India falls to trinity of danger, Manmohan Singh  writes

The socio-economic turmoil and global epidemic has put India into danger.

Former Prime Minister and Economist Dr. Manmohan Singh has raised concerns.

In an article Dr. Singh has raised critical points about the whole scenario.

He says, India faces imminent danger from the trinity of social disharmony, economic slowdown and a global health epidemic.

This potent combination of risks may diminish our global standing as an economic and democratic power in the world.

Delhi has been subjected to extreme violence over the past few weeks.

We have lost nearly 50 of our fellow Indians for no reason. Several hundred people have suffered injuries.

Communal tensions have been stoked and flames of religious intolerance fanned by unruly sections of our society, including the political class.

University campuses, public places and private homes are bearing the brunt of communal outbursts.

Institutions of law and order have abandoned their dharma to protect citizens.

Institutions of justice and the fourth pillar of democracy, the media, have also failed us.

Every act of sectarian violence is a blemish on Mahatma Gandhi’s India.

India has slid rapidly from being a global showcase to a strife ridden majoritarian state in economic despair.

At a time when our economy is floundering, the impact of such social unrest will only exacerbate the economic slowdown.

Investors, industrialists and entrepreneurs are unwilling to undertake new projects and have lost their risk appetite.

Social disruptions and communal tensions only compound their fears and risk aversion.

Social harmony, the bedrock of economic development, is now under peril.

Adding to these self-inflicted woes is the real threat of the COVID-19 epidemic that has originated in China.

It is still unclear how far this global health hazard will spread and impact the world.

But it is very clear that we should be fully prepared and ready to counter it.

It is time to confront the harsh reality of the grave risks we face as a nation and address them squarely and sufficiently.