Defections may lead to downfall of Congress-JD(S) govt

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July 7, 2019

With great fight and speculations, Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) made it to power in Karnataka, but since they formed the government, the news about them is not good. Recently, eight legislators from the Congress and three from the JD (S) handed their resignations to the assembly speaker. It would bring the one-year-old coalition government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on the brink of collapse.

After almost a year of false alarms, a total of 11 legislators from both Congress and JD(S) handed in their resignations, threatening to send the state into a political crisis. The coalition government has failed in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the state. The list included Congress legislators like Munirathna, Byrathi Basavaraj, and S.T.Somashekar, all three considered close associates of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has in the past been accused of engineering dissent and destabilising the government to settle personal scores with the JD(S) top leadership.

It was good for the Congress to have projected Siddaramiah as their Chief Ministerial candidate and allowed him to have a larger say in running the election campaign in the state. Congress became weak because of the high-command culture, which BJP has also adopted. Centralisation of all power makes decision-making quicker but in the long run, it keeps the state units weak and the party becomes weak.

In Karnataka, it is not certain who the boss is. Initially, Congress was firm that only one seat will be allowed for Siddaramaiah for contesting. However, Siddaramaiah had his way. He blackmailed the party that he will not canvass for the party if another seat is not allowed. High command caved in or Siddaramaiah took the role of high command.

Siddaramaiah had his say in seat allotment. He took the lion share of 140 seats approximately for his supporters. All others had to accept and had no other go. Congress’ plan of minority tag to Lingayats is not helping the party. In fact, more Lingayats have distanced from the party. Congress has built its base in Karnataka with some good contribution during the Siddaramaiah government, but the alliance has messed it all.

Good food subsidy scheme under Anna Bhagya is providing 30 kg rice per month at Re 1 per kg to 10.2 million families. Ksheera Bhagya scheme is providing 150 ml milk thrice a week to 6.5 million children studying in state-run and aided schools across the state to check malnutrition and prevent dropout. Bhagyalakshmi and Kutir Jyoti schemes are waiving off Rs 268 crore arrears due from two million energy consumers in rural areas.

Basava Housing Scheme built houses for people whose income is below Rs 32,000 a year. With Krishi Bhagya, we achieved sustainable growth in agriculture by implementing several new farming projects and provided financial support to farmers for the purchase of their farming equipment. Congress really did well in their five independent years of governance. However, gradually as the party faced a decline in the Lok Sabha elections, some of the party workers are making it more embarrassing for Congress. BJP thrives on such opportunities because break and make is their favourite policy.

Looking at the fact, one should realise that Congress and BJP both are equally corrupt. However, in rural areas, Congress is better. To be honest, religion does not fill our stomach; so, BJP is not an option for the poor. Though the people may say freebies are not good, I have seen a countless number of families living happily with the free rice from the current government. Also, Congress has done a good job in allotting the land for small farmers that BJP is always against.

In urban areas, BJP works better (roads, infrastructure, etc.) but it does communal politics. Although BJP tried its best to retain power but their CM candidate had to step down as they could not show the majority.

The year-old coalition in Karnataka, wobbly from the start, has struggled with revolt and infighting since it came to power in May last year. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy , who is in the US on a private trip, as well as the Congress, have accused the BJP of relentlessly pursuing their lawmakers and attempting to bring the government down.

The Congress and the JD (S) together have 118 members in the 224-seat state assembly, along with one BSP and one Independent member. The defections will bring its numbers down to 105 and the majority mark in the assembly from 113 to 106. BJP has 105 legislators, expecting to be invited to form a new government if the ruling coalition lacks the number count.

If the resignations are accepted, the ruling coalition will no longer have a majority in the assembly.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

“I see myself as Jack of all trades, Master of none”

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Web Team

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July 7, 2019

Afternoon Voice is delighted to launch #GenNext and welcomes the readers to a new column dedicated to the lives, values, and achievements of the Generation Next who are successfully carrying the legacy of their golden elders. #GenNext starts its journey with Chaitanya Bhosle a.k.a Chin2 Bhosle, a successful singer, actor, RJ, and the grandson of legendary grandmother Asha Bhosle. Chin2 Bhosle of 90s pop sensation and India’s first and only boy band “A Band Of Boys (ABOB)” in a chat with Editor-in-Chief Dr. Vaidehi opens up about his ride into the entertainment industry and the feeling of belonging to the country’s ‘first family of music’.

What is the biggest strength and weakness of Chin2?

My biggest strength: I’m very work-proud and will push till I get the result that satisfies me. It’s not about what will make the world happy but what will satisfy me. This holds true for everything that I do.

My biggest weakness: I see myself as the Jack of all trades, Master of none. This figure of speech works for me but many times I feel the vacuum of not knowing more on a particular subject. My life choice was to do all the things that I like and get a fair level of proficiency or focus on it but because I ended up doing a lot of things (singing, composing, radio jockeying, corporate, education and curriculum, playing the guitar, directing, etc), I was and am very time restricted and hence, have found it really tough to delve deeper.

