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Delhi:
It was plainspeak that went beyond diplomacy. US Ambassador Robert D.
Blackwill did not mince words while addressing the American and Indo-American
chambers of commerce this week. He termed US trade flows into India as
"flat as a chapati". On the Government's reform initiatives,
he gave this gem: "The reforms rabbit can become a turtle, which
can become a rock." Disappointed with the legislation process, he
complained, "India's timeline before it realises its full economic
potential is extended with each passing session of Parliament in which
legislative action is not taken."
Certainly, this was not the affable, polite diplomat that Blackwill has
often been described as in diplomatic circles. But are his barbs backed
by facts? Unfortunately they are. Only 20.15 per cent of the total FDI
approvals till date have been converted into actual inflows. In fact US
FDI approvals-which peaked in 1997 at Rs 13,570 crore-slumped to Rs 4,195
crore in 2000. Actual inflows have dipped from Rs 2,578 crore in 1997
to Rs 1,442 crore in 2000.
India has had a poor track record of converting FDI approvals into inflows.
That's not new. What is new are the frank appraisals of commercial issues
at a diplomatic level. Blackwill's speech just shows the level of discontent
among American MNCs over reforms and government policies. In fact, this
may hold true for all the investors in the country-domestic or international.
Blackwill's address, coming just a month before the Budget, may be one
more call to the Government to undertake reforms that India so desperately
needs.
-Malini Goyal
GOLDEN PUMPKIN
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SITTING ON THE RULEBOOK: Laloo and Rabri
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Nobody ever accused the Yadav couple of playing by the rulebook. The
reputation of Bihar's queen and once (and future?) king stood enhanced
on Republic Day when they doggedly refused to stand while the national
anthem was being played. When everybody else at the parade in Patna was
smart-well, as smart as Bihar can be-and at attention, Laloo was yawning
on the sofa, Chief Minister Rabri Devi was suitably bored. Later Laloo
went into mystifyingly tortuous explanations about how he hadn't actually
been sitting-presumably the TV cameras were part of a Brahminical conspiracy-and
in any case wasn't feeling well that day, whatever that may have conveyed.
Just before Republic Day, Laloo was released from one of his innumerable
stints in prison. To celebrate the event, his Rashtriya Janata Dal workers
held a public meeting at the garrison grounds at the Danapur cantonment,
about 12 km from Patna and strictly army property. The generals freaked.
They wanted to evict the infilitrators but were persuaded not to by top
police officials, who feared violence. Laloo was, as usual, blissful in
his ignorance. Send him to Pakistan. Musharraf won't know what hit him.
SIGNPOSTS
 NOMINATED:
Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar's album Full Circle for the Grammy awards.
RE-ELECTED:
K.P.S. Gill, as president of the Indian Hockey Federation.
REJECTED:
The Padma Shri, by writer Indira Goswami, saying it belittles her Jnanpith
Award.
 DIED:
Sarla Grewal, 74, former IAS officer and governor of Madhya Pradesh. Best
known for her stint as principal secretary in Rajiv Gandhi's PMO.
RESIGNED:
Prabhat Kumar, as governor of Jharkhand, after being linked to corruption-tainted
Flex Industries chief Ashok Chaturvedi.
DENIED:
By Purnima Advani, chairperson of the National Commission for Women, that
she is a BJP member.
DIED:
Marjan, Afghanistan's only lion, in Kabul zoo.
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CURRENT
ISSUE FEB 11, 2002
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