering. Please desist this disrespectful distractive act.

[@pendsenarendra]

Good Program!

[@drunkenmonk2767]

Shekhar is not happy the way the interview is going. Couldn't hide his disappointment and trying to interrupt or playdown some important points

[@harbanssingh4070]

Harsh reality: Unemployment, price rising, and inequality are growing in India. That is the truth.

[@GuruKhatri1]

Great discussion 👏🏽

[@hello3524]

The election voting pattern theory presented by the author doesn't convince me, although I'd like to believe it for now. I'll definitely wait until June 4th. The election voting pattern in India is far more complex than the key pattern presented.

[@MrAkdff]

Not sure how reliable their data is. A New study by Piketty and Co-authors shows that economic divide between the rich and the poor is the widest ever.

[@chothazonienu3836]

Sir Shekhar, I would recommend you to make Sir Bhalla as a Saturday columnist replacing T N Ninan, a columnist I used to look forward to but who has stopped publishing

[@sb9060]

This "choose n pick" kind of economist, while calibrating Indian opinions on politics, completely moves away from school of economics itself professionally and ends up becoming a straight forward Congressi-Daalla in disguise of so called professionalism....

[@gajananranade9429]

People vote for "ease of living .. Less of hassle.. " Hence it will be 352

[@Little-bird-told-me]

*Politics, sports and movies have only one purpose. Entertainment, Entertainment, Entertainment.* If you think otherwise, you are fatuous

[@shyamnagarmat6678]

Sanitation is the most important aspect which had been ignored by Congress Party when Congress Party Ruled the Govt. for a very long time & the Covid Pandemic interfered drastically in the performance of BJP Govt. under PM Modi's leadership.

[@rameshbhat4880]

Come out of 1984.Cong got 400 plus because of sympathy.Generations have changed & people are wiser now.

[@sb5224]

Ultimately, people vote back a government if their economic condition is improving. May be not the first time, but the second and third time it's most definitely the 'economics'. SG here is displaying a complete lack of statistical understanding. I don't blame him though as journalists tend to focus more on trends and not as much on the data.

[@ininjad24]

Reduced inequality! Let us see on June 4 🫣

[@thomaspius830]

Good discussion

[@puggleski6097]

India is a prime example of how recency bias works in both the data as well as the narrative streams ( streams of analysis, and consciousness both )

[@stormstriker2000]

can u please elaborate?

[@saurabhpahade]

Every democracy suffers from recency bias India is no different...

[@premtiwari3161]

Kudos to Mr Bhalla.

[@rajbaniwal3236]

I watched the entire video. Shekhar ji tried to corner BJP. Montek ji and EAM Jai Shankar ji was in the audience. Even Shekhar gupta ji’s Print is Godi media. And that’s how Indian politics play out. Amethi and Rae Bareilly be damned. But Mr Montek and Jai Shankar #EAM were part of audience.

[@suppiahmurugesan8343]

BJP is likely to get 345 seats. NDA should cross 400 seats.

[@suhas123123]

320+50/330+60

[@aviramvijh]

55 mins which could have been 5.

[@JoeBlimey]

Anyone else getting hungry for KFC after looking at Bhalla?

[@theplutonimus]

Bruh what lmao

[@theplutonimus]

Oh yea he does look like the KFC guy 😂

[@AP-do6sv]

Classic!!!!

[@0112sjp]

Why S.Jaishankar didnt speak anything?nor was he asked anythng. Perhaps it was his choice to do so i think..

[@parthabiswas5388]

❤❤❤❤

[@jayakumarm4085]

Bhalla and Sekhar has to admit that Priorities vary , it is not as if they have presumed.They seemed to have no idea how common man_lay man prioritise their concerns..!!

[@charitharatwatte575]

46:22 people vote for what they are promised, even it is imagination and unaffordable

[@AyushKumar-se6nn]

This is a prime Delhi intellectual meet. Great to listen.

[@hello3524]

Many argue (specially who stuck in Nehruvian era) against Modi, saying that since he only received 40% of the votes in 2019, 60% voted against him. This argument is quite absurd and doesn't paint the whole picture clearly. First of all, India doesn't have a presidential-style election. Secondly, many don't necessarily vote against him but prefer to vote for their own candidate, regardless of how well Modi performed in the past five years. 3rd, there are always core voters for every party, they always vote for their party regardless of anything, there cud be any number of party cud be float in India. Shockingly, most left liberal media people started saying this in past 10 years only, never heard such irrational absurd argument before.