Tell us your journey from Chaitanya to Chin2!

My journey started off with me completing my MBA from one of India’s then premiere B schools Narsee Monjee and then working at the advertising agency Lintas. After a year, I realised that there was more to life than a 9 a.m. -1 a.m. job and I switched from being a part-time musician to a full-time one. I then left my job and started dabbling in sound engineering and music composition.

My grandmother offered to help me and put me in touch with people but I refused on two grounds:

I would like to do it on my own, with minimum people knowing of our connection (I had her name and that was help enough).
If I ever needed help, I would ask her for it.

She agreed with her blessings.

Post that, I started composing scratch jingles, became an RJ on AIR 107.1 (before the advent of private stations), and performed in a lot of theatres, especially musicals (performed as Che Guevara in Alex Padamsee’s Evita with Sharon), and so on. This was when ‘A Band of Boys’ happened and post the first album launching, there was no looking back.

I would like to add here that even after I became known, thanks to my band – A Band of Boys – very few people knew that Asha Ji was my grandmother. This was because I actively didn’t promote the fact or encourage questions about it.

Chaitanya became Chin2 (the artist) when I left my job. I’ve always been called Chin2 since my childhood. It’s just that the ‘2’ came about in college and has got stuck since then.

What are the similarities in You and your legendary grandmother Asha Bhosle?

Music is at the core of who we are. Hers, of course, is at an entirely different level all together but everything that I’ve done since leaving my job has had music at its core. In 2006, I’d even joined Reliance and got associated with the Big FM as its Programming Head – be it theatre, radio or films, the hook to me for doing anything always had music involved.

The other similar trait we have is that we both call a spade a spade! Again she, of course, is a legend and has the absolute right to do that while I’ve suffered a lot with this genetic trait – I’ve fortunately have had a few regrets thus far!

What is the most complex thing about working with Asha Ji and what has influenced you the most about her?

I wouldn’t know where to begin. Her never-say-can’t attitude, her always wanting to learn and see new things, her inability to give up, her perseverance and professionalism, her ability to finish a hard day’s music and work and come and cook an entire meal for the family, her standing tall and unbroken through all the personal anguish that she’s been through (which would have broken most people I know). The list is never-ending.

The most important thing she’s taught me is that your work is your identity; stay true to who you are in what you do, even if it means pissing off people as, in the long run, this will define who you are and what you become.

How do you rate yourself as the next generation of legendary Bhosles?

I rate myself very highly!

The thing is I don’t rate myself by how the world or you would see me or my accomplishments. I am a singer, performer, music composer, a director, and currently, a music educator with a (dare I say) India’s only modern and fun Hindustani vocal curriculum launched (with the Furtados School of Music). I’ve happily dabbled in – acting (on stage and cinema), given music for a couple of unreleased films, directed theatre and videos, started India’s first band for pre-schoolers (the Chikaraks) and have written and performed hugely successful live shows for them….and lots more! So, to be honest, I really don’t care what the world has to say but I’m very satisfied with what I’ve done thus far and I’m loving it!

What did you learn from Hridaynath, Lata Ji, and other Mangeshkar siblings?

This is one hugely talented family and the most beautiful thing to learn is how each one interprets the same thing – note wise, musically, attitude wise – their perspectives are so different yet filled with wisdom and maturity.

What are challenges while performing live and recording in the studio?

I’d choose live any day. It’s the spur of the moment and you are on high alert at every second – how to react, what to do next, how to cover up a mistake or make the most of the given situation. I’ve always loved that, even when I was an RJ, I love spontaneity. I like imperfection. It keeps me wired, pushes me, and gives me a feeling of being alive.

Recordings, on the other hand, are about perfection and retakes which call upon a different skill set. A slight movement of cloth, clearing of the throat, slightly blocked nose will result in a retake. So, it’s a very controlled environment, it has its fun and also hugely satisfying to get something right but I am more of a ‘spur of the moment’ personality, I live for live!

Have you ever faked or tried to be pretentious when it comes to acting, singing, and performing?

Oh yes…Many times! I’ve always been very blunt and oft would end up hurting a lot of people whilst believing that honesty is the best thing. However, time and maturity have taught me that black and white is not the best way to be. There is perfect harmony in shades of grey too. So many songs I’ve had to sing which I really didn’t believe in but I couldn’t be blatant about it. Instead, I now see the good in things I don’t like and then attack the job professionally and to my satisfaction.

What would have been your struggle in the music industry without Bhosle surname and that lineage?

As mentioned earlier, it really wouldn’t have made much of a difference. I was known as a singer and member of ‘A Band of Boys’ way before people knew I was Asha Ji’s grandson. So, that worked out great for me as it was how I would’ve intended it to be. Post that, I’ve given the information more freely as I’m now confident that people don’t have to humour me because of my lineage but because of my body of work.

Do you have any plans for Bollywood?

I have done some music for Bollywood and am always open to future collaborations. However, I’ve not actively pursued it and don’t plan to. Currently, I’ve been very busy with getting the music to kids and schools in a modern and fun manner and the road I currently walk on doesn’t give me time to indulge in Bollywood’s whims and fancies. But hey, I am always open if something falls in my lap.

