The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
Sometimes major events completely disconnected may be data points for the plans of the different powers around the world. The challenge is to discern what purpose they serve? More critically, what are we moving towards?
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
In another case of high handedness and complete disregard for the laws of the land, the Congress Party supporters were allowed in Delhi from Delhi Gurgaon Expressway toll booths free of charge to participate in the rally this weekend.
Thousands of vehicles ferrying Congress supporters to the party’s rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday were allowed free passage at the toll plaza of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. Vehicles, including trucks and other commercial vans, which were used to ferry supporters from Gurgaon, Rewari, Mewat and other parts of Southern Haryana passed through the expressway.
But, the toll operators did not stop any vehicle bearing flags and posters of the Congress party. The boom barriers at both the toll plazas (Delhi-border Sirhaul and Kherki Daula) were lifted for all rally-bound vehicles.
Just this free passage meant loss of lacs for the toll operator firm – Delhi Gurgaon Super Connectivity Limited (DGSCL).
Sources in the DGSCL confirmed the loss of lakhs of rupees due to free passage given to rally-bound vehicles. The Gurgaon police, however, denied of any ‘special’ instructions being issued to the toll operator for allowing free passage to rally-bound vehicles.
Not just the toll tax but even the South Delhi Municipal Corporation waived off the Entry Tax as well to the Congress Supporters!
It is obvious that if this wasn’t a trend already, it will be now. Other parties – where the functionaries run on testosterone as opposed to brains will try their best to out do the Congress party.
This makes one think if the Indian Political system itself is stacked against the long term infrastructure businesses, which are so much required by the country?
The Indian budget every year has always been an eagerly awaited event. For many decades, the best minds in economics, finance, tax, business and industry throng the media house to analyze the provisions shared by the Financial Minister.
When the US Ambassador threatened India's "Strategic Autonomy" policy over India's friendship with Russia - much more than meets the eye was at stake. Let us unpack how the Ukraine war has fundamentally changed the US and the world. And why are we here anyway?
This visit of India left me with many questions. Many observations and inputs from different people and sections. Food for thought that I have tried to contemplate on and make sense of. Sharing all that with you.
When you analyze the last 60 years of the economic miracles of Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia versus the continued impoverished Indian economy, you get very interesting lessons. Can Indians have the wherewithal in them to do in one generation so that the coming generations may rise?
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