Featured

Modi’s 50-Day Promise

Published

5 years ago

December 28, 2016

PM Narendra Modi’s move to crack down on black money by denominating two major currencies – Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, took everyone, including his cabinet by surprise. “Masterstroke” echoed the economic commentators, foreign investors, and international think tanks. The aim was to combat tax cheating, counterfeiting, and corruption. It is the biggest ever demonetization exercise India has ever seen.

After this step, the picture on the streets had begun changing. Lines began forming in front of ATMs and banks which could exchange old notes for new. A mere exchange was not enough, a limit was also imposed on how much one could exchange or withdraw from their accounts. People initially welcomed this revolutionary move by the Prime Minister as they felt that the scheme indicates a strong resolve to fight the menace of black money and fake currency. While many have applauded it, there is a lot to be said about how the move is an ill-planned one. News continued to pile in about the difficulties faced by people who don’t have access to banks or ATMs or official id-proofs. The need for the government to keep the drive a secret so that tax invaders wouldn’t be alerted before the demonetization took place affected preparedness. The nation witnessed mixed opinions about the drive.

“Give me 50 days and the problem of black money will be solved. Your problems will be eased post-December 30”, assured PM Modi at a rally in Gujarat. This deadline seems to be the only constant thing Modi has kept since the demonetization was announced on November 8. But will December-end deadline ease all pains related to cash crunch? According to Reuters Estimates, it will take at least three months to replenish the 86% volume of Indian Economy that was made invalid post demonetization. It seems like the unquestioned support towards demonetization among a large section of the population has already started to dither because of the innumerable flip-flops by the RBI, lack of proper coordination between the responsible authorities, implementation of new rules every day. Post 30^th December, people will like to see some actual results and consider the countless hours of lining up for cash were worth something. They would like to see whether the “masterstroke” is masterful enough to curb the black wealth. Whether the hardships have eased will be judged by the voting public by their personal experiences.

With only two days left to the 30^th December, PM Modi will have to have to pass many tests from resolving the cash crunch to showing the results of the demonetization exercise- elimination of black money, corruption, and terror-funding. However, a large amount of cash seizure in new notes clearly highlights the rot and the loopholes in the banking system. With this, people have started to feel that the big fishes are getting away and the small ones are facing the brunt. The declared long-term gains are still unclear, while the immediate challenge for the government is to ensure cash shortage eases within 30^th December. With the banks and ATMs still struggling to meet the cash demand of common people, changing rules and the Modi government and the opposition parties still fighting over the merits and demerits of the note ban, will it make things much tougher for the common man?

Modi may have thought of long term implications for the better interest of the nation but the time will only tell whether Modi will come up as a hero or the demonetization drive will go down in history.

Related Topics:Demonetisation Narendra Modi

Up Next

An Entrepreneur With A Creative Mission

Don't Miss

Make The Most Of A Gap Year

Ashmita Halder

From Noida. A personal style and life blogger. An avid traveller by passion. Bibliophile. Observing, writing & pushing boundaries are the positives vibes in me. A strong believer with surreal thoughts. Admire the bohemian tribe, the makers of music, art, dreamers of dreams, wanderers, wit, and humour. Like the company of the insightful and irrelevant minds who make me forget my phone. A great fashion enthusiast.

Click to comment

Hindi

जम्मू-कश्मीर में गैर-कश्मीरी नागरिकों पर आतंकियों का बढता अत्याचार!

Published

2 days ago

October 23, 2021

Babita Chhupka

जम्मू-कश्मीर में बीते कुछ दिनों से गैर-कश्मीरी नागरीकों पर आतंकी हमलों के मामले सामने आ रहे हैं।

जम्मू-कश्मीर में बीते कुछ दिनों से गैर-कश्मीरी नागरीकों पर आतंकी हमलों के मामले सामने आ रहे हैं। खासतौर से गैर-कश्मीरी मजदूरों को निशाना बनाया जा रहा है। जम्मू-कश्मीर में आतंकियों द्वारा अब तक नौ नागरीकों की हत्या कर दी गई है। 5 अक्टूबर को श्रीनगर में आतंकियो ने वीरेंद्र पासवान की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी थी। वीरेंद्र पासवान बिहार का रहनेवाला था और पिछले दो वर्षों से श्रीनगर में गोलगप्पे बेचता था। आतंकियों ने 6 अक्टूबर को फार्मेसी मालिक एम.एल बिंदू, स्ट्रीट वेंडर और एक टैक्सी ड्राइवर की हत्या कर दी थी। श्रीनगर के ईदगाह इलाके में आतंकियों ने स्कूल की मुख्य अध्यापिका सुपिंदर कौर और अध्यापक दीपक शर्मा की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी।

