1. Most of the Indian Middle Class loved IPL and a larger percentage are ready to defend Modi. Now is it because of our battered egos ? Because for all these years we don't have any thing to boast about in comparison with an EPL or NBA or NFL ? IPL with its growing might, clout and the crazy dollar auctions gave a boost to flaunt 'Brand India'. So is it our underlying consciousness supporting Modi because he gave us a chance to feel proud?
2. Why auctions are in dollars if its a domestic tournament? Read some where that Rupee is the currency of poor man, middle class wants to upgrade to dollars and rich already talk in dollars only.
3. Middle class keeps often questioning what the government is doing for me with my taxes? Maharashtra government just lost Rs. 5 Crore/- (convert to dollars yourself) and i dont know about other states. So the government made sure that you enjoyed IPL and paid for all the security, power consumption etc etc without getting anything in return but making a few individuals definitely rich. Now Maha CM says we cannot collect tax as the matches are over.
4. Role of 'Media' in this whole tamasha ? The so-called news channels completely lost their purpose. By the way are there any news channels today in India? I think we have only 'Infotainment' channels. On the day of 'Dantewada' massacre Harsh Bhogle was correct in analyzing the match that it might be good for team 'X' and bad for team 'Y', but its a very sad day for India. Media lost track of its priorities. Even today when National UID (which could be the panacea for all the bureaucratic bottlenecks) logo was released, Modi dominates the media space.
5. The main thing that troubles me is the 'Conflict of Interest'. IPL is full of these conflicts. The 'IPL Nights' are hosted by the event management company owned by Arjun Rampal's wife, IPL hospitality is sponsored by Poorna Patel, Praful Patel's daughter, stakes being held by relatives of Modi, Gavaskar & Ravi Shastri getting $1Million for commentary etc etc. IPL is just one big platform where people with vested interests came together and got many tax sops and found an easy way of getting even richer and being in limelight. The talk of more opportunities for sportsmen and more employment opportunities are just by-products. Mallya didnt bid for Bangalore's pride or their winning matters to him. What matters to him is the amount of money he will get as more people throng pubs and bars for watching IPL matches.
6. Coming to the quality of cricket - No doubt it showcased better talent, but i am kicking myself for watching a MRF blip 50 times a day or watching a zoomed Modi or Shilpa Shetty or Preity Zinta. Cameramen and Commentators have clear instructions - Owners & Sponsors are first, Cricket is secondary.
7. What about other contribution of IPL ? Perhaps they did something, but more could have been done. The Police worked hard and extra hours for securing IPL? Can't IPL contribute something to police foundations?? Instead, they are focussing more on innovations like 'IPL Nights'.
8. Peole are saying Modi is not alone in this and there's Pawar, Patel and etc etc. Good, then catch everyone. Don't vindicate Modi by saying others are also guilty. This again seems to be the typical Indian thing - Working class evades tax under false means saying that so and so is not even paying. Two wrongs don't make a right. Who are we cheating?? Ourselves ??
I think someone was apt in comparing Modi to 'Vince Mcmann' of WWE. Both have no qualms about being filthy rich and follow similar style. But i am not joining those who cry for banning IPL. It will be like cutting a hand due to a broken finger that could be cured with a medicine. 1 year is a long time before IPL-4. Before that the IT, ED & Corporate affairs should clean the whole mess. Time to fix things and make all accountable.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
My Take On Budget 2010-11
Its exactly 2 months after the Budget was tabled and still i am writing this post just to put my 'understanding' into perspective. I used to wonder if anyone cares to read the special edition of 'Budget' that used to come with 'Economic Times' after the D-Day. From there, today i came to a situation where i downloaded the Budget 'pdf'. The Evolution of Me :)
You can download it from here: http://www.hindu.com/nic/budgetspeech2010.pdf
Key Points:
1. Importance of harnessing economic growth in making development more inclusive. Seems UPA government's motive is very clear.
2. Talking about weaknesses in government systems and bottleneck of our public delivery mechanisms.
3. Paradigm shift - 'The role of government more as an enabler and less of a provider'. This is a 180 degree shift from the Nehru's idea of an 'omnipresent state'. To quote the exact sentence of Fin Min - "An enabling government does not try to deliver directly to citizens everything that they need. Instead it creates an enabling ethos so that individual enterprise and creativity can flourish.
