AM

Democracy is not about solving problem, it’s about choosing one problem over another and living on hope that someday……..,

@NotProsaicview No. Too much of politicisation, fight against imaginary enemies, and definitely we have reached the stage of ‘the missing middle’ - society,economic strata, mid size industries, political ideologies et al. Land of Buddha doesn’t have anyone to follow the middle path’.

There were many things bad about the UPA but were the escort convoys of VIPs quite as big? Even union ministers did not have as big escorts as district level leaders do now

@big_pict @DivaJain2 Never studied Vietnam in detail, never visited any plant in Vietnam that’s part of its Industry 4.0 to enhance productivity led growth. Yet I will be surprised if they don’t reach 8%+ growth in next 3 years. It has disciplined and skilled workforce and many mid size businesses.

@robert_frost100 @DivaJain2 Woh sab theek hai but explain why Vietnam has failed to grow more than 6% avg in last 30 years despite its ease of business and ability to attract manufacturing. And despite its govt following same economic model as China.

After the first 12 years of Deng in China, in 1990, China per capita GDP was still less than India. Deng grew per capita GDP by ~6% CAGR in 12 years. Modi has grown per capita GDP by ~5.3% CAGR despite higher base, COVID and democracy. At least check data before criticizing, no?

@Bharati09 Indian politics is moving in the direction of US politics

The one club that ought to be taken over is the Delhi Golf Club. A massive patch of artificially maintained, water-guzzling green that has zero ecological value. Serving a 1000 or so people who play a slow sport that is exclusionist.

@ShekharGupta @dgupta_moushumi If this land is purely given by commercial value and a private club comes up, membership of retired bureaucrats will be replaced by real estate builde

Now this is audacity…Modi govt takes on the real and permanent establishment of India…. Centre tells Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over land by 5 June, needs it to ‘secure defence infra’ Moushumi Das Gupta @dgupta_moushumi reports for ThePrint theprint.in/india/centre-t…

Why Gymkhana Club closure is the ideal low hanging fruit to be plucked by the government: 1. Is not a voting bloc nor does it get influenced by slogans 2. Cannot be managed by subsidies bcs members dont need them 3 Has no capacity to contribute to party coffers in any way 4 Does not indulge in any propaganda nor can be used for one 5 Legacy means nothing bcs decolonisation is the theme like de-Lutyenisation 6. Symbolic value is so telling - a strike against the rich and powerful drinking away in the evenings & worse, discussing good old times 7. Since, security reason is bogus (PM house shifting) so defence establishment is suddenly reqd & right there 8. In reaction - no political party, right wingers, Left thinkers or jholawallahs can support the 'rich', nor will riticise the closure. 9 May even fetch a few votes thru campaign by the inside brigade of army and civil services coterie (with parched throats) Meanwhile 1. The official Government Club - Ashoka Hotel will not be closed for high and mighty officials and netas 2. Constitutional club will continue with gym, restaurant facilities and earn money so MPs can relax and have fiesta election exercises 3. Lodi hotel has already become a sarkari aided Monument 4. Lutyens will continue being decolonised with monstrous building . Since we cant build good old ones why not destroy them. So, There is no quality of life in India hence CEOs of indian companies based in Singapore etc. But quality of life is supreme factor in deciding abroad - both for rich and poor. All CEOs will run away. This was a place for them too. Diplomats will be bewildered. Rubio will get to know this and chuckle from inside. Foreign investment is running away. Closing of a gymkhana club will certainly figure in quality of life. If in 27 acres of gymkhana, poor housing is made or slums are settled - I will have no objection at all. These hair brained schemes make laugh in desperation and frustration. I go to gym once a month so my heart goes out to the regulars

@SandeepParekh It’s like the Collegium System.

Very interesting to see both points of view on Gymkhana Club debate. Broadly, if it’s public lands, membership should not be for the entitled babus and plutocrats alone. Private clubs can do that.

