Think India Dialogue: Is good economics bad politics?

Moneycontrol Bureau

8:21: Rahul Khullar, chairman, TRAI and Ashok Chawla, chariman, Competition Commission of India join in for a panel discussion on improving the economy.

8:20pm: India has a potential to grow at a high rate, says Rangarajan. 

8:14pm: Inflation rate is coming down and provides an opportunity for the RBI to reduce rates. However, the external economic conditions don't permit it right now, says Rangarajan.

8:12pm: "I am sure fiscal deficit will go down this year and in the coming years."

8:10pm: We can't overlook ecological issues but must see how they can be overcome, feels Rangarajan.

8:08pm: "I believe growth rate in the current fiscal will be higher."

8:07pm: Investment rate remains high, although it has fallen and we must capitalise on that, feels Rangarajan.

8:05pm: Issues are being addressed to speed up growth, says Rangarajan.

8:04pm: We can't blame India's slow growth in the last two years on external factors alone, but the global economic slowdown has had its impact, says Rangarajan.

8:02pm: Ahluwalia ends speech and hands over the baton to C Rangarajan, Chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council.

8:01pm: Impossible to implement GST (Goods and Services Tax) before elections in 2014.

7:58pm: There has been no regression of policy in the UPA regime, feels Ahluwalia.

7:56pm: The percentage of people below the poverty line has declined faster, says Ahluwalia.

7:54pm: "We want to have growth, which is more inclusive."

7:52pm: "UPA government has done more in getting private investment into infrastructure, than any previous government."

7:50pm: Ahluwalia refutes charges that growth rate in the UPA government has been slower compared with the previous governments. Average growth rate in the UPA regime has been over 8 percent, while average growth rate was 5.7 percent in the NDA government, he says.

7:48pm: Ahluwalia begins his speech.

7:42pm:  Raghav Bahl will carry forward the Think India Dialogue with discussions with Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and C Rangarajan, Chairman of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. The state of the economy, and balancing economics and politics are the key issues being discussed.

7:40pm: Rajdeep Sardesai ends the discussion with Dikshit. Network18 founder Raghav Bahl will carry forward the Think India Dialogue.

7:38pm: "The day you feel tired, its time to go. However, Delhi is far too exciting..." says Dikshit.

7:36pm: "We have a very vigilant media that keeps us on our toes."

7:35pm: "We don't have a magic wand," Dikshit says on building more houses for the poor.

7:32pm: There is a huge amount of construction going on for housing lower income groups: Dikshit.

7:27pm: Speaking on water problems in Delhi, Dikshit says Delhi has to depend for water from Himalayas and while water supply from Uttarakhand is good, Haryana and Punjab have refused to give more water.

7:25pm:  Rajdeep Sardesai is now taking questions from the audience.

7:23pm: "There is an air of negativism and we are all responsible for it."

7:20pm: RTI has slowed down government's decision making. I fear its misuse: Dikshit.

7:18pm: Every little tender is gone through carefully and no bureaucrat wants to take a risk, even if it leads to delays: Dikshit

7:15pm: Opposition parties have become impatient and unleashing personal attacks: Dikshit.

7:14pm: Some of the acts date back to 1895, we need to change that: Dikshit.

7:12pm: RTI (Right to Information), Right to Education etc have been possible only due to a political will: Dikshit.

7:10pm: Poverty ratio has come down to 30 percent in 2010 from 35 percent in 2004-05: Dikshit.

7:09pm: "We are a responsive government," says Dikshit.

7:08pm: Delhi has best health system, best education and highest per capita income, points out Dikshit.

7:05pm: Is it a case of good governance over bad governance, questions Rajdeep? 

7:03pm: Mumbai is probably the only other city, which has lower power tariff, says Dikshit.

7:01pm: "I hope to win this election, I am going with that confidence," says Dikshit.

7:00pm: Dikshit defends the hike in electricity charges in Delhi.

6:58pm: Delhi is one of the best power producing states and electricity is still among the cheapest, says Dikshit.

6:57pm: Sheila Dikshit starts speaking.

6:52pm: Rajdeep Sardesai begins his discussion with Delhi's three time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

The key topic being discussed in the second Think India Dialogue is balancing economics and politics.

6:50pm: CNBC-TV18's Shereen Bhan welcomes the guests, including Dikshit, and Ahluwalia.

6:30pm: Network18's initiative The Think India Dialogue will start shortly. Will populism overtake rational economics is a key issue being discussed, especially given that there will be elections in Delhi this year and national elections next year.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will be the key note speaker for Friday's Think India Dialogue. Rajdeep Sardesai will host the dialogue with the Delhi CM.

Raghav Bahl, Network 18's founder and editor will host Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the planning commission later.