[@pardeeptandon]

Indians will learn NATIONALISM from Congress and not the BJP, as they contributed much more to our independence than RSS and Hindu Sabha did. The fact is that in the Sindh Provisional assembly, Hindu Mahasbha, jointly with the Muslim League, passed a resolution for the creation of Pakistan. While Congress had opposed it. Moreover, in 1972, it was Congress that split Pakistan, took 90,000 prisoners' created Bangladesh and did not drop a few bombs in a potato field in Balakot as Modani has done.

[@pardeeptandon]

In the last century, Gandhi / Nehru's family contributed more than any other family in India. The family icon had given his palatial house in Allahabad to be used by the Congress party as its office to fight the Britishers during our struggle for Independence. His Son Pandit Nehru spent nine years in Jail fighting for our Independence. Then, as PM, he set up modern India's foundations: our constitution, democracy, steel plants, IITs, IAMS, space and atomic research centres, canals and dams, etc. The list is endless. His Daughter defeated our Arch enemy on the battlefield, took 90,000 Pakistani soldiers as prisoners, and broke Pakistan into two, creating Bangladesh. She gave her life as PM of India fighting terrorism. Her son Rajiv Gandhi started the telecom revolution in India, which has made India a superpower in IT and facilitated digital India. He also sacrificed his life-fighting terrorism. His wife, Sonia Gandhi, did not accept to become PM of India, which was offered on a platter and Made a top economist in the world, Manmohan Singh, the PM of India in the national interest. Today his son Rahul Gandhi after doing the Bharat Jodo Yatra of 3500 Km, is opening a " Mohabat Kee Dukan."He is supporting the oppressed. Naya Yatra has covered 6000 km to determine what India wants, as reflected in the Congress Manifesto. In the Last 32 years, nobody from this Parwar has occupied any profit-making position in the government. We should have more Parwars like Gandhi Parwar and less of Sang Parwar.

[@SpeedDemonMonster]

They have don’t anything to uplift the country 55 years rule and desperate poverty under Congress with a begging bowl in 1991 and bad choking license raj of communist Nehru congress

[@abagwe9887]

What drives Muslim voter's can this capture in this Book....

[@pardeeptandon]

The Chinese political system is based on MERITOCRACY, and Meritocracy is beating Democracy on the ground. In the World Happiness Index, China rates better than India. What use is Plutocrats' highjacked Democracy to ordinary Indians?

[@pardeeptandon]

Why is the BJP running away from fighting elections in Kashmir? Have they reconciled that Kashmir is an occupied territory?

[@samm8654]

No caste no inflation only Evm😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 only to so called meritous😂😂😂😂😂

[@avijitsharma]

WTF is Mr. Bhalla smoking? Predicting seats for BJP in 20124 by % increase in vote share every 5 years since 1984? In that case by 2084, BJP might have a vote share of 100%? Unbelievably low quality analysis. And he has written a book about how people vote ??? 🤔

[@KillerEyes-vk4vy]

Saturated votes (that's r central or slightly left and right )that can be taken by bjp...not 100%

[@pardeeptandon]

During Manmohan Singh's tenure, our GDP grew from $ 709 Billion to $ 2039 B in 2014, a Jump of 2.87 times. In 2024, it is estimated to be 4 Billion, While Modani could only double it. Our GDP per capita grew from $ 624 in 2004 to $ 1560 in 2014, a Jump of 2.5 times, While Modani is estimated to make it $2800 in 2024, a jump of 1.8 times. So, who has done better for the Indian economy? Even our SENSEX jumped 5 times during the UPA era while growing only a threefold rise during the Modani era. Should all Stock market investors not vote for INDIA Grouping? Why is this data not seen by this Haffimed Hindutva Andh Bhakt?

[@SUNDERTHOMAS1]

SG and SB - made for each other Modi bhakts

[@sahanazperven9804]

This shikhar guy is too much talking not much sense at all

[@HeartistMurali]

Bhalla is harping about data. It is exactly what Modi doesn't like to speak about ......

[@bharathraman2098]

it is important..but wont make a voter to come out and vote...

[@HeartistMurali]

@@bharathraman2098 If Modi had data, he would have bragged endlessly.

[@bharathraman2098]

@@HeartistMurali no...its not emotive...if you watch closely mod does not talk about ram mandir and article 370 also. Once done its a thing of the past. It wont get him votes for a future term

[@sudhakarankarunakaran6932]

Even in Jun 4th the result is as predicted by him. Still we can say Sujith reasoning is STUPID.

[@srbasha74]

These are the wodoo economists who failed our country miserably in the last 10 years

[@sanjibbose25]

Body language of Mr Sekhar Gupta is very negative, he is not only disagreeing but not liking as well

[@sudu916]

30:00 Germany 😂

[@pardeeptandon]

Surjit has a habit of selectively picking up Data.

