The Yatra of L.K.Advani, has at
last come to an end this week. The dreary 38 days all India tour, in spite of
all the media’s consideration failed to inspire the Public at large. The
saffron party may publicly, boast of huge crowds to all their events across
India, but, it failed to create a Movement as it was expected. Yes, the
citizens of this country are dismayed over many issues; Governance, Corruption,
Nepotism and the queen of all evils-Inflation. The people of this country are
literate enough to understand that, these issues cannot be solved by speeches
and a tour in an air conditioned Hi-Tech Coach. On his part, Mr. Advani still
proved his mettle on many issues personally bothering him. First, the
invincible Raj Dharma Yogi-Atal Bihari Vajpayee was secluded from the PM race.
Second, the towering personality cult of Narendra Modi was gloomed, at least
momentarily. Third, the disputed PM candidate has consolidated his position of
Influence as a National leader within his party circles. The fourth issue,
which he actually missed out, was, to carry forward India against corruption
movement.
In the days of the ancient, the
disenchanted subjects of Kings and Queens congregated and fought against their
royals. Success of Violence was a game of numbers. But, with the advent of
Guns, Grenades and artillery, revolution and revolts became risky propositions.
However, terrorism, Naxalism and Gorilla warfare, did challenge the authority
of States; but, these kind revolts hardly gets any public sympathy or legal
funds. Modern laws of the executive and Judiciary softened the approach of the
state towards its citizens, the people got many avenues to voice their dissent
or challenge the authority of the state. Universal jurisprudence, required the
states to welfare oriented towards its subjects, the concept of colonialism was
ostracized even in the occupiers country. Non-Violent Resentment against the
Government became more acceptable and thus Freedom of speech developed into a
Universal Law.
Indian History is replete with
battalions of revolutionaries and warriors, but all the institutional and
individual endeavors are eclipsed by one man-M.K.Gandhi. The Non Violent part of our freedom movement
is Unique, most of the modern day events (Twentieth century) that lead to our
impedance were either legal and in most of the cases violators of law willfully
surrendered to authorities to face the consequences. M.K.Gandhi being a lawyer
himself knew the power of civil laws and was highly knowledgeable about the
influence of the English media in the civilized world. His resentment
techniques were simple, nonviolent, and often attracted thousands of not so
literate Indians and English Media’s attention towards him. Public protest like
vrats, anushans and Yatras have become the very common these days, but the
mother of all yatras was; the Dandi march.
M.K.Gandhi, walked for miles
across many villages for days, many of the men folk (women were forbidden by
MKG) merely walked along with him. With the English media on his side, Gandhi
just took a hand full of salt and broke the slat act. The message, he wanted to
convey was, the cost Indians pay for their salt.
Salt is an essential ingredient
of the Indian cuisine, in spite of having kilometers of coastlines, salt
production was regulated. The Indian salt Tax of 1882 (www.mkgandhi.org) regulated the production, transportation,
distribution and retailing of salts. Licenses were required were native
production of salt, the salt industry was almost in the British hands. One
third of the salt was manufactured by the British Government, one third by
Native licensees and the remaining was imported from Britain. Salt in those days was
a heavily taxed commodity; even in the days of G.K.Gokhale a basket of salt costing 3 pies
was made to cost 5 annas, a tax of 2000 percent. The salt Revenue has enormous
powers to powers to search properties, forfeit assets. Violation of salt law
had heavy penalties and prison terms. Abstractly, it was a draconian law. The
salt law was withdrawn by the Indian Prime Minister J.N.Nehru, in 1949.
The Indian fiancé minister Manmohan Sing liberalized
the Indian Economy in 1991, the same Economist as a Prime Minister of India
deregulated the Petrol from Government regulation in 2011. As was the case of
salt, petroleum companies are in the Public sector, private sector and import
sector. Unlike salt, refining of petrol is not a simple task, it requires heavy
investments. It’s true, that, the Indian Society benefited by Telecom
deregulation, but the same society is not able to accept deregulation of
petrol. why? Nobody is complaining about the price of gold, and then complain
about a international commodity like petrol? The reason is price of Gold is
uniform across geographies, but according to Times of India, a liter of petrol
should cost us only Rs 41. A consumer of Tamil Nadu pays a premium of 76% on
the original cost due to various forms of Taxes and charges in India. Tamil
Nadu imposes a Value added Tax of 27% on petrol and earns a revenue of Rs 260
Cr per month. A match could be made to the revenue made by the British, Salt
and Opium formed a major part of it; For Tamil Nadu its petrol and Tasmac
Liquors.
Deregulation should have been a boon to us; it
is not price of petrol that makes it costly, it’s the bloody taxes. How should
we raise our voice against the taxes non-violently? Whether our Politicians and
Babus deserve free supply of fuels, for their motorcades and Travel? As there
is no substitute for salt in our foods, there is no substitute for fossil fuels
for various modes of Transport. Had Mr. Adavani, roamed across India in a
Bullock cart, he would have a rewritten Indian History. Bad Luck, he missed a
golden opportunity. How do we come out of this mess? Simple, we should learn
from others mistakes, Team Anna’s Mistake. They campaigned for a Lokpal supporter;
we should campaign for a petrol Tax detractor.
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