Competitive populism among political parties and offers of loan waivers and free power in the run up to elections are just temporary solutions that do not address structural changes needed to sustainably develop incomes in the country, said Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday.

Delivering the Chief Guest address during The Huddle, a thought conclave organised by The Hindu, in Bengaluru, Naidu said, “Promises of free power means that first we’ll get low power and then no power. Loan waivers (similarly) are temporary solutions. Farmers need credit every season. What we need are structural changes.”

These comments again weight in months before the Lok Sabha polls, where agriculture distress dominates the debate and loan waivers and farmer incentives are being offered to voters as the solution.

Populist announcements may have short-term political gains, but lead to long-term economic problems due to “unproductive”, he said. Naidu termed it as “competitive populism” that is fraught with “tall and impractical” programmes.

“We’re supposed to be a mature democracy. But people get away with these promises and handing out lollipops to voters. Parties will have to justify and explain to the people on how they would find finances to fund such schemes. This is an important issue, it will make them accountable to voters,” he said.

Curbing this tendency is part of a larger code of conduct prescribed by the Vice President for politicians.

Naidu, who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said the code of conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) should ensure the end of repeated disruptions in parliament and assemblies. “I am truly concerned about the decay in the functioning of Parliament and Legislatures. It is unfortunate that disorder and disruptions have become the order of the day. It isn’t individual MPs and MLAs that disrupt proceedings out of their will, but parties. It is the High command which directs them to. This competitive opposition must go,” he said.

Naidu suggested a similar code of conduct for media personnel to contain sensationalisation of news and scourge of paid news, as well as one for industry and corporate organisations to “weed out” individuals and companies that had tarnished the image of the country through economic offences.

During the speech, peppered with trademark catchphrases and witticism, Naidu also stressed on the need for the three wings of democracy - Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary – to maintain the delicate balance as envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. “Now you are seeing the trend of one wing encroaching on the other while forgetting their own responsibilities. Nobody should encroach into the domain of others,” said Naidu.

Sustainable development was the theme of his address, with the Vice President pointing out that despite the positive impact of government programmes and policies, the country should ask itself if the economic growth has been inclusive, particularly in rural areas and those engaged in agriculture.

“Making people living in rural areas an integral part in developmental process should be the aim of the policy makers and planners. Promoting investments in modernizing agriculture, main-streaming of rural livelihoods and creating market avenues for rural population will help in ensuring equitable development,” he said.

The Vice President said he was holding consultation with the Prime Minister, politicians and state leaders to come up with ideas for improving farmer incomes. These ideas, he said, were passed on to the government.

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