@Preddy85 As a cockroach I can relate to Dipke. I feel bad that a cockroach like me is denied of the freedom of forming association by clipping our online wings. I can’t join @CJP_2026 And we didn’t name ourselves, the cockroach moniker is given to us by His Divinity the CJI himself.

The scale of the government clampdown on this satirical movement is reminiscent of the panic in the last days of the UPA rule when cartoonists were being arrested for cartoons mocking Parliament and the Constitution. Never good when politicans panic and let babus take control.

@big_pict @DivaJain2 China had its set of advantages and India had its own. India never really freed up its manufacturing or FDI. Its bureaucratic control is insane. Instead it focused on services. Ultimately China during Hu Jintao and India during Modi are fair comparisons in size and maturity.

@robert_frost100 @DivaJain2 China had first mover advantage & made it difficult for all developing countries. Take Vietnam. It liberalized in 1986. But 23 years later, from 2009 to 2019, its avg growth rate was only 6.2%. Vietnam never had 9%+ growth years in last 30 years despite not being a democracy.

@DastDn You were happy with Trump and his Iran attack! You mentioned only Trump could have done this.

After 4 years of screeching that Ukraine has no cards and should surrender to Russia, Trump set American deck on fire and surrendered to Iran.

@DivaJain2 Members and non-members have different perspectives.

GoI should give up rights to $2 bn property to preserve "repository of sporting, services & cultural memories" for 14,000 elite members. This is Socialism with benefits, Lutyens style :)

@Preddy85 But CJI is not supposed to be a PR office!

The CJI needs a PR win after the 'cockroach' comments. So expect fireworks in court on Monday. Except, do remember that the accused in the case also deserve a fair trial, not prejudiced by adverse commentary from the CJI prior to trial.

I will tell you how we got here. This app turned American public discourse into a video game, where whoever could get the biggest insult-mob on their side "won". Then people started realizing that a massive multiplayer insult-based video-game actually has negative consequences.

@Shuk_law_ There have been too many controversies. So perhaps it’s thought to do some good work in a criminal case that is grabbing headlines. Last time the court’s intervention in RG Kar case ended up terribly with further erosion of popular trust.

Completely unwarranted. The matter has already reached the concerned HC and effective orders have been passed too. Hon'ble SC must show some faith in their HC Judges too. They are there for a reason.

@avatans Bureaucrats of 1947 to 1970s were a completely different from today’s bureaucrats. Almost everyone was honest and helpful. and even approachable. Yes, their salaries were low, their children grew up and settled down in India. It’s different for post 1980s bureaucrats

Remarkable response by this retired bureaucrat KC, a former India ambassador, justifying the “Gymkhana Club” privileges. It gives you a glimpse of the mentality of Indian Babudom. “… bureaucrats since 1947 worked for salaries well below private sector doles.” No one forced these Babus to work for the GOI. Why didn’t they work in the private sector? Interesting choice of word “doles” here. “Doles” are a feature of state, not private sector. Is he for real?

@ambkcsingh Before it closes down, look forward to visiting it one last time (after Delhi summer ends). Somehow we have forgotten what not to be destroyed.

Apropos Union Gov’s decision to destroy #DelhiGymkhanaClub my views: 1. I joined it in 1978/79 (applied in 1974). My father wasn’t a member. 2. Only all-India services & military officers got membership routinely. 3. The club, besides its other services, was famous for its tennis & squash facilities. Famous writer/journalist Khushwant Singh played tennis there till his 90s 4. The elected committees may’ve performed poorly, making gov nominate members. 5. As my old friend @thekiranbedi has opined Del Gym Club is a repository of sporting, services & cultural memories. Destroying it is untenable.

@DivaJain2 😂

Rajdeep ji looks like a senior Investment Banking MD who has been put in a room full of interns for mandatory compliance training on a Monday morning as punishment for botching up a deal :)

If I am not wrong, the Government is without a Finance Secretary for around a year. Usually, one of the 5 secretaries who head various departments is designated FS. The role, first among equals, has an important role in coordination and being a single focal point. At a time of economic stress, is this a miss?