Clean political funding

Arrest of D K Shivakumar came after 4 days of questioning - on the charge of evasiveness.

Arrest on this account is what CBI took recourse to, in the case of former finance minister, P Chidambaram.

Shivakumar's plight elicited sympathy, even from ruling Hindu(i) Peoples' Party members of Karnataka. It is curious that agencies find suspicious activity only in case of opposition members. There is scope for larger debate on issues of political funding.

Insidious electoral bond scheme removed even a modicum of transparency in sourcing of political funds. Restrictions of foreign funding of political parties was loosened - when other  democracies ban such funding.

Indian democracy's regression on clean political funding, erodes credibility.

- Editorial,      Times of India      September 5, 2019 

Case for validation of mental health?

We know that demonetization was an unmitigated disaster.

Instead of ending black money, it corrupted state-owned banks, plunged informal economy into crisis, damaged corporate balance sheets in ways we are only now beginning to understand.

What happens next in Kashmir?
Like demonetization, wildly popular in the moment, but a failed and foolish move? 

- Sadanand Dhume,     Times of India      September 21, 2019. 

Wretched / vulgar / condemnable

Modi recalled his own electoral slogan that was reprised by candidate Trump "Ab ki baar Trump sarkar" and endorsed him for a second term.


Chidanand Raighatta - Why Trump came to Modi    Times of India, September 24, 2019. 

Chatur maas - 4 months

A normal monsoon means rainfall between 96% and 104% of a 50 year average, of 89 centimetres or 35 inches in total, during a four-month rainy season from June to September - according to IMD's classification.

June 19, 2019    
The Economic Times

Unconstitutional?

I did not have these documents before 2015.

Otherwise I would have raised these issues in 2014 - elections - itself.

Where is the question of political vendetta?

- Dr. Subramaniam Swamy 
Republic Television    April 20, 2019

Repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits

Hndu Peoples' Party said that, Article 35A is discriminatory against residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir. And is an obstacle to development.

Manifesto on Kashmir      Times of India 

diluted CRZ norms

"Mangroves were calndestinely destroyed between 1997 and 1999 ostensibly for a golf course, with more than 400 bungalows each on 1 acre plots. In 2013 after a long and convoluted set of legal proceedings, ministry of environment and forests sought action", said environmentalist Debi Goenka.

- Diluted CRZ norms could mean Rs. 40,000 billion windfall for Sahara
Times of India      January 21, 2019.