Slew of reforms: Manmohan Singh scores a decisive victory, stakes claim to his legacy

Singh words to the Cabinet committee on economic affairs,"If we have to go down, let us go down fighting," are at last those of a leader and not a follower.

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For eight long years, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has listened to, and done the bidding of, the Congress party organisation, the socialists within his party, the obstructionist coalition members of the UPA, the Left Parties and the NGOs. But enough is enough.

Just as he had followed his own instincts in the solitary instance of the Lok Sabha vote on Indo-US nuclear deal in July 2008 and, defying Left allies and his own leadership, scored a decisive victory, Singh has drawn the battle lines in the interest of the nation and his own legacy. His words to the Cabinet committee on economic affairs,"If we have to go down, let us go down fighting," are at last those of a leader and not a follower.

The reforms announced by Singh include a 14% hike in diesel prices; permitting 51% foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail and 49% in local airlines and parts of the power sector; raising FDI cap in broadcasting from 49% to 74%; and a sizeable programme of disinvestment.