What is more fascinating — singing or acting?

Singing, without batting an eyelid! I’ve always been a huge fan of Radio (as an RJ and channel head). I feel that the medium of audio presents very interesting challenges as it evokes the theatre of the mind. A sound can mean different things to different people and the possibilities of usage have always fascinated me.

I have dabbled in acting (on stage, TV, and film) and the one full-length Bollywood feature film I did with my band; for me personally, the process was unbelievably boring and tedious. I’m sure a lot of folks enjoy it and loads of talent and skill is needed but it just didn’t do it for me.

Mumbai Congress President Milind Deora resigns

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Web Team

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July 7, 2019

Milind Deora, Congress, Mumbai, Mumbai Congress President — Image Courtesy: ANI

In the wake of the debacle in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress Mumbai president Milind Deora on Sunday announced his resignation from his post. Deora recommended a provisional set-up of a collective leadership of three senior leaders to oversee the city unit until the coming Assembly poll. He indicated that he may take up an important responsibility in Delhi. This move comes as an expression of solidarity and collective responsibility with Rahul Gandhi’s resignation.

Milind Deora said in a statement issued by his office, “I had accepted MRCC presidentship in the interest of uniting the party. I felt I should also resign after meeting Rahul Gandhi. I suggested a panel and am being consulted by leaders to identity names. I look forward to playing a national role to help stabilise the party. Needless to say, I will continue to guide and unite Mumbai Congress.”

It is remarkable that the Congress had suffered losses in all six Lok Sabha constituencies in Mumbai. Barely a month before polls, Deora was appointed as a replacement of former city Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.

Deora said that taking on the BJP-Shiv Sena and negating the impact of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi was a challenge for the Congress in Maharashtra.. Deora expressed his desire to quit shortly after meeting Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on June 26. The same has been conveyed to Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal, general secretaries, All-India Congress Committee.

During his short tenure, he united the rank and file of the party and put an end to identity politics in Mumbai Congress, in the hope that the party would once again return to its multilingual, multicultural and socio-economically inclusive ideals. Under his leadership, the party gave a decisive fight to the BJP-Shiv Sena combine in Mumbai. Deora is always available to serve the party as a trusted and resourceful lieutenant and looks forward to playing a more important role nationally.

‘Railways need investment of Rs 50,000 crore to become world’s best organisation by 2030’

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Web Team

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July 7, 2019

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that railway is touted to become the world’s best organisation by 2030. For achieving this objective Rs 50,000 crore investment is necessary which can’t be fulfilled only by the government. Therefore privatization is necessary in some departments of railways. Goyal stated that railways have reached Goa and time has come to take further steps to make the state ready for tourism activities.

Goyal stated, “I am not talking about privatization of railways but it will be required in some section of the organisation. Railways are a premier institution for transportation and budget has taken care of this aspect. It is necessary to attract an investment of Rs 50,000 for the next 10 to 12 years. Steps have been taken to augment security of passengers and it has been decided to double the investments for railways. It has been decided to allocate 1.60 lakh crore for development of railways. In the year 2014-15 the railways had been allocated an investment of 40 to 45 thousand crore.”

“The government can’t itself attract Rs 50,000 crore investment for railways and private investment will be sought. We are concerned about the development of railways,” he added.

Private firms will be allowed to lay new railway lines and license will be provided by the government for the same.

Go to NAME instead of allowing USA making India theatre of Shia-Sunni World War — Part II

By

Hem Raj Jain

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July 7, 2019

(7)- Pakistan being a Sunni majority country (and Pak former Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif being the Commander of SaAr sponsored Sunni-NATO) will obviously prefer to join the Sunni group but geography is half the politics. Pakistan surrounded by China, Russia, Iran will constrain nuclear Pakistan (de-facto protectorate of China) to remain neutral in this Shia-Sunni war. This will be a huge setback to Sunni group but Pakistan will be able to pacify Sunnis of Pakistan and rest of the Sunni world by saying that China will help/reward it in snatching at-least Muslim Kashmir (if not rest of J&K) from India (otherwise also, as an Indian Veteran General said that a Muslim military officer told him that Shia-Sunni may fight each other but when it comes to Hindus then both will join hands against Hindus).

(8)- This help/reward, China of Shia group can easily provide to neutral Pakistan against India (i)- By igniting entire Indo-China border (ii)- By giving military support to Pakistan in J&K which will help Pakistan in cutting off J&K from rest of India (iii)- By showing the militarily snatching of Arunachal Pradesh from India which China claims its territory. China has not forgotten Doklam from where China can easily cut-off entire North-East from India which will make it easy for China to militarily snatch Arunachal Pradesh from India.

