"India is a welfare state and, therefore, we cannot allow either extreme poverty or inequality," he said.
Referring to the ugly scenes witnessed in the Rajya Sabha recently and indicating action against those involved, he reminded elected representatives of their responsibilities.
Back of the envelope calculations put government expense on each of the new schemes promised by the DMK and the AIADMK at tens of thousands of crores. But then, neither party has said how they are going to also address the mounting debt burden either, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
'Unless the State is a welfare State, unless the State has more welfare measures, it will not be able to deal with these kind of sudden situations.'
The country may become militarily impressive, pile on GDP and the durbar of the ruling party may fill with the wealthy indebted to the rulers for their riches. But the spontaneous camaraderie of a free people will diminish and with it, our shared ownership of the country, warns Shyam G Menon.
Khan, who is believed to have the backing of the powerful military, has vowed to make a 'Naya Pakistan' which would be an Islamic welfare state.
"The government has cleared seven names out of the 106 judges and one out of the nine for chief justices, so far. I expect that the government will clear the rest of the names very soon. These appointments will take care of pendency to some extent. I seek the cooperation and support of the Government to enable access to justice and to strengthen democracy," CJI N V Ramana said.
'You just make the bureaucracy honest and make them function with integrity.' 'Everything will be taken care of after that.' 'But this Mission Karmayogi does not even mention these two words -- honesty and integrity.'
'The India-Pakistan relationship is in a deep freeze, though it could be a lot worse had there not been a new LoC ceasefire a year ago.' 'The India-Pakistan relationship will only start to thaw if the Pakistani military decides it's prepared to push for detente.'
The Tamil Nadu chief minister, who is in Pudukottai on an official visit to review anti-COVID-19 measures and development projects in the district told reporters that vaccination shall cover all sections of the society.
This perversity in vaccine distribution needs immediate correction. It requires a complete withdrawal of the 'Liberalised Vaccine Policy', and a 100 per cent takeover of the vaccine procurement by the GoI, asserts R Ramakumar.
Why are the poor turning Right instead of turning toward far-Left parties, ponders Pranab Bardhan.
Rahul Gandhi on took a dig at PM Modi saying his government's praise of the UPA's flagship scheme MGNREGA is a "shining example" of Modi's "political wisdom".
Gajanand Hosale said he has no experience in politics and has never worked in any social organisation.
T N Ninan on how the 'reformer' groups are milking the economy to serve their ends.
While speaking of taxation, Sitharaman also quoted Sangam era Tamil classic's Yaanai Pugundha Nilam written by Pisirandhayar in Purananooru.
Modi said that the Rajya Sabha gives an opportunity to those away from electoral politics to contribute to the country and its development.
Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Tuesday suggested that it will take some time before the Narendra Modi government fulfills its development promises, saying the previous United Progressive Alliance dispensation had left behind a 'big ditch'.
'Several businesses like entertainment, hospitality, travel etc would never be the same again.'
'If there is one thing that is true for the polls in 2014, it is that this is going to be the big economic election in India. The rise of an aspiring class is, in many ways, shattering many certainties of the old welfare State. Make no mistake though -- big social welfare schemes are not disappearing in a hurry, but today the voters want more. The promise of a better life is increasingly more vital than the promise of free rice.' An exclusive excerpt from 100 Things To Know And Debate Before You Vote by Hindol Sengupta.
'This is not without risk because extraordinary steps taken in exceptional times have the habit of becoming habits until the next crisis intervenes,' warns T N Ninan.
'Everybody knows that any solution would upstage and expose official bungling.' 'That is something Mrs Sitharaman's masters will not allow.' 'No matter how high the cost in human misery, they will squander a fortune on the unnecessary Central Vista extravaganza,' notes Sunanda K Datta-Ray.
'Modi gave the slogan of 'Jai Shri Ram' just four days ahead of polling for the Delhi Assembly. Will be happy if (the number) goes up by two-four seats with the help of Shri Ram,' the Shiv Sena said.
'And as we sit (or sleep) out the nightmare, there is feverish speculation about what the post-Corona world might look like,' mulls Hasan Suroor.
Addressing a reception hosted in his honour by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan, at Mansoora, Khan and head of Tehrik-e-Tahafuz-e-Pakistan, said that if the nation wanted to get rid of poverty, loot and plunder, unemployment and lawlessness, it should vote for patriotic, honest and competent people in the next elections.
A bench said, "We are nobody to say what is to be taught in schools. It is none of our business. How can we direct that."
Against the backdrop of reports about Hindus migrating to India due to forced conversions and kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Tuesday said Pakistan was envisioned as a country where the life and property of all minorities would be safe.
Khan said Kashmir is the 'core' issue between the two countries and it should be resolved through talks.
These are valuable suggestions and one hopes the Budget will make a start on that.
Khan stressed on taking austerity measures, working on tax reforms instead of taking loans, rooting out corruption.
Gadkari told Business Standard on Monday, "The adverse effect of Soviet Union model accepted by India are now quite visible as poverty has risen by 12 per cent. The BJP will strive for a welfare state and 'antyodaya' to reduce poverty and increase job opportunities so that benefits of progress reach the last person. This will be possible through good governance."
Misuse of the Article 370 is the root cause of cross-border terrorism, he said.
"President Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in a bid to prolong their rule at the Centre and in the province of Punjab, respectively, are following American policies and have turned Pakistan into a US colony," he said.
'Imran Khan hopes to fulfill the dreams of the founders of of Pakistan in establishing an Islamic Welfare State.' 'The grave situation of the economy makes realisation of this dream very difficult,' points out Colonel R N Ghosh Dastidar (retd).
'As we reach 2022 we are creating a very new, different India where the Citizenship Amendment Act will be passed, NRC will be pushed through, Article 370 scrapped...'
It seems that notwithstanding the global financial crises, India is set to become a high-growth state and more of a welfare state under the new government.
'Should you give a man fish, or teach him how to fish?' 'Lurking hidden in the new bout of welfarism seems to be an admission that the State can't deliver for the poor anything other than cash,' notes T N Ninan.
'We're going to campaign across the country to convince more candidates to endorse some/all of these issues -- and hold them to their promises if and when they are elected.'
Women came out in large numbers to vote on Wednesday despite terror attacks and repeated threats.
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