Will Manmohan-era bureaucrats derail Modinomics? RSS fears

NEW DELHI: " Economic nationalism" is the new buzz word for RSS insiders. Unlike the last NDA government which was at loggerheads with RSS over its economic agenda forcing Sangh veteran Dattopant Thengadi to pit his Swadeshi against Vajpyaee’s policies, BJP leaders feel that the new NDA government is completely in sync with the Sangh.

They cite the country’s stand at the WTO against the Trade Facilitation Agreement to underscore the new "independent economic policy" initiatives of the new government.

"The Modi government has independent foreign and economic policies which are not bound by the expectations and interests of super powers, multi-national companies. The foreign policy vision is unfolding, and soon Arun Jaitley will present the blueprint for the economic agenda, which too will be nationalistic," explained a senior BJP leader.

But some BJP leaders are anxious about the continuity in the finmin bureaucracy, which they think will lead to a UPA hangover in policies.

"Raghuram Rajan’s citizenship continues to be an issue of concern for us. But we need to look at what he can offer in terms of policy initiatives. He should continue if he is useful within the larger framework of economic nationalism. But principal economic advisor Ila Patnaik was appointed during the last phase of the elections. Why should she continue?" asks another BJP functionary.

None of the organisational functionaries want to come out openly with suggestions or criticisms as they consider the economy to be the finance minister’s turf where even the PM has not transgressed. But these BJP leaders are sceptical about Rajan, finance secretary Arvind Mayaram and Patnaik as appointees and torch-bearers of former finance minister P Chidambaram’s policies.

More than a "regime change" at the highest echelons of policy-making, Swadeshi economists of the Sangh Parivar want Jaitley to bring in people who would vigorously operationalise policies that would push the domestic industry and enterprises.

Now, these party functionaries and Swadeshi economists are waiting for Jaitley’s interpretation of what they call a new, vigorous, push to the domestic capital. And they believe the sooner the finance minister gets rid of the Manmohan Singh legacy at North Block, the more successful he will be.