[Here it can be mentioned that rest of India otherwise also does not have emotional connect (due to religious and ethnic prejudices) with Kashmir and North-East which leaves very little for local people to desire to be with India]

(9)- Pakistan is pining to dismember India as revenge for 1971 war when India dismembered Pakistan by creating Bangladesh. Hence, snatching Kashmir from India is Pakistan’s ardent desire. Furthermore, in case India is seen very openly playing the game of USA in US-Iran/Shia-Sunni World War and especially in Indo-Pacific theater then China may further reward Pakistan (as part of Doklam thrust) in assimilating Bangladesh back in Pakistan as East Pakistan again.

(10)- Therefore, India, without wasting further time, should try to solve US-Iran conflict by going to NAME region as given below:-

(i)- The solution to US – Iran problem in Syria, Yemen, etc. in NAME region (where millions of people are bleeding and weeping profusely and where the USA and its allies are complaining that Shia Iran is supporting terrorists and militant trouble makers in Sunni majority areas) is not a rocket science and it can easily be solved by carrying out elections first in Syria under supervision of ‘UN Election Commission’ (UNEC) under secular constitution. India should offer personnel (military and civil in millions whatever needed) for ‘UN Peace Keeping Force’ (UNPKF) and for UNEC in order to ensure free and fair elections first in Syria.

(ii)- The US-Iran conflict can be resolved by India by offering its nukes for complete denuclearisation. India should demand that the nuclear ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction‘ (WMDs) of all the nuclear powers (five permanent members of UN and India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea, etc) should be handed over to UN authorities for ultimate destruction and UN should ensure that no country is able to develop new nuclear WMDs.

(iii)- India should demand that the chronic and gory Israel-Palestine problem should be solved by the one-State solution for both Jews and Palestinians and not through an unjust and mischievous two-State solution.

(11)- This India will be able to do only when first India disarms Pakistan by carrying-out plebiscite in unified J&K after retrieving PoJK (militarily or otherwise) as per ‘Instrument of Accession’ and simultaneously restoring secularism and establishing welfare State (then only Muslim Kashmir and PoJK will opt for India) by recovering Rs 1,000 lakh crore Income Tax from about one million tax evaders where this huge revenue will not only solve all the economic problems of India (which already is in rural distress where tens of thousands of farmers are committing suicide every year) but will also make India a top-class world power economically and militarily.

Therefore, Instead of adopting ostrich approach, India should take active interest rather lead in solving US-Iran conflict as mentioned above; otherwise, it will be too late and difficult for India to hold together if USA succeeds in making India the theatre of Shia-Sunni World War which USA is obviously planning to do through NDAA. However, for these solutions first of all, Indians will have to develop confidence that they can also and are prepared to solve global problems which are not exclusively white man’s burden.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)

#Budget2019 for the benefit of all

By

C K Subramaniam

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July 7, 2019

#Budget2019, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister, Budget India, New Budget India, Budget 2019, Afternoon Voice #Budget2019 is a very good financial blueprint. It is beneficial to every section of our society and it can boost the growth of the Indian economy. Kudos to our Prime Minister and Finance Minister! Great India Budget hopes to spur the economy. It’s really evolutionary the government found the backlogs and hope they really put effort and accomplish. We all hope that Nirmala Sitharaman is successful in building up India financially with people of all classes enjoying the fruits of their labour. We will have to wait and see.

One of the biggest announcements she made was of Rs 70,000 crore capital infusion in the public sector banks to be used as growth capital, now that the legacy issues plaguing the sector have been addressed. She also announced a slew of measures to ease the liquidity and regulatory problems affecting the Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) sector, a key pain point in India’s economy at the moment.

The budget incorporated a number of positive tax reforms such as lowering the corporate tax rate for companies with an annual turnover of less than Rs 400 crore and increasing the surcharge to be paid by high net-worth individuals earning more than Rs 2 crore a year. It also finally provided relief for start-ups from the undue pain of the ‘angel tax’.

In a move that spooked bond markets, Sitharaman announced that the government would be increasing its external borrowing programme since India’s external debt to the GDP was below 5 per cent and among the lowest globally. “Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are playing an extremely important role in sustaining consumption demand as well as capital formation in the small and medium industrial segment,” Sitharaman said. NBFCs that are fundamentally sound should continue to get funding from banks and mutual funds without being unduly risk-averse.

Keeping this in mind, Sitharaman announced that the government would provide a one-time partial credit guarantee to public sector banks for their first loss of up to 10 per cent when they purchased the pooled assets of financially sound NBFCs.

She noted that the Reserve Bank of India has only limited regulatory authority over NBFCs, adding that steps will now be taken to strengthen the RBI in this regard. Housing finance companies will henceforth be regulated by the RBI. Apart from this, the Budget featured smaller steps that would help the NBFC sector such as doing away with the Debenture Redemption Reserve for public issues. Another provision in the Finance Bill says that if the RBI is satisfied that in the public interest or to prevent the affairs of an NBFC being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interest of depositors or creditors, it can supersede the board for up to five years. The FM is having a vision for the future.