16 अक्टूबर को अरविंद कुमार साह पर आतंकियों द्वारा गोली चलाई गई, उन्हें गंभीर स्थिति में श्रीनगर के SMHS अस्पताल ले जाया गया जहाँ डॉक्टरों ने उन्हें मृत घोषित कर दिया। अरविंद कुमार बिहार के बांका जिले में रहनेवाले थे और श्रीनगर में गोलगप्पे बेचते थे। 16 अक्टूबर की ही शाम को आतंकियों ने पुलवामा में सगीर अहमद नाम के व्यक्ति की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी। सगीर अहमद उत्तरप्रदेश का रहनेवाला था एवं पेशे से वह एक कार्पेंटर था। 17 अक्टूबर, रविवार को आतंकियों ने दक्षिण कश्मीर के कुलगाम में के तीन मजदूरों को गोली मार दी, जिससे दो मजदूरों की मृत्यु हो गई और एक मजदूर बुरी तरह से घायल हो गया।

कश्मीर के अलग अलग हिस्सों में अनेकों प्रवासी बसे हुए हैं। अधिकतर लोग रोजगार की तलाश में बिहार से कश्मीर आए हुए हैं। लोगों का कहना है कि वे अगले महीने तक अपने घर बिहार जाना चाहते थे मगर दहशतगर्दों के कारण उन्हें काम छोड़कर बीच में ही जाना पढ़ रहा है। लोग डरे हुए हैं कि यदि स्थिति जल्द से जल्द सामान्य नहीं हुई तो उनका रोजगार और बच्चों की पढ़ाई छुट जाएगी।

27 वर्षों से कश्मीर में रह रहे 45 वर्षीय पंकज पासवान का कहना है कि उन्होंने इतने वर्षों में कश्मीर की इससे भी बदतर हालत देखी है। उनका कहना है कि एक के बाद एक हो रही हत्याओं से कश्मीर में दहशत का माहौल बना हुआ है और वे भी इस समय बिहार लौट जाना चाहते हैं। आतंकियों द्वारा निशाना बनाए गए नागरिकों का कहना है कि अनुच्छेद-370 के हटने से और कश्मीर के विकास से आतंकी बौखलाए हुए हैं। इसी वजह से वो लोगों पर हमला कर रहे हैं। नागरिकों का कहना है कि रविवार को हुए आतंकी हमले से पहले उन्हें उम्मीद थी कि हालात सुधर जाएंगे मगर लगातार हो रही हत्याओं से उन्हें भी जान का खतरा बना हुआ है।

पीडीपी अध्यक्षा महबूबा मुफ्ती का कहना है कि, यह घटना निंदनीय है। भोले भाले लोगों को बेवजह मरना और उनका रोज़गार छीनना बेहद दुःख की बात है।

बीजेपी के प्रवक्ता अल्ताफ ठाकुर ने कहा कि यह शत प्रतिशत नरसंहार है, गैर-कश्मीरियों की यह भीषण हत्या बिल्कुल अमानवीय है और यह आतंकियों की बौखलाहट को दर्शाता है।

सीपीआई के नेता मोहम्मद युसूफ तारिगामी का कहना है कि भोले भाले मजदूरों की हत्या एक जघन्य अपराध है, सिर्फ निंदा करना काफी नहीं है, ऐसे समय में सभी को एकजुट होकर इस तरह के अपराध के खिलाफ आवाज उठानी चाहिए और आतंकियों को कड़ी सजा देनी चाहिए।

जम्मू कश्मीर की लेफ्टनेंट गवर्न मनोज सिन्हा ने कहा है की निर्दोषों के खून का बदला इन आतंकियों से लिया जायेगा, कश्मीर की शांति को भंग करने कि कोशिश की जा रही है, लोगों को आगे बढ़ने से रोका जा रहा है, कश्मीर के विकास को रोकने की साजिश हो रही है मगर हम ऐसा नहीं होने देंगे। मनोज सिन्हा ने अपने रेडियो कार्यक्रम ‘आवाम की आवाज’ में कहा “आतंकी हमले में मारे गए के लिए मैं शोक व्यक्त करता हूं, हम सभी लोग आपके साथ हैं और आतंकियों से हार एक हत्या का पूरा बदला लिया जायेगा यह मेरा वादा है”।

मैं परिवार के सभी सदस्यों को भरोसा देता हूँ, आपके एक-एक आंसुओं का हिसाब लिया जाएगा। 130 करोड़ देशवासी सभी परिवारों के साथ कंधे से कंधा मिलाकर खड़े हैं।

हमने सुरक्षा एजेंसियों को पूरी स्वतंत्रता दी हैं और मानवता के दुश्मन इन आतंकवादियों को जल्द ही इसकी कीमत चुकानी होगी।

— Manoj Sinha (@manojsinha_) October 7, 2021

India

Ram Mandir Opening For “Darshan” In 2023

Published

1 month ago

September 20, 2021

Aadhya Venkatesh

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is expected to allow visitors by December 2023, with the completion of construction only in 2025.

