Collective madness best describes successful opposition resulting in the withdrawal of a public advertisement issued by UPSC (Union Public Services Commission) on August 17, inviting applications for 45 professionals in industry, academia and other vocations to serve with the Central government on short three-five year contracts. Lateral entry of highly qualified and experienced professionals from industry and the professions to inject expertise into government, is not a novel idea. Several prominent lateral entrants include former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and chief economic advisor Dr. Kaushik Basu among others who invested their wisdom and expertise in government. Surprisingly, withdrawal of this ad was also advocated by Rahul Gandhi, de facto chief of the Congress party and LoP (leader of the opposition) in Parliament. RaGa has transformed into a champion of caste-based politics. The LoP seems unaware that public interest demands the elimination of divisive caste consciousness which will atomise Indian society, and adversely impact already low productivity in government, academia and industry. On economic issues as well RaGa advocates Nehruvian socialism and PSE (public sector enterprises)-led growth which transformed high-potential post-independence India into one of the world’s poorest countries. Moreover he regularly trashes India’s most successful businessmen (Ambani-Adani) and naively ascribes their success to Prime Minister Modi’s special support. In woke circles, criticism of RaGa’s wrecking-ball utterances and initiatives is interpreted as support for the BJP/PM Modi. This presumption is unwarranted and should not prevent outing the naive blathering of this history-agnostic, over-promoted LoP. Also read: Excellent advertisement
