by admin | May 25, 2021 | Finance, Markets, News, Online Marketing, Politics, Social Media, Technology
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati : The Assam Finance Department has decided to use social media platforms to inform and engage citizens on the state’s 2019-20 Budget, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in a statement on Monday.
Sarma said that social media is an effective tool to engage the public and acquire feedback for the upcoming Budget which will be presented at the Assam Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
He said that the use of this dynamic medium, in addition to other traditional means, has been inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” and also “in keeping with our commitment to adhere to the principles of participatory governance”.
“The use of social media for seeking people’s participation and inputs in the Budget is also a first of its kind experiment in the country and has been very effective. We have reached out to more than 1.6 lakh people by posting 200 feeds on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in 11 days with a combined Followers base of over 3,200,” he added.
The state government’s budget app called “Assam Budget”, available both on Android and iOS, is also a unique initiative towards a ‘Digital India’, according to the Minister.
“We are planning to continue to engage citizens as well as gather critical information using the social media platforms. Among others, one of the key objectives of our social media campaign outreach strategy has been to create a bonding with our vibrant pool of youngsters and many other tech-savvy people of Assam,” Sarma added.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
SDPI national president M. K. Faizy
By Pervez Bari, Maeeshat.in,
New Delhi : The Social Democratic Party of India, (SDPI), has described the interim Union budget 2019 as vote garnering election budget of the BJP-led NDA Government. The Interim Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal has announced doles for the farmers, tax rebate to salaried class and sops to workers of the informal sector to entice them to vote for the BJP.
SDPI national president M. K. Faizy in a statement has said that the budget is focussed to tempt and bribe middle class, farmers and the unorganised sector voters to propel BJP to retain power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections which is due in April-May this year. He said that the interim budget is sheer number games, political gimmicks and far from reality. Had the BJP wanted to please farmers, salaried class and informal workers with rain of exemptions and freebies, they should have done in 2018 Budget itself? Since it is the interim budget, show of this kind of pleasing Budget in the election period is nothing but indirect inducement to voters.
Faizy sad that people would have appreciated the government had the measures been taken at least a year before elections, else it is considered as not people friendly but power friendly. Earlier, when UPA declared the Food Security measure in the last interim 2014 budget by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, it was argued that it was so glaringly last minute hasty insincere measure since there was no corresponding financial provision in the budget. Every government, thus, wishes not to serve the people’s welfare but to hold on to its own chairs of power. There is no joy when the measures are blatantly self-serving!
He said that even the middle class is fooled. The government is talking as if it gave a big relief to middle class. Only those with taxable income less than 5 lakhs rupees will get the tax exemption and that too a maximum of around 13000 rupees per year. If you earn more than Rs.5 lakhs then there is no change in tax. The increase in the income tax exemption limit is with an eye on elections. Will the salaried class be lured by such carrot and stick announcement? No middle class is going to benefit by this and it’s an insult to the middle class…another “Jumla”!
The statement said that while the government announced a scheme called PM-Kisan or ”Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidhi” wherein small and marginal farmers, who own less than two acres of land, will receive direct annual handouts of around Rs. 6,000. The amount would be deposited directly in their bank accounts in instalments of Rs.2, 000. First handout of Rs.2000 is indirect bribe for vote because the effective date is back dated to December 2018 which is principally wrong. A family of 5 will just get about Rs. 3.40 per day which may be just equal to the price of half cup of tea. It is an interim budget only valid till next government takes over and presents routine budget. Clearly, it is a clever attempt to purchase the voters officially by making payments directly in their bank accounts out of the tax payers’ money. The ‘PM-Kisan’ scheme is nothing but rubbing salt on wounds of farmers in the light of the persisting agrarian crisis, he added.
He questioned whether the provision of rebate in income tax limit only provided due to the complex return processes? Will it be going to be discontinued by the government once the return process is reduced to one day? Secondly, will “Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhan” scheme announced for the informal sector workers supersede the APY, (Atal Pension Yojna) which is currently providing similar pensions guarantee on attaining the age of 60 year against fixed periodic contributions?
Faizy stated that one thing is clear that neither the Congress nor BJP have Developmental plans, programmes for the country. These political class people just have ad hoc policy with short-sighted gains, not having long term and durable plans and policy which will make our country really a Super Power. Instead they will be playing with words like Emerging Economy or moving towards advanced economies globally at a faster pace, this kind of phrases we have been listening since UPA rule. Now, BJP is playing the same card. Both the parties think that the people of India are fools, illiterates, hence can be fooled every time with this kind of populist Budget? In every sphere of economic, social, educational we are lagging behind as compared to other countries like Japan and China. It is painful to see Indian markets and cities flooded with Chinese products and foreign goods.
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday continued her sit-in protest here over the CBI’s attempt to question the Kolkata Police chief in connection with a ponzi scheme scam, as Samajwadi Party leader Kiranmoy Nanda joined her.
