'Grim and morose,' says Manmohan Singh on India’s current situation
His remarks came when the country witnessed the most violent riots in capital Delhi in decades
Former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh has warned the current BJP government that the country is falling towards "social disharmony, economic slowdown and a global health epidemic".
Manmohan made the comment in an opinion piece published in The Hindu newspaper. His remarks came when the country witnessed the most violent riots in capital Delhi in decades, reports BBC.
More than 50 Indians died in that heinous attack by Hindu nationalists.
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"The India that we know and cherish is slipping away fast. Wilfully stoked communal tensions, gross economic mismanagement and an external health shock are threatening to derail India's progress and standing," Manmohan wrote.
He said while worrying, "This potent combination of risks may not only rupture the soul of India but also diminish our global standing as an economic and democratic power in the world".
Being an economic expert himself, Monhoman frets about the sloth pace of Indian economy.
"Social harmony, the bedrock of economic development, is now under peril. No amount of tweaking of tax rates, showering of corporate incentives or goading will propel Indian or foreign businesses to invest, when the risk of eruption of sudden violence in one's neighbourhood looms large."
India's growth slumped to 4.7% last month - the slowest pace in years as drop in manufacturing affected overall economic health.
"A lack of demand will only further suppress private investments. This is the vicious cycle that our economy is stuck in."
As India is highly susceptible to get hit by the pandemic coronavirus, Manmohan addressed the threat in his column too.
"India's economic growth was already tepid and this external health shock is bound to make things much worse," he said while warning that it could make a significant impact on Indian business.
He suggested the government to undertake a "three-point plan", containing the coronavirus threat, withdrawing or amending the citizenship law and a fiscal stimulus to boost demand and revive the economy.