In the earlier UPA set, the rich became richer and the poor remained poor. The Union Budget was just to steal Paul to pay Peter and that inequality is slowly diminishing.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 07 July, 2019

By

Web Team

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July 7, 2019

Implement rain water harvesting in the city

Despite the delayed arrival of monsoon by a fortnight, two days of downpour has helped Mumbai and its suburbs get above average rainfall for June. This is a good new after a sluggish start by monsoon. The onset of monsoon in the month delayed but the city received good rainfall. Normal rainfall in the country is critical for the maximum city full of high rise buildings. So there is no alarm for the shortfall of rain. Now it is time to manage water resources available to our advantage by implementing rain water harvesting schemes in all the buildings in the city.

Nickhil Mani

Railways exposed after first showers

The railways too have got themselves exposed like BMC in the first real showers to hit the city over the weekend. Corruption rules roost across public utility services as most of the pre-monsoon work carried on was on paper though actual money got paid to those who billed the government. Monsoons have become horrifying season for commuting as delays and train cancellations leads to commotion have become common.

Privatization is the answer to all this nonsense and inefficiency. It would bring in not just efficiency but accountability as well apart from value for money spent. Water logging even on days of low tide comes as a shock and all the storm water work carried out a few months before monsoons seems to be a wasteful exercise. State government should use tax payers funds rightfully and those responsible for corruption should be penalized!

S.N. Kabra

Common man disappointed with budget

Every time the budget is presented, there are speculations that the salaried class would get some relief in the reduction of taxes. But it did not take place this time too. This is a great disappointment for the common man who already has to go through a lot of financial crisis. What we expected from the Union Budget did not happen. With the increase in the price of petrol and diesel, the prices of all essential commodities are likely to shoot up too. Pension for pensioners did not increase too. What kind of a budget is this? It is taking the common man for a ride? It is always the common man who suffers the most when the budget is presented every year.

Jubel D’Cruz

Take strict action against miscreants attacking Hindu temple

Majority Hindu community of Delhi cutting across party-lines is in full anger on regretful silence of non-BJP politicians on attack by a mob on a Hindu temple in old Delhi area on midnight of June 30, 2019. Such minority-appeasing vote-bank based political silence will instead polarise Hindu votes with BJP for a repeat massive win in forthcoming elections to Delhi state-assembly. Till now only three miscreants including a minor are taken into custody who first assaulted a Hindu family before mobilising a mob to attack the Hindu temple. Nabbed miscreants should be put under stiff-most interrogation to name others in the attacking mob. Pseudo-secular award-return gang and self-acclaimed intellectuals knocking Supreme Court in midnight for stopping hanging of terrorists are also as usually silent.

Much is being talked-about alleged exodus of Hindus from Meerut in UP. But nobody has noted drastic change in demography of mixed-population areas of Delhi. The example is Churiwalan where elite rich Hindu families lived as a part of mixed Hindu-Muslim population till some decades back. But Hindu families have left many such mixed-population localities of old Delhi now converting these into purely Muslim localities.

Enquiry from all possible angles including funding-source is necessary in major renovation in almost all the mosques in Delhi which also includes unauthorised encroachment of public-land including footpaths and roads with gross violation of building norms. All such encroachments and building in violation of norms without seeking permission of concerned agencies should be pulled down with cost involved recovered from those violation norms.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Modi 2.0 govt presents #BudgetForNewIndia

By

Rajesh Choudhary

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July 5, 2019

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday presented the first budget of the Narendra Modi 2.0 government in the Lok Sabha. In the Union Budget 2019-20, she announced that budget aims ‘Mazboot Desh Ke Liye Mazboot Nagrik’ (Strong country, Strong Citizen) and to revive economic growth through higher investments. The Finance Minister hiked tax on petrol and diesel, raised import duty on gold, levied an additional surcharge on super rich and brought a tax on high-value cash withdrawals.

According to budget announcements, the super-rich people have to pay more and there is no change in the lower income tax slab. She announced a 3 per cent increase in Income tax for those earning Rs 2-5 crore and 7 per cent for income above Rs 5 crore. In order to garner the fund for schemes, the budget increased Special Additional Excise Duty and Road and Infrastructure Cess each by Re 1 per litre on petrol and diesel.

Now, PAN card and Aadhaar card can be used interchangeably to file income tax returns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the budget assures the country that the poor will be empowered and the youth will get a better tomorrow. This budget will accelerate the speed of development. On the other hand, the Congress party criticised it.

Nirmala Sitharaman, the first full-time woman Finance Minister said, “India will become a $3 trillion economy this year. The government planned many structural reforms to kick start foreign and domestic investment. We need to invest heavily in infrastructure, digital economy, job creation.”

Public-private partnership (PPP) for railways, increased FDI in media and aviation, the issuance of Aadhaar cards to NRIs without a waiting period of 180 days on arrival, and schemes to provide power, water, and clean cooking facilities for all, TDS of 2 per cent on cash withdrawal exceeding Rs 1 crore in a year from a bank account were among the highlights of her speech.

