Readers would be familiar with my iterated allegation that a transnational lobby comprising the most powerful sections of corporate America and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are the biggest villains subverting national interests across the globe in search of unholy profits. This allegation rests upon the inexplicable adverse five to one trade that America allowed with China for decades after Mr. Henry Kissinger’s stint as Secretary of State. Most Chinese imports in America were low tech products owned by the PLA. During this period American institutions and the interests of the American people were allowed to bleed while big business in America and China’s communist leaders and army generals became immensely rich.

This led America’s most distinguished journalist of the day, the late Abe Rosenthal, to write in the New York Times of October 29, 1996:

“Wake up, America! Why doesn't America wake up? Yes, Bob Dole, yes, yes! Wake up America! Wake up to the truth that Bob Dole and the Republican leadership are partners with President Clinton and the Democratic leadership in building up the Communist Chinese dictatorship and its armed forces.”

Abe Rosenthal accused America’s political leaders of both parties to be corrupted and subverted by this unholy nexus. 

One would not bother overmuch with problems besetting America . But unfortunately transnational lobbies work across the globe and the influence of this unholy nexus on Indian policies has been profound. It is a continuous puzzle why New Delhi allows a huge adverse balance of trade with China, continue to export raw materials to that nation, and import manufactured goods that have emasculated India’s own manufacturing sector. The Indian economy continues to thrive on domestic savings while the Chinese economy survives on the basis of its exports. The suspicion that transnational lobbies exert unhealthy influence on India’s domestic political policies has been strengthened by recent developments related to the ongoing Presidential poll.

The lists of politicians who have decided to support Mr. Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature defy any logical pattern. For example on the one hand CPI-M’s Mr. Prakash Karat ignores his Left Front partners to support Mr. Mukherjee. On the other hand the right wing Shiv Sena Supremo Mr. Bal Thackeray not only supports Mr. Mukherjee but does it so emphatically that he refuses to even extend the courtesy of granting an interview to the other candidate, former Lok Sabha Speaker Mr. P. Sangma! Mr. Thackeray ditched the NDA to support Mr. Mukherjee.  What is so common between Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Karat except perhaps an undying admiration for the person of Mr. Pranab Mukherjee? And where does Mr. Mukherjee stand in all this? Well a clue is provided by a curiously inappropriate decision that smacks of impropriety taken by Mr. Mukherjee on the eve of demitting the office of Finance Minister. 

On June 14 this month Mr. Mukherjee further amended a customs notification related to imports from China. In the Notification No. 41/2012 - Customs dated the14th June, 2012  the  new amendment stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 25 of the Customs Act, 1962 (52 of 1962), the Central Government, being satisfied that it is necessary in the public interest so to do, hereby makes the following further amendments in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) No. 38/96-Customs, dated the 23rd July, 1996, G.S.R. 290(E), dated the 23rd July, 1996, namely:- In the said notification, against S.No.1, in column (2), in item (g), for the words “szaibelyite and goat cashmere”, the words “szaibelyite, goat cashmere, Readymade Garments, Shoes, Quilt/Blankets, Carpets and Local Herbal Medicines” shall be substituted.”

In other words on the eve of demitting his office as Finance Minister Mr. Mukherjee by a stroke of the pen has made the import of carpets, readymade garments, shoes, quilts, blankets and medicines from China all duty free! Could this decision have not been left for his successor? What was his tearing hurry to do this before he aspired to become President? Doubtless his decision will make Beijing and some corporations in America happy. Should it also make Indians as happy? Indians, that is, apart from Mr. Karat and Mr. Thackeray?