The experiences of 2G scam have demonstrated that at 65, India can be best described as a Republic without Responsibility; a Democracy without any Duty.
For starters given a declining West, it is indeed unwise on our part to depend on it for any matter whatsoever for our growth.
"Smiling tiger may look friendly but is very dangerous." That is how an US Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Fred Thompson said about China Resource Enterprise (CRE). In its investigation into China's attempts to influence the 1996 US presidential campaign, the Committee identified CRE as a conduit for "espionage - economic, political and military for China." Incidentally CRE is owned by the Chinese army, the PLA.
Are the political parties in India fooling us on the issue of illicit wealth parked abroad by winking at the obvious.
While the middle class believes that while Dr Singh may not exactly be corrupt, they simultaneously also perceive that the best bet for anyone to loot and scoot in India is while he continues to be around.
China holds a huge dollar balance arising out of its robust export machinery to the US.
Neither Obama nor Romney realise that government intervention as it is practiced in the US is not the answer to deliver people out of poverty, writes M R Venkatesh.
As a loyal foot soldier he continues to defend the indefensible.
As a sentinel of the nation's finances, he failed to prevent the loot of our exchequer
When elections are held, the composition of the UPA may change, yet the UPA could well emerge as a winner. With such a remarkable electoral success it means that a person who has won three consecutive terms will have to be necessarily be our PM, writes M R Venkatesh
The macroeconomic implications of successful Iranian Bourse selling oil denominated in non-dollar terms are in fact profound for the world of finance.
As the West realizes that globalisation has pauperised governments, left its society in disarray and its currency weak, there is a huge re-think there about the very idea of globalisation.
There are some rather inconvenient questions related to the 2G spectrum scam that the former finance minister may have to answer in the coming days, says M R Venkatesh.
The Indian establishment has finally got what it fully deserved; it is never known to react to reasoned debates and gentle persuasions. It understands only the language of coercion, terror and of course influence. Either it will coerce you or will get coerced by you, says M R Venkatesh.
Strangely, the Lokpal Bill drafted by all sides is silent on these two powerful sections of our society that continues to shape, reshape and de-shape public opinion. Is that why the media and the NGOs are vociferously supporting the Lokpal Bill? Asks M R Venkatesh.
The question is not when but who after Dr Manmohan Singh? Will an alternative to Dr Singh emerge from within the Congress? Or will a government be formed by regional parties supported by the BJP or Congress from outside? Or will India have mid-term elections? Whatever be the combination, Jaya has emerged as a crucial player in the current political context, says M R Venkatesh.
It would seem when it comes to secrecy on bank accounts the Indian government seems to have a tacit arrangement with the Swiss -- even if the Swiss fail in protecting the identity of crooks, India will, says M R Venkatesh.
The Marans know for sure that these elections are extremely testing times, more for them than for Karunanidhi or his sons. Given this paradigm, and should the DMK win these elections, it is a matter of time before they attempt to take over the party reins, says M R Venkatesh.
India had time to plan and improve its competitiveness and infrastructure. Yet it chose not to. And for that we need to blame our government, says M R Venkatesh.
'The government has realised that the finances of the government are in a precarious state.' 'We are borrowing to fund the ever-burgeoning revenue deficit.' 'Then you are paying interest on the fresh borrowing.' 'For the first time, the government has realised that this cannot go on.'
On the eve of the elections it is advantage AIADMK, says M R Venkatesh.
A change that the Budget proposes to make could end up helping Indians who might have laundered their ill-gotten money, says M R Venkatesh.
Nothing could trivialise the sanctity of Parliament than a JPC on the IPL. We need a JPC to cover the tax havens and its impact on the Indian economy, says M R Venkatesh.
Indian Grandmaster Abhijeet Gupta suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Kaido Kulaots of Estonia and went out of contention for a podium finish after seventh round of the 31st Cappelle La Grande international chess tournament in Cappelle La Grande, France.
'There is good indication that the economy is bouncing back, but the problem is, we should look at the eight quarters preceding March 2020.' 'The growth had fallen below 3.1% before March 2020.' 'So, the governments must realise that even if you transform the best of green shoots into banyan trees, you see only 3.1% growth.'
The Indians shared the lead with three other GMs at the end of the fourth round in the Tata Chess championship.
Deepan Chakravarthy secured his final norm after an exciting draw with defending champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly
At the end of the second round, except a few, all other rated players were sitting pretty with two points each.
With nine more rounds still remaining in this marathon 23-round tournament Ganguly took his tally to 11 points out of a possible 14.
The assignment was earlier given to global audit firm EY. But it has now been reassigned owing to 'certain conflict of interest', the Bengaluru-based company said.
Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi came good when it mattered most and defeated Marius Monalache of Romania to emerge as the best performing Indian in the Cappelle La Grande International Chess tournament that concluded in Cappelle La Grande, France.
Implementing the poll promises of TN parties will cost state exchequer Rs 30,000 cr a year, say experts.
'Under this government, tax laws have become more draconian, and the government itself is setting stiff, unrealistic targets for tax officials, who have got more powers to harass us,' points out Debashis Basu.
'When the country is jobless, why should I pay through my nose to feed these people who want some perks in office?' 'Let them also join India's unemployed.' 'Let them also taste the bitter medicine of being jobless.'
'If you look at this Budget, except for the Rs 2 increase in petrol and diesel, there is no positive or negative impact from the Budget for the common man.'
'When you start distributing wealth, you end up distributing poverty.'
'The economy needed 3 or 4 major fixes. The major one was, of course, the direct tax structure, but we ended up complicating the existing convoluted tax structure,' says M R Venkatesh, chartered accountant and lawyer.
'This is not only a fight against corruption and black money, this is also a fight against terrorism and counterfeit currencies.'
'The politician in him saw to it that the foundation stone was laid in Ahmedabad in the run-up to the assembly election in Gujarat in 2017.' 'But the statesman in him also wants it to be his legacy.'
'It was like a doctor giving some simple pain killers to a patient in dire requirement of chemotherapy.' 'There was no sense of urgency or desperation in this particular Budget.'
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