S. Korea's Moon pardons disgraced ex-president Park amid tight presidential race 2
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in granted a pardon to former President Park Geun-hye, who was in prison after being convicted of corruption, the justice ministry said on Friday, amid a tight presidential race.
Park, 69, became South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be thrown out of office when the Constitutional Court upheld a parliament vote in 2017 to impeach her over a scandal that also landed the heads of two conglomerates, including Samsung, in jail.
She was brought down after being found guilty of colluding with a friend to receive tens of billions of won from major conglomerates mostly to fund her friend’s family and nonprofit foundations. In January, South Korea’s top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence for Park on the graft charges that finalized her downfall, bringing an end to the legal process.
Moon’s office said the decision to pardon Park was intended to “overcome unfortunate past history, promote people’s unity and join hands for the future.” “I hope this would provide a chance to go beyond differences in thoughts and pros and cons, and open a new era of integration and unity,” his spokeswoman quoted him as saying.
Moon had previously pledged not to pardon those who were convicted of corruption. But many supporters and politicians of the conservative main opposition People Power party have called for Park’s pardon ahead of the March presidential election, citing her deteriorating health and deepening political strife. Opposition lawmakers have said that Park has experienced health problems while in prison, including undergoing shoulder surgery.
Park’s imprisonment had become a political hot potato that divided the country, with conservatives having weekly rallies in downtown Seoul urging her release and criticizing Moon until the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. A poll by Gallup Korea in November showed 48% of respondents were opposed to pardoning Park and Lee, but the numbers have dropped from around 60% early this year.
The flag bearer of Moon’s ruling Democratic Party, Lee Jae-Myung, and People Power’s candidate Yoon Suk-yeol are seen neck and neck in recent polls. Lee said he understood Moon’s “agony” and respected his decision for national unity, but Park should offer a sincere apology for the scandal.
Yoon said Park’s pardon was welcome albeit late but did not elaborate on reporters’ questions over whether her potential resumption of political activity. Park’s predecessor, also conservative Lee Myung-bak, who is also imprisoned on corruption charges, was not pardoned.
Being born and brought up in Girgaon Mumbai, my childhood has gone in the lap of Shiv Sena veteran leader Pramod Navalkar, Nilkhanth Khadilkar and many other Shiv Sena leaders. Balasaheb was my most favourite hero figure; he has encouraged me in my journey towards journalism. As a Mumbaikar, I always looked at him like one strong father figure. Unfortunately, there is a vacuum, Uddhav could not retain that ability. Shiv Sena’s office and Matoshri’s doors were open for people. Meeting Balasaheb was never difficult but Uddhav and his son became larger than life. There are some arrogant entities that are controlling these visits; I remember one dialogue of Balasaheb “Chai se kitly garam”. Meeting Thackeray is very difficult, maybe this is the reason they are distant in the hearts of the people too. Uddhav definitely needs someone in his office to bridge that gap.
Bal Thackeray was a self-made mass leader with vision and excellent leadership qualities whereas Uddhav is a leader parachuted as head of the party without much of mass appeal or leadership qualities. Above all that united Shiv Sena was the core pursuit of the party, those shakhas on every corner of Mumbai which are gone missing now were the powerhouses of the party. Once upon a time, Mumbai was a safe city and we girls used to be fearless because Dadas and Bhai’s of shakhas used to make sure about our safety. Those days there was no social media platform or IT cell circulations, only the roar of Balasaheb used to keep the city in control. Now everything has gone out of control.
Surprisingly, Aditya Thackeray, like a newcomer in politics has blocked many journalists like me on Twitter just because we pose him questions; a leader who cannot answer netizens boldly, going on a blocking spree is sitting in government just because of his father but not on the merits of his own. They want all praises and for that, they have battalions of people paid to do so.
These days Shiv Sena has a crab mentality. Their massive egos are hurt if anyone pinpoints their failures, no matter how justified the criticism is. They never praise anybody except themselves.
If we talk about principle, ideology, morality, truth and integrity, Uddhav Thackeray lacks all these qualities, but it was Balasaheb Thackeray, who had stood with all the above qualities till he survived. Balasaheb had the tremendous ability to command respect. Balasaheb never compromised with principles and values. But, in the present situation in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray is a totally compromised personality for the sake of his own prejudice. Many grassroots level Shiv Sainiks are silenced. They have been forcefully muted; some of them are just sidelined brutally. This is the time where all these Sainiks would have played a crucial role. Uddhav Thackrey’s Shiv Sena is divided into groups; there is a lot of outside infiltration.