Hiten Bhanushali, CA, Financial and Strategy Expert spoke to Afternoon Voice and stated, “Budget 2019 is a budget of marketing; while it has given the analysis of the past actions but this doesn’t draw a line of future actions. Recapitalisation of banks and revamping of regulatory architecture is nothing but investing hard-earned taxpayers’ money to the NPA of banks. No inquiry on the valuation is explained on the startup valuation game — this is a way of taking back black foreign money into India by doing higher valuation, resulting into moving Indian black money lying in foreign accounts moving them back to India and making it white money. NBFC reforms will make an impact on retail investors because the risks in NBFC’s are higher and losing the market valuation of mutual funds can result in loss to NAV’s mutual funds.”

He further explained, “On the other hand, the initiative to ensure piped water supply to all rural households will help rural and boost the farming in nonfarming lands. Giving pension benefit to the retail trader is a step toward supporting the unorganised retail traders to mitigate challenges from organised retail and modern trade. FDI relaxation in the Aviation sector is the show of the failure of UDAN project.”

“It’s indeed a big move to make Aadhaar card mandatory for filing income tax. The budget gives no relief to the salary taxpayers in any way and also no benefit of inflation to the general public. Increase in surcharge on fuel will lead to a price hike of consumer goods and daily need by 6-7 per cent, resulting in inflation,” he added.

The Congress tweeted, “Now, the government has finally accepted that unemployment is at a 45 year high, #Budget2019 must put forth a detailed plan for job creation in the country. It must reverse the adverse effects of demonetisation & GST.”

Prashant Pandey, an MBBS student of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences said, “Prima facie good budget for the common man and the environment as no income tax will be levied on annual income less than Rs 5 lakh and heavy rebates will be given on the purchase of electric vehicles. This move will ensure saving of fast shrinking petrol and diesel. At the same time, it will lessen air pollution. People of big cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur are facing health problems due to air pollutions.”

Major highlights of Union Budget 2019-20

– Achieving green Mother Earth and Blue Skies through a pollution-free India

– Making Digital India reach every sector of the economy

– Launching Gaganyan, Chandrayaan, other Space and Satellite programmes

– Building physical and social infrastructure

– Water, water management, clean rivers

– Blue economy

– Self-sufficiency and export of food-grains, pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables

– Achieving a healthy society via Ayushman Bharat, well-nourished women, and children, the safety of citizens

– Emphasis on MSMEs, Start-ups, defence manufacturing, automobiles, electronics, fabs and batteries, and medical devices under Make in India.

MASSIVE PUSH TO ALL FORMS OF PHYSICAL CONNECTIVITY

–Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

– Industrial Corridors, Dedicated Freight Corridors

– Bhartamala and Sagarmala projects, Jal Marg Vikas and UDAN Schemes

– State road networks to be developed in the second phase of Bhartamala project

– Rs 50 lakh crore investments needed in Railway Infrastructure during 2018-2030.

– 657 kilometers of Metro Rail network has become operational across the country.

– An outlay of Rs 10,000 crore for three years approved for Phase-II of FAME Scheme.

MEASURES TO DEEPEN BOND MARKETS

– Stock exchanges to be enabled to allow AA rated bonds as collaterals

– User-friendliness of trading platforms for corporate bonds to be reviewed

– Electronic fundraising platform under the regulatory ambit of SEBI

– Listing social enterprises and voluntary organizations.

– To raise capital as equity, debt or as units like a mutual fund.

– KYC norms for Foreign Portfolio Investors to be made more investor-friendly

– Insurance intermediaries to get 100 per cent FDI

– FPIs to be permitted to subscribe to listed debt securities issued by ReITs and InvITs.

DIRECT TAXES

-Tax rate reduced to 25 per cent for companies with annual turnover up to Rs 400 crore

– Surcharge increased on individuals having taxable income from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore and Rs 5 crore and above.

– Direct tax revenue increased by over 78 per cent in the past five years to Rs 11.37 lakh crore

– Those who don’t have PAN can file tax returns using Aadhaar

– Pre-filling of Income-tax Returns for faster, more accurate tax returns

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

– Additional deduction up to Rs 1.5 lakhs for interest paid on loans borrowed up to March 31, 2020, for purchase of house valued up to Rs 45 lakh

– The overall benefit of around Rs 7 lakh over a loan period of 15 years.

OTHER DIRECT TAX MEASURES

-Simplification of tax laws to reduce genuine hardships of taxpayers

– The higher tax threshold for launching prosecution for non-filing of returns

– Appropriate class of persons exempted from the anti-abuse provisions of Section 50CA and Section 56 of the Income Tax Act.

RELIEF FOR START-UPS

– Capital gains exemptions from the sale of residential house for investment in start-ups extended till FY21.

– ‘Angel tax’ issue resolved- start-ups and investors filing requisite declarations and providing information in their returns not to be subjected to any kind of scrutiny in respect of valuations of share premiums.

– Funds raised by start-ups to not require scrutiny from Income Tax Department

– E-verification mechanism for establishing the identity of the investor and source of funds

– Special administrative arrangements for pending assessments and grievance redressal

– No inquiry in such cases by the Assessing Officer without obtaining approval of the supervisory officer.

