AAP manifesto to focus on crony capitalism

It may seem as if former Chief Minister of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal is out to indict Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani alone. In fact Ambani is merely an example. The long list of allegations levelled at him are part of the AAP's campaign to stem crony capitalism.

Crony capitalism has almost always been a part of the Indian economy.  So why focus on Ambani? "Because he represents everything that is wrong with the Indian system, which allows only a few to prosper," says a senior AAP party leader.

AAP leaders believe they alone are in a position to tackle this thorny issue.  "You can raise these questions only when you are not funded by a big business group," the AAP leader adds.

The AAP's transparent funding mechanism, a striking contrast to the secrecy that shrouds the funding of most political parties, has given the party the moral authority to take on a behemoth like Reliance Industries, it claims.

The party's manifesto, which will be released by the end of March, will focus on steps and procedures to curb crony capitalism. It will call for easing procedural bottlenecks, limiting the role of the bureaucracy, giving citizens greater say in matters relating to the auctioning of natural resources and working towards decentralisation of electricity production (by offering incentives for home-grown energy solutions and tapping of green energy).

On the role of the government in education, health and water supply, the leader said: "We don't think of these basic services as business." Bringing improved regulation to the private sector, discouraging  monopoly and encouraging competition will be the cornerstones of the manifesto.

The party is vehemently opposed to the opening up of retail to foreign direct investment. In other sectors, the extent of FDI permissible would be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Higher investment in the rural economy with a focus on sustainability,  including better infrastructure, support to agriculture, and increased credit to small and medium sized businesses, is also likely to dominate AAP's manifesto.