In the reign of Balasaheb, Bollywood and the mafia were totally under their control. There was a fear in Bollywood and in the mafias. But in the recent situation what are we observing in Mumbai? Uddhav Thackeray is not speaking a word against the Mafia and not even speaking a word against wrong activities. His attacks and voices are selective. I never imagined that Uddhav would ever be a tamed tiger of the political circus.
Balasaheb used to mock even BJP and its leaders while being in an alliance. Then the Chief Minister Manohar Joshi said in the BJP national executive meeting in Mumbai that BJP and Shiv Sena are like brothers, BJP is Ram and Shiv Sena is Lakshaman. Thackeray mocked his own CM in his mouthpiece Saamana writing “Thank god he didn’t compare us to the monkeys”. He had an impeccable sense of humour.
When BJP affiliated parties launched Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) and held rallies on sensitizing people about ills of multinationals and foreign products, Thackeray observed “When these people shout slogan of Swadeshi Zindabad by raising their hands, you can see that they have foreign watches on their wrists”. He called out the hypocrisy of Swadeshi movement leaders.
He had his political agenda and ideological differences but went out of his way to nurture personal relations. For e.g. He supported the candidature of Sharad Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, to Rajya Sabha even though his alliance partner BJP was against it. Balasaheb once criticized the proposal to have a 22-crore throne for Shirdi Sai Baba. He suggested the amount be used for charity instead. A Marathi newspaper suggested he look at his own silver throne before he comments on other extravagances. In response, Balsaheb sent his throne to the newspaper office as a “sacrifice”.
I have thousands of such memories to share, those days Shiv Sena was a well-knit network, mainly composed of tough local youngsters, soon spread out to every neighbourhood in Mumbai. He and his Shakha Pramukhs often arbitrated disputes, got people jobs and demanded that he be consulted on all kinds of matters, including the release of films he found controversial. He had immense control and influence on Mumbaikars and on the people of Maharashtra as a whole. I miss that old Shiv Sena which gave us a sense of belonging.
Uddhav Thackeray is humble and maintained his demure as CM but somewhere distanced from the people who actually loved him. But interestingly Raj Thackeray has the power of grasping a lot of attention at the time of rallies, but unluckily failed in terms of votes. Raj is almost where he started. Uddhav is now not only part of the Government, but holding a prime post as CM. But being part of the government is not enough to pour life into Shiv Sena. Somewhere the Shiv Sena is fading in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The need of the hour is to strengthen all shakhas, appoint new shakha pramukhs, kartyakarte, and give responsibilities to youngsters. Once again unite all its old guards and rejuvenate its core strength. Shiv Sena should definitely work on a makeover of the party or else it would be losing its existence in no time.
Maharashtra govt's Shakti Bill proposes severe punishment for crime against women, children 6
If someone files a complaint or gives wrong information to a public servant, punishment will escalate
In 2020, Maharashtra saw a jump of 14 per cent in crime rate as against 2019, the data from the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) revealed. A report published in IE stated the crime against women saw a drop as compared to 2019. The 2019 data from the National Crime Records Bureau revealed that Maharashtra is second on the list with 32.3 lakh cases of crimes registered in the country.
In an effort to control the increasing crimes against women and children, the Maharashtra government tabled a report containing the recommendations of a joint selection committee studying the Shakti Bill. The Maharashtra government’s Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020, proposes to increase the quantum of punishment for offences such as rapes, acid attacks and capital, heavy fines and speedy trials for the perpetrators.
In July this year, the state government extended the deadline for the Joint committee on Shakti Bill. Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil presented in the Lower House of the legislature the recommendations of the joint committee’s report on the Shakti Criminal Laws. The Bill was sent to a 21-member joint committee in the budget session for scrutiny and is likely to be passed in the winter session.
The Shakti Bill recommends
Patil informed the House that the bill provides an onus on social media platforms, internet and mobile telephone data if they fail to provide data to the police for investigation under Section 175A. The investigating officers can seek data from social media platforms and mobile data providers in women assault cases and if they fail to provide within a time frame of seven days, then it may attract three months of imprisonment in jail and a fine of Rs 25 lakh. The data must be within three days at the pain of penalty under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.
The committee has proposed an increase in the quantum of punishments for men, women and children for acid attack and rape cases or in any case if the modesty of a woman is outraged and she is threatened by any means of communication under Section 345E, the Indian Express (IE) revealed in its report. It further recommends that the investigation period must be increased from the existing 15 days to 30 days and if the probe is not completed on time, then further extension can be given. Earlier, the extension period was seven days.
