Two star economists with a free market bent – Jagdish Bhagwati and Arvind Panagariya – appear to be the intellectual godfathers of Progressive BJP led NDA’s forthcoming election manifesto. These gents have published a book in 2013 – India’s Tryst with Destiny – in which they have criticized the UPA’s redistributive policies (Food Security Act, NREGA, etc), declared their fondness for the “Gujarat model” and advocated an economic renewal program centred on cutting universal subsidies, reviving spend on infrastructure, reforming India’s antiquated labour laws and reforming the country’s higher education system.
Both professors have steadfastly supported Narendra Modi in the domestic and international press. Whilst they deny having any official role (more…)