[@mg.f.9023]

“The ‘Billionaire Raj’ headed by India’s modern bourgeoisie is now more unequal than the British Raj headed by the colonialist forces,” says a new study by the World Inequality Lab. The report, which spans a century, shines a spotlight on 2014-2022, the first eight years of rule by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. -Bloomberg March 26, 2024

[@sankalp6872]

"PM Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he's taken 400 million people out of poverty," Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan.

[@sankalp6872]

Modi did more for poor Muslims than any other Govts ever did. I wonder if it was a total waste. Perhaps he should take lesson from this and structure things differently in his 3rd term.

[@mg.f.9023]

@@sankalp6872 So if he did more for Muslims gives him a right to call the community infiltrators?

[@sankalp6872]

@@mg.f.9023 Because he realized his mistake and understood their true nature. Once a Jeeeehaaaadi ,always a Jeeehaadi

[@stormstriker2000]

how are they indian? ,mention one single indian character about them except their passport. is there is religion indian, is there name indian, is there archeticure indian? is there mannirsm indian? honestly, how are they indian? does indian culture and civilixation meaning nothing to u

[@VasanthKumar-mu2qu]

Looooose talk expert

[@KobayashiMaru-]

Had Mr bhalla sullied India's name in the IMF with his ignorance ?

[@kbmehta4208]

Mr Bhalla is right on sanitation, if focus remains on it and general public behaviour changes, awareness increases we should see better productivity brought in by healthier, taller, happier Indians a generation and two later. Of course it will happen gradually. But, I don’t agree with him on data, data is prone to serious manipulation because factors being analysed and operations on them can be chosen to the liking of the person undertaking the survey/analysis just like as it happens in case of choosing of a hypothesis in research.

[@raosaheb5637]

jaishankar in the audience sitting like a nobody.

[@mg.f.9023]

‘Report by Shreegirish Jalihal of The Reporters’ Collective - the three farm laws were the system of corporate, by corporates, for the corporates. Jalihal’s investigative report shows how an unsuspecting NRI businessman in the software industry lobbied with the government and NITI Aayog from 2017 steering Indian agriculture towards agribusiness. But to whose benefit? A task force was formed on his policy note and big agricultural houses like the Adani Group, Big Basket, Mahindra Group, ITC, Patanjali, etc all were given a seat on the task force. As no farmers were on the committee, it appears the conclusions were already decided even before the first meeting happened: India needs to corporatise its agriculture now.’ - The Wire 22 Aug 2023

[@sankalp6872]

"PM Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he's taken 400 million people out of poverty," Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan.

[@mg.f.9023]

@@sankalp6872 Then why PM calling a community as Infiltrators? These community are not Indians?

[@abhigyanutsav9651]

There are no APMCs in Communist Kerela,I guess they are also bought by corporates

[@sankalp6872]

@@mg.f.9023 Agree with PM and "yes" to your second Q.

[@stormstriker2000]

how are they indian? ,mention one single indian character about them except their passport. is there is religion indian, is there name indian, is there archeticure indian? is there mannirsm indian? honestly, how are they indian? does indian culture and civilixation meaning nothing to u

[@just-a-harmless-potato]

lmao jai is so free these days ?

[@mg.f.9023]

“It's hard to get anything done in India. And the bribes are just awful.” -Charlie Munger

[@sankalp6872]

"PM Modi has done an unbelievable job in India. I know the liberal Press here, they beat the hell out of him when he's taken 400 million people out of poverty," Jamie Dimon, CEO, JP Morgan.

[@mg.f.9023]

@@sankalp6872 If done unbelievable job, then why stoop down to Hate speech 24/7?

[@sankalp6872]

@@mg.f.9023 Truth is NOT Hate speech. Hate speech is "Sar tan se Juda".

[@theplutonimus]

@@stormstriker2000 Bruh when did he say it's Indian? Now let me ask you, and answer honestly : Is it possible to get anything done in India realistically without bribes ? No. Corruption is prevalent at every level in India. Is it Modi's fault ? No. Is it a result of Indian Culture ? No. But is it prevalent in India ? Absolutely yes.

[@darvind1379]

​@@mg.f.9023Congress strategy is to consolidate minority votes and divide Hindus by insisting on caaste survey and reservations. Also wealth distribution by taking away people wealth. Modi understood and has to respond for Hindu consolidation. Modi is speech is only counter . No one other than Rahul has involved in hate speech for several years

[@AnupamSringeri]

Gosh! This Shekar Gupta is so boring to listen to. He drones on for ages without context.

[@pgh123]

One of the most boring and insipid conversations. Wasted a good twenty minutes.