Punishment in case of acid attacks
According to the recommendations, in the case of acid attacks, section 326 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will be amended. This means there will be a provision of a minimum of fifteen years to maximum life imprisonment for the guilty along with the penalty. The accused will have to pay the expenses of plastic surgery and face reconstruction operations for the victim.
What if someone files a false complaint?
Patil informed that if someone files a complaint or gives wrong information to a public servant, punishment will increase. The provisions of the bill are being made more strict to punish the culprits and it is also important to save the innocent. Severe and stringent punishment is required if people file false or wrong complaints. Moreover, a fine of Rs one lakh will be imposed and imprisonment of not less than three years and up to three years will be given if someone files a false complaint.
The minister further explained the bill seeks to amend Section 100 of the IPC. As per the reports, in sexual harassment cases, two social workers granted by the state government’s Women and Child Welfare Department or two public servants can be taken as independent witnesses.
When the Shakti Bill was first tabled?
In December 2020, the Maharashtra government first tabled the Shakti Bill which is drafted on the lines of the Disha Act in Andhra Pradesh. The bill was introduced in the Assembly to bring laws for the safety of women and children and to reduce the incidents of violence and atrocities against women and children in the state.
Later on, the government referred the Bill to the committee and a total of thirteen meetings were held before submitting its recommendations. The committee has repealed the provision to not provide anticipatory bail to people who file wrong or false complaints.
CBI, ED and all other institutions are controlled by the government 8
India and especially young India must ensure our regulatory bodies remain and function independently if democracy has to survive and sustain itself in India. There have been a number of instances where these institutions have been hijacked by politicians for their nefarious and undemocratic goals. Basically, any political party (whether the BJP or the Congress) in power at the centre and in the states will automatically hegemonies independent institutions under its ambit in a bid to take revenge against the opposition exposing its loopholes and gain sympathy among the masses for a vote bank in the next elections exhibiting its greatness.
CBI has always been a caged parrot and so have been the state police. What’s new in this BJP government is that the Judiciary also has lost its credibility. Media was already more-or-less sold out. This is the last straw. Will it break the camel’s back? Let’s wait and watch the great drama unfolding and choose not to participate whichever way the politicians try to fool the country. CBI is supposed to be a premier Investigation Agency in India. But sadly, CBI has been used by the Government for specific tasks. It is also true that for the first time in History after Independence, the CBI was termed by the Supreme Court as a Caged Parrot in 2013 during UPA-II. Since then, CBI has lost its credibility to a greater extent.
The ED and the CBI institutions have become puppets completely under the present ruling government when compared to the UPA government and will not spare a person speaking against it (BJP) even if he’s honest or not and spare the fraudulent in support of it. Both of the institutions are run as Errand boys of the government. They don’t reach justified conclusions. The cases are neither closed nor concluded, they are just kept lingering on for years. Whenever the arm twisting is to be done to gain political support, the files get opened again. It happened in the Subroto Roy case, Mayawati and bros case, Jayalalitha’s case, Mulayam case, Devilal sons and thousands of such cases. The people in both these institutions are not saints, they might have made lots of illegal money, but the beauty is most of them have not been caught and punished.
These days the judiciary also falls in the same bracket. All these institutions and heads are the final authorities and their judgements cannot be challenged. Money exchanges hands to get their protection, we have super-rich advocates on the panel and membership of all influential political parties and they are well protected. Many of the ‘honest’ politicians have ongoing investigations in purportedly not so honest deeds.
The government think-tank needs to burn the midnight oil to settle the matter. It has indeed become a May Day situation for the country’s Apex investigation body’s credibility. Remember Rakesh Astana, Special Director of CBI? He was probed in a money laundering case. CBI is headed by Alok Verma. But Rakesh Astana alleged that Alok Verma is involved in some other bribery case. GOI headed by Modi then sent Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Astana to indefinite leave stating that the feud between the top and 2nd top officers in CBI are compromising the integrity of the institute. In my opinion, the Modi Govt didn’t stop the mess. They instead helped Rakesh Astana by transforming 13 more officers who were loyal to Alok Verma. Some of them are transferred to Andaman and Nicobar. Thereby stopping the investigation against Rakesh Astana by all means.