Sources in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra have revealed that the colossal project of building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, will be opening for devotees towards the end of 2023. In contrast, the project’s entire construction completion is expected towards the end of 2025. The sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Griha), along with the mandir’s first floor, will be ready by December 2023. Devotees will be allowed to visit the long-awaited mandir soon after the construction is completed.

An ANI report said, “The grand Ram Mandir being constructed in Ayodhya will be opened for devotees from December 2023. Sources told ANI that Garbhagriha, all five mandaps and the first floor will be ready by December 2023 and the mandir will be opened for devotees”.

Completion of entire Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya is expected by the year 2025; A museum, digital archives and a research centre also to come up in the temple complex: Sources

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 4, 2021

The sanctum sanctorum will be as high as 161 feet and built using Rajasthani marble and stones. Engineers and architects are taking all measures to ensure the longevity of this enormous project. The second stage of construction is expected to begin in December this year. Currently, the structure is at a standstill as a result of monsoons. Another reason for the delay is the coronavirus pandemic that depleted the force with which the mandir’s construction was expected to go on.

Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be ready in a year or two. Delhi government has decided to take senior citizens to Ayodhya for Ram Lalla's darshan with travel, accommodation, and food expenses to be borne by us: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/MDGeP0k613

— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2021

The announcement of the mandir being opened to visitors in 2023 has brought up questions about the political agenda. It is believed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to use the mandir to catapult themselves into a position of advantage during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Opening the mandir to devotees in December 2023 will give the BJP an easy 6-month gap to the general elections in 2024.

The opening of the long-awaited Ram Mandir in Ayodhya could be the factor that diverts the public, at least the Hindu’s in favour of BJP. Thus, securing them a vote bank based on religious sentiments upheld by the party in their previous tenure as the ruling party.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir will be 360 feet long, 235 feet wide, and 20 feet high mandir will be completely ready by the end of 2025. The project will include amenities and structures like museums, archives, research centre, Sant Niwas, gau and Yagya shala, Etc. The main attraction is the Ram Mandir.

Business

How SEBI’s New Margin Rule Is Affecting Retail Traders?

Published

1 month ago

September 16, 2021

Babita Chhupka

Securities and Exchange Board of India has introduced new margin rules for traders. Traders and Brokers are not happy with the new regulations because they will have to invest a large amount of cash in fulfilling margin requirements for trade.

SEBI had introduced the new margin rule in the year 2020 for intraday traders. It is being implemented in a phased manner. Traders were supposed to maintain 25 per cent of the peak margin in the first phase; the margin was raised by 50 per cent in the second phase. In the third phase, as per the new margin rule, intraday traders will have to pay a 100 per cent upfront margin. According to new norms, the margin requirements will be calculated four times during every trading session because the money margin must be greater than the need.

As per the new rule, brokers must collect margin from investors for any purchase or sale, and if they fail to do so, they will have to pay the penalty. Thus, brokers will not receive power of attorney. Brokers cannot use power of attorney for pledging anymore.

Those investors who want to make use of margin will have to create margin pledges separately. As per the new rule, investors will have to pay at least a 30 per cent margin upfront to avail a margin loan. Shares brought today cannot be sold tomorrow. Funds from shares sold today cannot be used for new trades on the same day.

The market experts said that there must be proper adjustments for implementing new rules, or it may create chaos, trouble and disturbance to the market participants. The CEO and founder of Zerodha broking firm, Nithin Kamath tweeted that, “the day when the new rules came into effect was the dreaded day for brokers, exchanges, intraday traders”.

Traders Are Not Happy:

Changes in rules have evoked strong reactions from traders because they will have to invest a large amount of cash in fulfilling margin requirements for trades as per new margin rules. Even the trading in futures and options will become more expensive. Traders are disappointed because they will have to pay up more money to bet in stock markets. As per new margin rules, Traders are also liable for the penalty if the rules are not followed during the trading session. If a trader wants to buy Nifty worth Rs 10 lakh, he will have to pay a 20 per cent margin of around 2 lakh. If the margin of the trader does not meet the need, he will be penalized. Traders will have to pay the minimum amount for opening the Multilateral Trading facility account, and they have to maintain a minor balance at all times.

Why Gas SEBI Introduced A New Margin Rule?

SEBI has introduced new rules to protect retail investors from purchasing difficulty. The intended goal of SEBI behind new margin rules is to bring down the difficult market situation and avoid huge fluctuation in stock markets during extreme stress. The new margin rules are likely to bring transparency to the market; it is expected to strengthen the market’s safety.