– No scrutiny of valuation of shares issued to Category-II Alternative Investment Funds.

INDIRECT TAXES

– Basic customs duty increased on cashew kernels, PVC, tiles, auto parts, marble slabs, optical fibre cable, CCTV camera, etc.

– Exemptions from custom duty on certain electronic items now manufactured in India withdrawn

– End use-based exemptions on palm stearin, fatty oils withdrawn

– Exemptions to various kinds of papers withdrawn

– 5 per cent basic customs duty imposed on imported books

– Customs duty reduced on certain raw materials such as inputs for artificial kidney and disposable sterilised dialyser and fuels for nuclear power plants, etc.

– Capital goods required for the manufacture of specified electronic goods

EXPORT DUTY RATIONALISED

– Increase in special additional excise duty and road and infrastructure cess each by rupee one per litre on petrol and diesel

– Custom duty on gold and other precious metals increased

EASE OF LIVING

– About 30 lakh workers joined the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Scheme that provides Rs 3,000 per month as pension on attaining the age of 60 to workers in unorganized and informal sectors.

– Approximately 35 crore LED bulbs distributed under UJALA Yojana leading to cost saving of Rs 18,341 crore annually.

BANKING AND FINANCIAL SECTOR

– NPAs of commercial banks reduced by over Rs 1 lakh crore over the last year

– Record recovery of over Rs 4 lakh crore effected over the last four years.

– Domestic credit growth increased to 13.8 per cent

– Rs 70,000 crore proposed to be provided to PSBs to boost credit

– Reforms to be undertaken to strengthen governance in PSBs

MEASURES RELATED TO CPSES

-Target of Rs 1, 05,000 crore of disinvestment receipts set for the FY 2019-20

– Government to reinitiate the process of strategic disinvestment of Air India

– Government to consider going to an appropriate level below 51 per cent in PSUs where the government control is still to be retained, on case to case basis

– The present policy of retaining 51 per cent government stake to be modified to retaining 51 per cent stake inclusive of the stake of government-controlled institutions

DIGITAL PAYMENTS

– TDS of 2 per cent on cash withdrawal exceeding Rs 1 crore in a year from a bank account

– Business establishments with annual turnover more than Rs 50 crore shall offer low-cost digital modes of payment to their customers and no charges or Merchant Discount Rate shall be imposed on customers as well as merchants

Budget in red cloth ignoring Digital India, it should be on electronic devices

By

Vaidehi Taman

-

July 5, 2019

From the past five years, PM Modi was hell-bent on making India digital and competes with the globe. However, to my surprise, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman did not pose with the iconic briefcase, like her predecessors. In a departure from the tradition, she was seen holding a red cloth folder enclosed with a string and decorated with the national emblem, which was described by officials as the “Bahi Khata“.

The Budget briefcase had been replaced by the traditional Bahi Khata in keeping with Indian tradition. If it symbolises the departure from the slavery of western thought, then we should not forget that we believed in Kingdoms and Slavery and it’s the Britishers who taught us Democracy and introduced the Parliament. From infrastructure to political arrangements — everything is given to us by them. Why this selective abolishment?

Moreover, was Digital India eyewash? Budget in red cloth ignoring Digital India of PM Modi is very confusing. It should have been in electronic devices. We the people always expected performance from BJP and not symbolism. However, they always succeeded in diverting the main issues of India by making such mockery.

Media is diverting people’s attention towards Bahi Khata and no one is actually bothered about the Budget. Just because Sitharaman believes that leather made products are not auspicious for the big occasion, so she avoided the leather bag and took the Bahi Khata. She should not forget that her government is here from the past five years and the former Finance Ministers presented Budget in a briefcase. Was that inauspicious for our country?

The Finance Minister has worked in the UK; she knows the tradition of our country and she also knows the modernism. Earlier, Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s first full-time Finance Minister, ditched another tradition. During the customary Halwa ceremony before the Budget Session, she untied the red ribbon instead of cutting it. The officials said that she believed cutting a ribbon is not considered auspicious.

Nirmala Sitharaman’s red folder caused a buzz amid anticipation surrounding her first budget, also the first of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second term. Especially as the word “Budget” originates from the French “bougette” or leather bag. Down the years, Finance Ministers have carried red, black, tan, and brown briefcases.

The “budget case” tradition started in the 18th century when the Chancellor of the Exchequer or Britain’s budget chief was asked to ‘open the budget’ while presenting his annual statement. In 1860, the then British budget Chief William E. Gladstone carried his papers in a red suitcase with the Queen’s monogram in gold. He went on to become the Prime Minister. The same bag was used by several governments.

India’s first budget was presented by RK Shanmukham Chetty in 1947, months after independence. Ten years later, TT Krishnamachari carried something that looked like a file bag. Jawaharlal Nehru carried a black briefcase. Earlier this year and then finance minister Piyush Goyal had carried a red briefcase before presenting the Interim Budget. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before him carried a tan briefcase.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, as the Finance Minister who delivered the iconic 1991 proposals, carried a black bag. Pranab Mukherjee, as Manmohan Singh’s Finance Minister, used a red briefcase similar to the Gladstone case of Britain. It was velvet, and so far India was in a similar position as it is now when it comes to the economy. What new India needs is change is people’s lives, their standard of living, and their safety. Youth need jobs, small businesses need a breather, and students need cheaper education.