Due to such instances, CBI was always a questionable institution since its inception. Earlier governments have used it as a tool to harass people and politicians alike. Better say it’s a tool to play politics. Don’t get fooled by their success rates, it is above 60% but the consequences of cases are almost previously written. Wouldn’t say fake Judgment for the sake of the judiciary, the problem is in prejudicial systems like manners of gathering the evidence and witness issues and foremost the intention of judgment in some cases.
Also, the problem arises when they appoint the director. The so-called person is at the helm of things in government departments like home and internal affairs, education, defence, finance. The director is appointed by the PM, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India with some recommendations from the outgoing director. Also, the director’s post may be sometimes jointly held or sometimes shared by a special director. They remain unemployed for half their careers in CBI, only having their salary, so they, like good hunters, waiting for their chance.
There are no common hunters; they choose how to make sure that the chance is not spilt. They don’t even leave the political party that got them to the position. They start showing their conscience and start blackmailing the concerned party (maybe political or others). These parties are generally high-profile ones. So, we are talking in crores here.
"Mere Paas Maa Hain" - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has put her faith firmly in the woman 13
The Congress’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has put her faith firmly in the women of the state to carry her party to the victory line in the assembly election early next year. Priyanka Gandhi has been reaching out to women voters in UP in the hope that they would help turn the tides for her party. In a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cash outreach scheme for women in UP, she had said, “What did I say to the women of UP? To use their power. Now even PM Modi has given in. Why didn’t he announce this in the last five years? Why now, before elections? Women have woken up with our ‘Ladki Hoon, Ladh Sakti Hoon’ slogan.”
When asked about how the Congress plans to take UP – a state ruled by the BJP’s Yogi Adityanath, who is set on giving a fierce fight to secure another term as Chief Minister – Priyanka Gandhi drew parallels with a famous dialogue from the 1975 Bollywood film Deewaar, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. “Have you heard this dialogue from Deewar? Mere pass maa hai (my mother is with me),” Priyanka Gandhi told the media.
Congress General Secretary, Sachin Sawant said, “Basic ideology between BJP and INC is the kind of treatment they give to Women. RSS once also had taken a stand on women issues. Their ideology is based on Manu Smriti. You won’t find any lady designated in the Sangh Executive Committee organization. That is why they are not implying on the Women Reservation Bill which we have brought. So as a task for Empowering Women Priyanka in UP has given a slogan for women’s issues to be meted out. There have been high atrocities and crimes against women. Sangh wants to take the nation to the 18th Century detrimentally.”
Nizamuddin Rayeen, Congress Spokesperson said, “The whole family has been opting to be Sacrifice. The governance failed in its ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’ campaign. But since the day Priyanka Gandhi has entered UP, she has focused on girls Education and Women empowerment, proclaiming ‘Hamare Paas Maa Hain’ and we have worked for UP state. Even if Priyanka didn’t touch power, she has never stayed away from the UP region and the country. This slogan will Impact the UP campaign with Enthusiasm in the State. 40% Women Reservation is on the agenda and Priyanka Gandhi will optimistically do it.”
Suresh Nakhua a spokesperson from BJP said, “Priyanka Vadra has given statement “Mere Paas Bahene Hain” while Congress leaders have assaulted a woman party worker at an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Deoria on Oct 10, 2020). It is said that the Congress party workers manhandled Tara when she objected to someone charged with rape being given the party ticket. Is Tara not a sister of Priyanka? In Nov 2020, two women, Maya and Varsha, told reporters that the Congress leader Anuj Mishra had been frequently calling them up and harassing them. They said that they had contacted UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu but he did not take any action against his party leader. Are Maya and Varsha not Priyanka’s sisters? Amethi woman Safia (50) and her daughter Gudiya (28) attempted to self-immolate at the gate of Lok Bhawan at Vidhan Sabha Road in Lucknow, which according to Lucknow Police was done at the behest of local functionaries of Congress. The duo was said to be instigated by former Congress spokesperson, Anoop Patel. Are Safia and Gudiya not Priyanka’s sisters? Are Jessica Lal, Naina Sahni, Sarla Mishra, Bhanwari Devi, Sukanya Devi not Priyanka’s Sisters?”
Bibal Vazir a businessman said, “She may not win but BJP is definitely not coming back. In BJP ruled states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, women are procured and sold. UP has the worst track record with women safety. Bihar has the worst record in terms of treating women equally. Priyanka’s statements are empowering, no matter what Congress can pull 20 seats easily.”