4. Fiscal consolidation - Recommendation of 13th Fin. Commission to cap combined debt of Centre and States at 68% of GDP by 2014-15.
5.Tax Reforms - Simple tax system with minimum exemptions and low tax rates & Direct Tax Code by April 1, 2011. These tax exemptions have encouraged citizens in becoming 'frauds'. Glad that they will be out. The lower tax rates should increase voluntary compliance and widen the ambit.
6. PSU disinvestment to meet capital expenditure requirements of social sector schemes.
7. Nutrient Based Subsidy for fertilizers from April 1, 2010. This trims governments subsidy bill from 100K crores to 49K crores. Also i guess a good step in the direction of 'sustained development'.
8. Additional banking licenses to extend the geographic coverage and improve access.
9. Wastage of grain procured for 'buffer stocks' and PDS due to shortage of storage capacity of FCI. Grains getting rotten and spoiled is a clear sign of the failure of our PDS mechanisms. In 2003 India was storing about 60 million tonnes of grain, enough to provide a tonne of rice or wheat to every single family living below poverty line. Even after this people suffering from hunger is inexplicable.
To Be Contd..
You can download it from here: http://www.hindu.com/nic/budgetspeech2010.pdf
Key Points:
1. Importance of harnessing economic growth in making development more inclusive. Seems UPA government's motive is very clear.
2. Talking about weaknesses in government systems and bottleneck of our public delivery mechanisms.
3. Paradigm shift - 'The role of government more as an enabler and less of a provider'. This is a 180 degree shift from the Nehru's idea of an 'omnipresent state'. To quote the exact sentence of Fin Min - "An enabling government does not try to deliver directly to citizens everything that they need. Instead it creates an enabling ethos so that individual enterprise and creativity can flourish.
4. Fiscal consolidation - Recommendation of 13th Fin. Commission to cap combined debt of Centre and States at 68% of GDP by 2014-15.
5.Tax Reforms - Simple tax system with minimum exemptions and low tax rates & Direct Tax Code by April 1, 2011. These tax exemptions have encouraged citizens in becoming 'frauds'. Glad that they will be out. The lower tax rates should increase voluntary compliance and widen the ambit.
6. PSU disinvestment to meet capital expenditure requirements of social sector schemes.
7. Nutrient Based Subsidy for fertilizers from April 1, 2010. This trims governments subsidy bill from 100K crores to 49K crores. Also i guess a good step in the direction of 'sustained development'.
8. Additional banking licenses to extend the geographic coverage and improve access.
9. Wastage of grain procured for 'buffer stocks' and PDS due to shortage of storage capacity of FCI. Grains getting rotten and spoiled is a clear sign of the failure of our PDS mechanisms. In 2003 India was storing about 60 million tonnes of grain, enough to provide a tonne of rice or wheat to every single family living below poverty line. Even after this people suffering from hunger is inexplicable.
To Be Contd..
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tharoor Drama
It's a strange coincidence that i am in Kochi right now, that is the center of this murky saga. So at last the Congress decides to get rid of this embarrassment. I hope that the great writer 'Tharoor' will now understand the meaning of 'Conflict Of Interest'. Below are some of my observations after this saga:
1. Just because a politician is educated doesn't mean he will be honest and good for country.
2. Even dumb guys can go to U.N and become successful on a world wide stage. Honestly i feel that Tharoor was so dumb in this whole episode or in some of his tweets.
3. How often people who get caught take the refuge of regional or religious chauvinism to stir up emotions and divert the issue? It's a joke that this lady Sunanda Pushkar is bringing her half-Malayali son to divert the issue.
But the positive out of this whole thing is the 'murkier behind-scenes of IPL'. Government and Tax authorities should investigate and probe the sources of these investments. The last thing India wants now is people like Dawood investing into IPL.
1. Just because a politician is educated doesn't mean he will be honest and good for country.
2. Even dumb guys can go to U.N and become successful on a world wide stage. Honestly i feel that Tharoor was so dumb in this whole episode or in some of his tweets.
3. How often people who get caught take the refuge of regional or religious chauvinism to stir up emotions and divert the issue? It's a joke that this lady Sunanda Pushkar is bringing her half-Malayali son to divert the issue.
But the positive out of this whole thing is the 'murkier behind-scenes of IPL'. Government and Tax authorities should investigate and probe the sources of these investments. The last thing India wants now is people like Dawood investing into IPL.
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