The game of politics has threatened to bowl out development yet again. With the crucial Uttar Pradesh and Punjab elections round the corner, Special Economic Zones (SEZ) policy faces the brunt of political propaganda. Without in-depth analysis, the political parties singing the 'aam aadmi' tune with the blatant call of stopping the SEZs.

It is interesting to see that despite the strong opposition from major political parties, none of them are disowning the policy. After all, they do not want to miss out on their share of the pie if the SEZ policy is a success. With issues like the Singur land acquisition being mixed into the SEZ debate, analyst BG Verghese has rightly termed development in India a 'political khichdi'.

With allegations of faulty acquisitions of land, mass displacement of farmers and as the JDU calls the policy a play in the hands of corporate land grabbers, the SEZ policy has been labeled as the devil's work. The future investments of over 60,000 crore and employment generation of 9 lakh, estimated in the next two years, seems to have been conveniently overlooked.

With a broad generalisation in the issue, the government's indecisiveness has stalled the work of several non-controversial SEZs. Brandix Apparel SEZ in Vishakapatnam, Foxconn SEZ in Tamil Nadu, TATA Gopalpur multi-product SEZ and Bharat Forge SEZ near Pune are just a few of the SEZs which are put on hold. The irony lies in the fact that besides millions of dollars in investment, lakhs of employment opportunities and most importantly no land acquisition problems, the machines of these companies are yet to warm up.

Undeniably certain genuine concerns need immediate reddressal, for proper implementation process to take place. A proper rehabilitation needs to be formulated to avoid another Kalinga Nagar backlash. Such a policy is also necessary to check the insecurity of the investors.

Adequate and suitable compensation for the acquired land is the key to silence the opposition. Thus, a few modifications are required. However, the political antics should be curbed to realise the SEZ dream successfully, just as China, America and South Korea did.

Though SEZs are not the sole solution to the problems of Development in India, however they could have a major contribution. The SEZ policy is currently facing the pangs of labour, however, with a proper delivery; it could grow into a beautiful child.

In a society awe-struck by stardom, such a response was hardly surprising. Rationality takes a backseat in such a situation. The possibility of a publicity stunt or a gimmick to increase the TRP ratings of the show just doesn't seem to cut through the curtain of the 'Bollywood fascination'. A few racial slurs got all mouths talking.

People who had not even heard of the show prior to the incident were glued to the television, the Indian Cabinet discussed it and the British PM-in-waiting Gordon Brown, was made answerable for it. It is astounding that a TV show could actually be responsible for almost causing a diplomatic accident or even undermining international trade talks.

After the hue and cry, when the world got worked up over Shilpa Shetty's tears, getting two ministers even to urge action against the alleged racism, the government extended Goody an invitation to visit India to experience the country's `healing nature'.

Indians are willing to forgive a foreigner for racism but not one of their own, when a Dalit enters a so called high caste temple. When our western counterparts are more welcomed into our shops than we are, the problem does not lie within the UK or US. We are blind victims of racism who refuse to realise that only if we get over our complexes and know that the brown skin can be superior to the fair, can we rise above shedding tears over on man; or in this case one woman's comments.