Hallucinated Amit Shah gave dopamine to BJP in Maharashtra 15
Amit Shah came to Pune and gave a dirty hose to his workers. This so-called messiah leader of BJP and his Maharashtra cadres started amusing each other, in the name of imposition of the President’s rule in the state. As If the constitutional head of the country is sitting right in their house with rubber stamps. Mr Amit Shah raised many questions on the state government and went on giving warnings to Shiv Sena. He should understand that the country is going through several crises. Law and order have already collapsed in many states. In the northeastern states, Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Minister needs to pay extra attention. But his selective target in Maharashtra. This is an indication that Maharashtra is doing excellent and that has rattled not only the opposition in the state but also their leader lords in the central government.
During his speech, Shah has spewed all the venom only at Shiv Sena challenging them on various fronts. He said similar things in West Bengal, and we all know how BJP had to face a humiliating defeat. In yesterday’s Kolkata Municipal Election, BJP could not win even ten seats. Will the President’s rule be imposed there too? Amit Shah’s prejudice has forced him to talk all irrelevant but that is not enough to destabilize the Maharashtra government. If Amit Shah deliberates to decimate Maha Vikas Aghadi, then he is greatly mistaken.
In fact, the son of the Union Minister of Uttar Pradesh crashed and killed 13 farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, the home minister should have acted promptly but he chose to guard the minister. Mind it the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri did not occur because of negligence or callousness, but it was a planned conspiracy or attempt to murder. The SIT team has revealed the cruellest side of Uttar Pradesh violence but Shah has no nerve to speak on this issue.
If Mr Shah was not the home minister and if he did not have armours like CBI, ED, Income Tax, NCB, he could have never been able to speak such language today. The freedom of expression of BJP opponents has been suppressed all over the country, but in Maharashtra everyone’s freedom is unhindered. They are taking all the liberty to talk gibberish against the ruling government and its leaders.
Shah was scratching BJP’s unsettled wound again and again; he is unable to recover from the loss of power in the state. The pain and disgrace were evident in his speeches. He said Shiv Sena cheated them for power; he challenged us to show courage by contesting elections alone. I am really surprised to see the oblivious side of Shah, by now he must know that the Shiv Sena has grown up playing on the tales of such opponents. When no one was ready to go with Bharatiya Janata Party, it was the Shiv Sena who carried them on their shoulders across the urban and rural Maharashtra. But Mr Shah seems to have forgotten all these developments.
In 2014, in spite of being president of BJP then, he broke ties with the Hindutva Shiv Sena. At that time Shiv Sena fought alone. Shiv Sena does not have to resort to investigative agencies to fight their battle. Shiv Sena prides the truth. Many political parties have experienced this from time to time. I can understand the frustration of Amit Shah, despite all efforts; he could not puncture the three-wheeler government of Maharashtra.
If Maha Vikas Aghadi is a three-wheeler rickshaw, what should we call the central government; a car that goes into the ditch? In the year 2024, there will be a brake failure of this car. The desperation of the BJP leaders of Maharashtra is also understandable, but it is surprising when the Home Minister of the country starts speaking in the same despair. The Union Home Ministry does not leave a single opportunity to put the Maharashtra government in trouble. Sometimes I feel they all are living in some kind of hallucination.
If Shiv Sena is greedy for power, then why did Devendra Fadanvis rush to Raj Bhavan for the swearing-in ceremony in the early morning, while people of Maharashtra were yet to get out of their bed? Someone should ask BJP whether next time they will take oath at the break of dawn like last time. After 80 hours Devendra Fadnavis had to resign. This comedy show was witnessed by entire Maharashtra.
The Governor was not ready to accept the recommendations of the government with 170 MLAs; he had snatched the constitutional rights of the 12 MLAs of the Legislative Council. Dear Home Minister, It is easy to give a speech on how to run the state government, but there is no picture of the Union Home Ministry respecting the law and the Constitution in the matter of Maharashtra.
Your only aim is to make BJP’s chief minister but in Maharashtra, as a state, your government never showed any interest. Let me tell you the post of Chief Minister in Maharashtra is not vacant for the next 25 years. Do not make an illegal attempt to vacate the seat, it would backfire.
Chandrakant Dada Patil said Modi is a very restrained leader, otherwise, it will not take long to impose President’s rule in Maharashtra. On what basis does Mr Patil say so? Patil expressed grief that the Thackeray government was continuously insulting the governor. It is not the Thackeray government but the Modi government at the Center demeaning him by instructing the Governor to reject the decisions and recommendations of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. They are using him as a tool to harass the state government. You are placing a gun on the governor’s shoulder and firing your target, Shiv Sena fights from the front.
