No Modi, India's growth story in not just Gujarat

Editor’s note: This is a reader comment we received on the article ‘Rahul, Congress, national agenda, 5T formula: 7 points from Modi’s speech. ’The comment has been edited for grammar.

By Pallav Kirti

The Western states of India, Gujarat and Maharashtra had high growth over last few years - something Modi mentioned. Only Gujarat had Modi, but Maharashtra was under NCP-Congress. The growth story of other BJP-ruled states is not as impressive as that of Guj/Maha and at best comparable to some other states with regional leadership. So, it’s not clear how Modi/BJP combination is some sort of a unique development ace that no one else can be.

Modi’s CM role might have been an enabling factor for Gujarat growth, but the Congress can claim they too produced 8-9% growth in India. India has the inbuilt potential for high growth, with some states having better environment than others. And this growth can be achieved under any govt following good economics coupled with transparency, efficiency and simple laws.

The Congress has been a major letdown because of the numerous scams, slavish attitude towards a family and other reasons. But the BJP party too scores badly on transparency as they obstinately oppose RTI on their party funds and don’t hesitate embracing the likes of Yeddy or Gadkari for selfish reasons.

Modi can make the right noises in his speeches but he doesn’t seem to have a magical cure for all the regions of India. Above all the country needs clean politics first to create an enabling environment universally for better political talent to come through.

Without this we will go through the cycle of sweet talk before elections and major disappointments in the next 5 years, like it always has been.