The cruel reality of Modi’s development model

A rent of 88,000 rupees, a father’s cry, and 700 martyred farmers

• Sanjay Gaba

The real and ruthless truth of privatization

An airfare of 88,000 rupees on a short route like Delhi to Jaipur is not a technical glitch. It is a direct and inhumane consequence of the reckless privatization policy implemented in the country. This is not the story of just one airline, but of a system in which the government has handed over the public to the market. It was said in the name of privatization, that services would become cheaper. The reality is that today: • Flights are expensive • Electricity is expensive • Petrol and diesel are expensive • Healthcare and education are expensive And the common man is struggling on every front.

Privatization: Not Service, Just Profit

The objective of a government system is public service. The objective of a private system is profit. When an essential service is completely handed over to private hands: • Companies set the prices • The government becomes a silent spectator • And even in times of crisis, the public is left without relief. Today, airlines are engaging in blatant profiteering in the name of ‘dynamic pricing’.

Flying is no longer a convenience, but a luxury

The dream of flying that was shown to the common man has now proved to be hollow: • Patients cannot fly for treatment • Students cannot reach their exams or interviews • Small businesses are facing crippling costs A fare of 88,000 rupees clearly shows that air travel is no longer for the common man.

A Father’s Cry at the Airport

Amidst the gleaming airport, a scene unfolded: A father was searching for sanitary napkins for his underage daughter, but this essential item was unavailable at the airport. When he sought help, the airline staff shirked their responsibility. Finally, he cried out in front of everyone: “Can someone please get me a sanitary napkin for my daughter...” This is not a sentimental story; it is a stark picture of the ruthlessness of privatization. Where needs become not a right, but a product. Where a person is not a citizen, but a customer. Farmers were looted first, now it’s the common man’s turn Privatization first broke the back of the farmer: • Fertilizers and seeds became expensive • Diesel became expensive • Mandis (markets) and MSP (Minimum Support Price) weakened Then: • Electricity was privatized - bills increased manifold • Education and healthcare were privatized - the poor were left out Now the same model has reached air travel and airports.

700 Martyred Farmers: Protectors of the Nation’s Bread

The nation should be grateful to the more than 700 farmers who sacrificed their lives by standing firm on the borders of Delhi for a year against the cruel policies of the Modi government, so that farming would not become the private property of corporates. If those draconian farm bills had been implemented, the price of even basic food items like lentils and bread would have been determined like airline tickets – sometimes 2,000, sometimes88,000. These farmers did not fight only for their fields; they fought for every plate of food. The market is also keeping an eye on defense and national security The participation of private companies in defense production is increasing rapidly.

This question cannot be ignored:

What will the country do if a private company stops supplying ammunition during wartime due to pressure or for profit? At that time, neither contracts nor profit motives will matter—only national interest will be paramount, which is not a priority for private companies.

Questions raised over ‘Emergency’ and New Licenses

Three new private companies, including Shankh Air, were granted permission to operate flights in India citing an ‘emergency’. The question is not whether these companies are legitimate or not – the question is, if they were capable and ready, why weren’t they brought in earlier? Why did the government remain silent when airfares were skyrocketing and the public was being fleeced? And what sudden emergency arose that made issuing new licenses the only solution? These are not accusations, but the circumstances themselves are raising these questions.

In conclusion: It’s not just about rent.

An 88,000 rupees ticket, a father’s helplessness at the airport, the martyrdom of 700 farmers—all of these are different facets of the same policy. This policy is not just picking pockets; it is handing over even basic necessities like food, dignity, and security to the market. If everything operates solely on the basis of profit under BJP rule, then one day, life itself will be reserved only for the wealthy.

(The author is the National Vice Chairman of KKC and National President of the All-India Gig and Platform Workers Union)