According to Mr Amit Shah, 11 and a half crore people will decide whether to heed Shiv Sena or not. The people of the country are protesting against inflation and unemployment, but the central government is turning deaf. Instead of giving a hollow challenge to Shiv Sena, please enter Ladakh and fight Chinese forces and accept the challenge to throw them out. That is in the interest of the nation. The bloodshed, sacrifice of soldiers continues in Kashmir. Since the home minister of the country is only interested in state politics, the enemies on the border pose a threat to the nation.
Allegations of corruption and malpractice are made without evidence. To discredit the Thackeray family and the government by giving political colour by using cases like Sushant Singh Rajput. In this case, without any reason, the Opposition made the first attack on the sovereignty of Maharashtra by infiltrating the CBI. Param Bir Singh was appointed as the Police Commissioner of Thane during the Fadnavis government. He was working tirelessly for the victory of the BJP in the Kalyan-Dombivali-Thane Municipal Corporation elections.
Param Bir later became the Commissioner of Police of Mumbai. He accused the then home minister of the state (Anil Deshmukh). It has become clear who is behind this. Anil Deshmukh was jailed by the ED on the charges of Param Bir Singh. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law is also in custody. Shiv Sena MLAs and MPs are being threatened through central investigation agencies. Cabinet Ministers, Nawab Malik’s son-in-law jailed by NCB in a false case. NCB officer Sameer Wankhede was supported by the Opposition. False allegations were made against Aditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, Rashmi Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule and Sharad Pawar. Income tax raids on Pawar’s relatives. The efforts taken by the Opposition to quell the strike of ST workers in Maharashtra are indescribable. In Amravati, communal riots erupted and created tension in the atmosphere. In spite of all this, our government is working for the development of the state and its people. I challenge Amit Shah to execute his duties as Home Minister rather than remaining a political campaigner. The nation needs more attention than the BJP at this hour.
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.
This Christmas and New-year Party with family inside the home 17
Maharashtra has been affected badly by the spread of the new variant of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), named Omicron. Its capital Mumbai is among the worst affected districts in the state. As per the guidelines issued by the state government, all eligible citizens are required to complete their inoculation by taking both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Only those who are fully vaccinated will be allowed at public places, including public transport.
Meanwhile, the authorities have asked to avoid any kind of crowding, public or private gathering by following Covid-19 guidelines. Maharashtra government has come up with strict guidelines to deal with Covid’s Omicron variant. As we approach the third year of the pandemic people are uncomfortable with the idea of another restriction. This Pandemic has taught us so much that we need to be really vigilant and careful. Even today in spite of several warnings people don’t wear masks, fewer practice social distancing.
The pandemic is not over. Cases are rising across the globe in the form of new variants again, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to say it is “very worried”. Almost all small businesses are at risk because somehow, they were renewing from previous losses, if businesses collapse, they won’t be able to survive this repeated loss. These small businesses will be lost forever. Only sitting at home with no earnings is not fair. People even require money to fight coronavirus as well as their lives ahead. For example, one small cobbler or a beautician, they are fetching their livings and also paying GST to all other taxes to the government, without making any financial obligations.
These people are huge in numbers, they earn and save in banks and in the end banks are emptied by governments. Also, these are the people who have suffered huge losses during the corona lockdown. They can’t take another pinch to their pocket. Government has no planning for rendering hands to such sectors.
The Mumbai Police also issued a notification, stating that action will be taken against violators as per the Indian Penal Code as well as the Epidemic Diseases Act and the National Disaster Management Act. Residential societies in Mumbai will not be allowed to conduct terrace parties during Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Societies cannot organize functions on their premises or use them for commercial purposes till December 31.
You can indulge in fun-filled activities with your close family and friends inside the house by singing, playing games, dancing, and throwing small parties. Night clubs, movie theatres, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks would be kept closed.
Don’t forget, many have lost their parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and relatives to COVID-19. We almost lost two academic years. Still, the world is in the grip of a pandemic. We haven’t yet overcome the tragedy of this mysterious disease. The world is heading towards an economic disaster. The economists fear that there is a greater challenge ahead in the New Year. We need money, life and health to live the rest of our life.