Ignoring all these, if we get into symbolism, the real issues would never be addressed. BJP might get one more term hereafter too, as there are leadership crises in India. Anyway, democracy has been compromised to various levels. I don’t know how this symbolism is going to solve the purpose? By making the cover exclusive, can the content inside be changed? Nirmala Sitharaman is the second woman Finance Minister after Indira Gandhi to present the budget.

Hope the government invests widely in agricultural infrastructure and support private entrepreneurship in driving value addition to farmers produce and those from allied activities too, like bamboo, timber and also for generating renewable energy. It is claimed that 9.6 crore toilets have been constructed since October 2, 2014. More than 5.6 lakh villages have become open defecation free. However, the reality of India is quite different.

She proposed to expand the Swachh Bharat Mission to undertake sustainable solid waste management in every village. However, look at the urban cities; they are under the piles of garbage. Nothing much has changed in spite of spending crores on such initiatives. The government needs a framework for making India a global hub of aircraft financing and leasing activities. They should encourage new industries to come up, leveraging India’s existing capabilities that will add more quality jobs. Far most important is Job for youth and education for students. Let’s see how this red auspicious cloth can change the fate of the economy of New India.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Go to NAME instead of allowing USA making India theatre of Shia-Sunni World War — Part I

By

Hem Raj Jain

-

July 5, 2019

India is the only secular democratic country (that too of ~ 1.35 billion people) in Asia (based on the political values of Western liberal World led by the USA) hence it faces permanent grave existential threat by its neighbours and which can be handled effectively only when NATO provides requisite military support to India. Therefore ‘The National Defense Authorisation Act’ or NDAA is an overdue and welcome development. India is now on a par with America’s NATO allies Japan, Australia and South Korea following the passage of a bill by the US Senate in a key move to increase defence partnership including advanced technology transfer. The House is expected to take up its version of the NDAA before July 29 and then it will become a law.

However, presently, NDAA is coming in a particular context of US-Iran Conflict and India has to be careful and should go to the NAME region instead of allowing the USA to make India the theatre of Shia-Sunni World War

(1)- The chances of US-Iran/Shia-Sunni World War are not that remote and its adverse impact on India is not that mild. Rather, these are compelling and its impact is disastrous for India as it may lead (if not handled intelligently) to another dismemberment of India.

(2)- Though present India is not the British India of 1947 which trifurcated the mother, rather presently it is the total of the Princely States and British India. As reported this development of NDAA comes amid a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Osaka after the visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah duo like Gandhi-Patel duo (as-far Nehru it did not matter, either united or partitioned India, as long as he was made PM) are showing British-India mindset. Hence the Indians with Princely-States-India mindset should take responsibility to inform the Indians about the danger of another dismemberment of the motherland of India if India falls in the trap of USA.

(3)- Under the regime of Trump, whatever right or wrong (like shifting of capital of Israel to Jerusalem without solving Palestine problem, cancelling unilaterally and arbitrarily the Iran nuclear deal, etc.) Jew-Israel wanted has been given to it. Hence despite USA and Iran when in addition to Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc. the Jew-Israel want (may be due to Jew Jared Kushner the son-in-law of Trump as a senior adviser to Trump) the US-Iran/Shia-Sunni World War keenly and eagerly, then it is bound to happen.

(4)- Earlier Shias and Sunnis around Israel were against Israel on Palestine issue. Now, Sunnis led by Saudi Arabia (SaAr) are with Israel (with the support of NATO-led by USA) against Shia Iran (due to alleged support of Shia Iran to its militant proxies in Sunni majority regions which is causing immense human rights problems in Syria, Yemen, etc. and which is the main reason for the USA to cancel Iran nuclear deal because the money Iran got after nuclear deal due to lifting of sanctions were allegedly used by Iran for financing Shia militants and terrorists mainly in Sunni countries). Therefore, now it has become very easy for Israel to trigger the Shia-Sunni World War.

(5)- At the same time, before roping-in India for Shia-Sunni World War, the USA does not or does not want to know that India is extremely vulnerable on two fronts against the Shia group supported by China-Russia (i)- On military front due to Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh / N-E (ii)- On economic front due to unsecured crucial and huge oil imports (84 per cent of oil is imported which will become uncertain during Shia-Sunni World War and a substantial part of the remaining 16 per cent will be needed by the Indian military during this war).

(6)- The USA, presently in Presidential election mode, will not put its boots on the ground and the USA knows that (especially without Pakistan) the Sunni world led by SaAr is incapable of taking on Shia group supported by China-Russia. Hence the USA is trying to make India the theater of US-Iran/Shia-Sunni World War. But If India plays this game of USA then another dismemberment of India is highly likely.

(The latter part will continue on Sunday.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)