Edits | June, 2023
With the Modi government announcing the demonetisation of the Rs 2000 note, in which, it is yet not clear what will happen after the expiry of 30th September, there is all hell in the commercial markets. Like Demon 1.0, notifications are being issued, with the banks being instructed for whoever is depositing more Rs 2000 notes, for an apparent income tax action. This is the same ploy BJP used last time during the UP elections when it demonetised Rs 500/-, and Rs 1000/- notes, thereby creating a ruckus in the coffers of opposition political parties. Similarly, for the run-up to the general elections till early 2024, such adventures of the government will continue, trying to bar any opposition that may be in sight by culling the financial capability, which is ostensibly fuelled by in-hand banknotes. In the last demonetisation major political parties all over the country had lost out on their public mandate since they could not spend due to a no banknotes situation. Also, the major political bigwigs were trying to assimilate their own house rather than fighting the elections. Similar should happen now, and during the long stretch till 30th September.
Pakistan, as has been written in so many previous editorials, is in disaster, and anything from martial law, disintegration, sell-out or civil war could happen. It can safely be said that the neighbours are responsible – India and China. China for giving an unimaginable amount of debt and then calling for its service. India for being an onlooker and policymaker for borders and internal control in Pakistan. The state, which was earlier in the hands of the Americans and then the Chinese, both opposite parties has become a political war ground of these two countries’ ideologies. With Afghanistan disintegrating after the 9/11 misadventure, Pakistan lost its relevance as a central Asia destination for the US. Hence this situation. There is no way that this country will now recover- ever, like so many of these monarchies in Africa, and will collect alms. Since a large part of the Muslim world is now very affluent, with large projects in the Middle East, Pakistan becomes a cheap labour supplier of the same community and religion, so, its population may be saved, but not the country.
The KARNATAKA state election’s debacle of BJP has to be garlanded to the hands of JP Nadda and Amit Shah together. They are not leaders but simply administrators who are the faces behind Prime Minister Modi. He is a great orator and may not be a great administrator, but a boon for the present BJP and to India for his personality. These two leaders are simply shadows and cannot drive the public to vote. It is BJP’s concern that there is no second round of leadership and no new faces or young universal faces such as Modi. Age catches up, and so do the deeds, and it is better for an institution to wake up in time than to wake up at a time of a required imminent change. The KARNATAKA Victory for Congress should be garlanded to Rahul Gandhi’s padayatra, which has definitely made an impact. Inside the party, he has been in a row of not being able to win his own case of being an MP. Outside, he’s still battered by the present BJP for being a non-politician. One amazing thing that has transcended after these elections is the selection of the ex-top cop, Praveen Sood from Karnataka as the Nation’s CBI director, whose knowledge, information and whereabouts will definitely be used in the forthcoming general elections to control the South Indian parties. It is not just a blatant misuse of power, but it is a challenge to the nation that the ruling party may do what it likes.
Passing of the ordinance after Kejriwal won the constitutional bench verdict, for restraining the Delhi Lieutenant Governor against the exercise of his constitutional powers, which fundamentally infringes on the rights of an elected government, herein that of NCT of Delhi, is evidence of a very unsettled BJP government, as far as the national capital territory of Delhi is concerned. Why does the BJP want to control a state where its citizens have not given it a governance mandate? Delhi has elected BJP to represent them in the centre, and BJP should be happy with it. This is plain simple common man logic. Kejriwal has been appointed to run the state. Lately, this has been the decision of the Indian populace after the advent of social media and the awareness of their rights as citizens of the Union of Indian states- to separate the state and central leadership. By dabbling into this misadventure, BJP is exposing itself to a constitutional threat which may come haunting at a later date. Examples of this can be seen with people like Satyendar Jain, an ex-minister, who is now in jail and on the verge of a health disaster. And also, Manish Sisodia, ex-deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, cannot make bail in the matter of internal revenue of the state of Delhi. Superseding the Supreme Court of INDIA with an ordinance, against the order of the SC constitutional bench, may be a prescribed way under the Constitution of the country, but doing that sets a precedent for the upcoming governments with a majority in the parliament benches. This is the same situation that happened during the Rajiv Gandhi tenure in the country, after the assassination. Veterans know what happened to that government for its highhandedness and how a small case of Bofors Cannons blew it up. A misadventure hit in politics comes from unforeseen corners, and the present regime with a good amount of majority should be careful since they are only elected by the voting citizens for a select amount of time, and even done repeatedly, does not translate to permanency.
CA Divesh Nath
Editor
Woman’s Era
LinkedIn: Divesh Nath