Let us be grateful to the Almighty God for we are alive, hale and healthy. Several state governments have banned wild celebrations. They have also restricted the mobility of people by blocking roads and there is going to be strict control over-celebrating throughout the night. In these abnormal situations save your money and energy. Pray to God, Rest well. Eat good food. Be with your family. If you are alone, you can still have good things to eat, and as long as you have TV and internet it’s all good! Start off by having lots of video calls with family and friends – and maybe even make some new friends in chat rooms or via the pen-friend sites. Start off a 2021 diary and make yourself a calendar if you don’t have one, and begin to plan the New Year. Make a list of 12 things you want to accomplish and try to do one every month.
At midnight pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple and down it with chocolates or cake, and take selfies. Be happy, bid farewell to a new year and welcome the brand-new year, and think positive for the future.
Rs 4 crore TET scam to unearth: Fadnavis, demanded a CBI probe into the said scam 19
Maharashtra state examination regulator Tukaram Supe got arrested last, in connection with the Rs 4 crore TET scam, and the seizure of Rs 2 crore cash and ornaments by the Pune Police on Monday from his residence. This was in addition to the Rs 88 lakh seized last week from his residence.
The opposition BJP is set to corner the MVA government on this issue during the winter session of the state legislature starting from December 22. Some officers from Mantralaya said the TET scam and irregularities in other recruitment exams was a reminder of the Vyapam Scam, which was an entrance examination, admission and recruitment scam that was unearthed in Madhya Pradesh in 2013. Devendra Fadnavis, leader of the opposition, demanded a CBI probe into the TET scam, claiming that it will help establish links with the Mantralaya.
Fadnavis overruled the school education minister Varsha Gaikwad’s announcement on inquiry by the department’s additional chief secretary and her assurance that nobody will be spared in the TET scam.
Devendra said, “This scam definitely has links with Mantralaya, another case of ‘vasooli’ (extortion). If a CBI inquiry is conducted, it will expose links. I urge the chief minister to hand over the case to the CBI if he wants to find the real culprits who are holding millions of students hostage,” said Fadnavis. His demand comes after the Pune Police launched investigations to expose the involvement of Supe and other operators in the multi-crore TET scam.
“Supe had given protection to GA Software Technologies which did wrong in the MHADA exam. He absolved the company in three months after it was blacklisted,” alleged Fadnavis. “Now the director of GA software Dr Pritesh Deshmukh has been found in possession of police recruitment cards. This means that all the scams like health recruitment, MHADA, TET, police recruitment seem to be of the same nature and are carried out with the same modus operandi. Given the complexities of all these scams, there should be a CBI inquiry,” said Fadnavis.
The police probe has so far revealed that Supe and two others allegedly took money from a few persons in order to change the results of some candidates who could not clear the examination. According to Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta, during the investigation of the MHADA paper leak, they had arrested Pritesh Deshmukh – director of GA Software which was responsible for conducting the exam – and agent Santosh Harkal.
Rs 35,000 to Rs 1 lakh were taken from each candidate to make them eligible for the Maharashtra TET 2020 exam. The candidates were asked to keep the OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet blank. Following this, before sending the sheets for scanning, the right options would be filled in the sheet by the scammers.
BJP is jittery ahead of UP polls: Jaya Bachchan over the IT raids on SP leaders 21
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on Tuesday claimed that the recent Income Tax raids on some of her party colleagues were linked to the ruling BJP feeling “jittery” ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
She also scoffed at the government’s claim that the central agencies work independently, saying if “we are illiterate, uneducated” to believe it.
Incidentally, Bachchan’s daughter-in-law and actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also appeared before the Enforcement Directorate on Monday for questioning in a case linked to the 2016 ‘Panama Papers’ global tax leaks case.
Her statement was being recorded under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), official sources had said.
Jaya Bachchan, however, made no direct remarks about the questioning of her daughter-in-law.
To a question about central agencies’ action against her party leaders, she said, “They (government) are jittery. They have many instruments and are misusing them… ‘Hawa badi karari hai, lal topi sab pe bhadi ha’ (Wind is blowing sharply. Red cap rises above everyone else)”. Red caps are politically associated with the SP whose members often wear it in their programmes.
Speaking to reporters, the wife of Hindi film megastar Amitabh Bachchan also slammed the government for the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha members of different opposition parties and accused it of not allowing discussion in Parliament on important issues like price rise, unemployment and farmers’ concern.
During the discussion on a bill in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Bachchan had expressed her anger at some ”personal” remarks made against her and lashed out at the BJP with a ”curse” that it will soon face bad days.
An agitated Bachchan also told the Chair that it should be fair and alleged that an attempt was being made to stifle the voice of opposition.
