The news of GDP growing by 9.2% in Jul-Sep 06 qtr was a pleasant surprise. However, on same day there were news of rioting etc in several places in Maharastra and even other states, over Dalit issues.

It would be foolhardy to ignore such a spontaneous eruption of emotions against the government. Especially since it was not limited to a few places or even a single state, it has connotations of a simmering discontent among several sections of population which needed a trigger to explode.

The central UPA government should take a hard look at whether its proclaimed empathy for aam aadmi (common man) is being realized on the ground. While the economy growth may be surpassing expectations, it may not be doing much for several sections of people.