[@jinilmoses9786]

Most confused confusing person this guy Surjith😢

[@veerbhandari1745]

total bakwas logiv by author, confused the entire issue

[@rajmunuswamy675]

Bela your bullshit

[@reshumalik321]

What a waste of time this was!

[@sambhrantdas8716]

I was planning to give it a watch. Is there nothing worthwhile in the discussion?

[@RohitSinghSangwan]

This guy speaking is confused.

[@sanjaydongre]

bhalla is absolutely WRONG , Bjp is going '' SOUTH ""

[@bharathraman2098]

only Congress is going SOUTH.. geographically... BJP is going NORTH

[@sanjaydongre]

@@bharathraman2098 if you open world map , North is up & SOUTH IS DOWN ,....I hope u understand

[@bharathraman2098]

@@sanjaydongre its you who did not understand..it is congress vacating all its bastions in the north, rahul gandhi is contesting from south. You seem to be living under a rock if you didnt understand

[@thebestevertherewas]

Congress📉 BJP 📈

[@sanjaydongre]

@@thebestevertherewas south means down

[@saurabbbhardwaj1930]

Modi appointee at IMF. Now kicked out. Back to spreading his nonsense again. What's his favorite line... 'if you will...'

[@ownerspride8305]

I don’t understand the point other than “I don’t like Modi”. That doesn’t make him wrong.

[@saurabbbhardwaj1930]

@@ownerspride8305 have you heard his drivel? Was a joke on ndtv panel

[@ownerspride8305]

@@saurabbbhardwaj1930 I have heard a lot of drivel from Pappu and his bootlickers

[@saurabbbhardwaj1930]

@@ownerspride8305 anything compared to modis mutton murgi Machi Muslim mangalsutra mango? Let us know

[@ownerspride8305]

@@saurabbbhardwaj1930 hear about pappu’s AI nonsense. Let us know. And also waitress’ views on anything if she can string a sentence together.

[@mg.f.9023]

"Netanyahu and his government carry a big responsibility for the dysfunction of the Israeli state. Netanyahu built his career by dividing the nation, labeling parts of the public as traitors. He appointed people to key positions based on loyalty, not qualifications. This is a warning for every democracy - if you elect populists as leaders, during crises like COVID-19 or the outbreak of a war, you will pay a very heavy price for it." - Yuval Noah Harari

[@nss74]

Two Godi interacting

[@Rajasthani710]

boring time waste

[@pksahu51]

In Turkey the economy was doing well even though inflation was high.

[@stormstriker2000]

nope, people are spending and have no saving, becasue of fear of inflation, thats why u think its doing well, in reality they are drying their own investments

[@harshpatel7250]

😂 yeah that’s why erdogan lost local elections recently, what kinda people are these with shallow knowledge

[@theplutonimus]

@@harshpatel7250 Are Bhai kuch bhi ? Even in the previous mayoral elections, Istanbul voted for the CHP candidate. Erdogan is like Modi, without Modi's economic growth.

[@sankalp6872]

You are probably concluding that based on Turkey's growth rate alone. It happened in Pak too. See, inflation and growth are strongly correlated. Even India can extract an additional 2 to 4% growth rate but a done through manipulating system like increasing money supply distorts the natural supply-demand equation and leads to heating of the economy which leads to inflation. Turkey's problem is Erdogan's stubbornness with interest rate. He has kept them low so that his real estate buddies can borrow money at cheap interest rates. Their borrowing is pumping money into the system which is putting upward pressure on prices. Turkey is caught in a trap of Erdogan's making.

[@ownerspride8305]

What? 80% inflation is not an example of “economy doing well”.

[@prasoon77]

Surjit Bhalla's arguements are absurd to the point of being ridiculous. It takes a lot of guile to believe that Modi derives his poularity not by virtue of being a 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' but by virtue of the so called booming economy. The data analyzed and quoted is very selective, any datapoint not confirming the predetermined conclusions is discarded as being an outlier. This book is a piece of propoganda if there was any ever in the history of Indian democracy. A completely dishonest attempt to legitamize the doings of the current dispensation.

[@mg.f.9023]

Well said.

[@madhukarmurthi9064]

at least he has popularity for whatever reason unlike the lame ducks you support

[@thunrou]

Typical communist response and has no value

[@thunrou]

Typical communist propaganda has no value

[@thebestevertherewas]

Khangress supporters won't understand. BUt they will seethe like did the last 2 elections.

[@hemikovsky]

No doubt MODI is The Most uneducated PM in the entire history. And will want to win, but only by appealing to the ugliest depths of who we are, not the best we can be. Modi is nuisance value and has nothing to deliver either.

[@user-wg1gk7uk5d]

Shekar couldn't digest 330 ...even after all the experience hatred shows in his expression......hatred to the whole population of India