She told reporters on Tuesday that she only gave voice to her heartfelt feelings and as an expression of solidarity with the suspended members, who have been staging a sit-in daily near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Parliament House Complex.
The opposition members have been demanding that their suspension be revoked. Their suspension was effected for their alleged unruly conduct and the government has demanded an apology from them. Her remarks were also expressions of frustration as opposition members are seeking justice from a government that was “unjust and unfair,” she alleged.
They (government) are selling the country, and the opposition cannot even raise its voice, she said in an apparent reference to the disinvestment of public sector firms.
Panama Papers - Whole issue is being blown out of proportion 23
In 2013 the entire BJP campaigned for bringing black money deposited in Swiss Bank, it’s been more than seven years forget about bringing back black money but BJP has almost forgotten their narrative of so-called black money and corruption. Now, this Panama Papers has been in trend on social media and has hit headlines of major newspapers and news channels. However, for some people, the information is just too difficult to understand. A few years back the German Süddeutsche Zeitung started to publish articles based on 11.5 million leaked documents from the Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca that helped some of the world’s wealthiest people — including politicians, athletes and business moguls — establish offshore bank accounts.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung said its reporters had obtained the documents from a confidential source and shared the files with other media organizations, like The Guardian and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Since then, the Panama papers are made news but so far there is no stringent investigation or conclusion drawn on this issue.
There’s a difference between tax evasion — illegally refusing to pay taxes you owe, and then taking advantage of secret accounts to try to hide the money and get away with it — and tax avoidance, which is hiring clever people to help you find and exploit legal loopholes to minimize your tax bill. Panama is a country with no corporate income tax. People set up their companies here to avoid tax. Tax avoidance is an inevitable feature of any tax system, but the reason this particular form of avoidance grows and grows without bounds is that powerful politicians in powerful countries have chosen to let it happen.
As the global economy has become more and more deeply integrated, powerful countries have created economic “rules of the road” that foreign countries and multinational corporations must follow in order to gain lucrative market access. Establishing some kind of minimum global standard of taxation of corporate and investment income hasn’t been done because it hasn’t been a political priority.
The leak of the Panama Papers is significant in part because of the specific information the documents contain, but more broadly because they draw attention to what “everyone knows” and may put public pressure on the powers that be to do something about it. Also, while holding money in offshore companies is not illegal, evidence of wealth hidden for tax evasion, money laundering, sanctions-busting, drug deals or other crimes are worrisome.
Offshore bank accounts are located outside a client’s country of residence, usually in “tax haven” territories chosen because of financial and legal advantages. They can be used to squirrel money away from the oversight of national banking systems, evading regulatory oversight or tax obligations.
Companies or individuals often use shell companies – set up purely as a vehicle for financial transactions and initially incorporated without significant assets or operations – to disguise ownership or other information about the funds involved. Panama, the Channel Islands and Bermuda are among more than a dozen small, low-tax locations that specialize in handling business services and investments of non-resident companies.
Companies or trusts can be set up in offshore locations for legitimate uses such as business finance, mergers and acquisitions and estate or tax planning, according to the global money-laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force. The papers show that some Indians have set up offshore entities through the Panama law firm. Some of them floated offshore entities at a time when laws did not allow them to do so; some have taken a technically convenient view that companies acquired are not the same as companies incorporated; some have bunched their annual quota of remittances to subscribe to shares in an offshore entity acquired at an earlier date. Still, some others have received income earned abroad and deposited it in the entity to avoid tax. Some have opened a bank account to keep payoffs in government contracts or held “proceeds of crime” or property bought with money made illegally in Trusts/ Foundations.
Secrecy of information relating to the ultimate beneficial owner is guaranteed, with zero tax on income generated. In Panama, individuals can ask for bearer shares, where the owner’s name is not mentioned anywhere. It costs little or nothing to set up an entity here. The Registered Agent charges a few hundred dollars to incorporate an entity. It doesn’t take much time to incorporate one either. Companies are available off-the-shelf and can be registered in a couple of days.
Non-disclosure of an overseas asset will be of interest to authorities and regulators in India. Also, the Income Tax department will have to probe if there has been ’round tripping’ of funds i.e., routing of funds invested in offshore entities back to India, and where required, refer the cases to the Enforcement Directorate. It will also have to see if the offshore entities have declared all their incomes and assets to the Income Tax department, which will not be an easy task. So in-between for a change Panama issue will come and one day it will be forgotten the same as Swiss bank accounts.