The Trinamool Congress supremo, surrounded by her ministers and top party leaders, stayed up the entire night on a makeshift dais at the city hub Dharamtala area, near the Metro Channel, after starting the demonstration around 9 p.m. on Sunday.
There is a blanket security cover in the area.
“This is a Satyagraha and I’ll continue till the country is saved,” Banerjee told the reporters here.
The Chief Minister said she was getting calls from politicians, including former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, all of whom expressed their support for her action.
Nanda reached the venue in the morning as representative of party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress supporters held protest demonstration and put up rail and road blocks in various parts of the city and districts.
A large number of party activists also arrived at Dharamtala since early in the day to express their solidarity.
In an unprecedented confrontation between the Narendra Modi-led central government and the West Bengal government, Banerjee began the sit-in accusing Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah of attempting a coup to destabilise her state, saying there is a “constitutional break-down”, after an ugly face-off between the CBI and the state police.
The showdown started after the federal probe agency’s officers showed up near the residence of Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, who has been under the scanner in connection with the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the ponzi scheme scam case.
The events were expected to cast a shadow on the Budget Session of Parliament on Monday with the opposition expected to vociferously raise the issue.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Interviews, Politics
Yashwant Sinha
By Anand Singh and Prashant Sood,
New Delhi : Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha says opposition unity against the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections is a “work in progress” but feels that the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party should have included Congress in the alliance in Uttar Pradesh that would have “finished the game”.
He also feels even if the concept of one common candidate against the Bharatiya Janata Party has not emerged so far “closer to elections” it may materialise. Even if there is no grand alliance at the national level, there will be state-specific alliances to corner the BJP, says a confident Sinha.
“Yes, the BSP and SP should have accommodated the Congress. That would have finished the game,” he told IANS in an interview about the alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.
Sinha, who resigned from the BJP last year and has floated the Rashtra Manch, a non-party platform, said his advice to opposition parties was that they should come together and form strong alliances and have a common minimum programme at the national level.
He said there was no need to go into the “Modi versus who” question being raised by the BJP before the elections and named Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, H.D. Deve Gowda and Rahul Gandhi as among leaders with qualities to be Prime Minister.
Sinha, 81, expressed hope that if a “mahagatbandhan” (grand alliance) was not created at the national level, there will be effective state-level alliances to take on the BJP.
He said the idea of putting up a common opposition candidate against the BJP has not materialised.
“Perhaps it is not looking like materialising so far, but I am sure closer to elections something may happen,” he said, adding added that efforts were being made in that direction.
Asked about the opposition parties not coming together to form a grand alliance in several states, Sinha said: “it is not easy for disparate elements to come together and these parties are individual separate parties because they are different.
“So it is not easy for them to come together. Some attempts are being made but necessity is the mother of the invention,” he said, adding that in states such as Jharkhand, Karanataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, opposition parties have come together.
“So there are many states where they have come together. There will be issues because they will have to agree not only on the number of seats but specifically which seat but I am hopeful even if this so-called Mahagatbandhan at the national level is not created there will be effective state level alliances to take on the BJP.”
The former Minister said there were some settled principles on the basis of which seat distribution can decided if everyone is liberal and fair about it.
Answering a query on the index of opposition unity, the former Finance and External Affairs Minister said it was work in progress. “Opposition unity is work in progress.”
On a common CMP of opposition, he said efforts are being made in the direction.
He said opposition parties have understood the importance of social media and Modi will not have an advantage in his campaign.
Answering a query on Priyanka Gandhi entering active politics, he said it will have an impact on the voters in Uttar Pradesh as well as nationally and it will help the Congress.
Asked about the opposition candidate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections, he said it is a very idle question that the BJP is persuading people to ask because it suits them.
“The counter to the BJP is who was the Chief Minister candidate of BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand when state elections were held there. And who have been the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate earlier.
“Who have been the BJP prime ministerial candidates earlier. The first time the BJP said that Mr Vajpayee will be the prime ministerial candidate was in 1995 before 1996 elections when Advaniji announced it. Who was the prime ministerial candidate in 1977 when the Janata Party scored such a massive victory?” he asked.
He said there was no declared prime ministerial candidate when Congress stitched an alliance with other parties to form the UPA government in 2004.
“So, therefore, when you look at our political history you will find the parties have anointed somebody only when it suited. Otherwise, they have gone without a so-called commander-in- chief, without a projected leader. More recently the BJP also has been doing it.”
He said it suits the BJP and they were asking everyone to ask this question and were even making fun as BJP chief Amit Shah has done by asking who will be the prime minister (of opposition) on Monday and who will be on Tuesday.
He said the candidate has eventually emerged as was the case in 1996.
Sinha said when Narendra Modi was projected as the prime ministerial candidate, he was chief minister of Gujarat.
“Now we have many chief ministers in opposition ranks. We have many former chief ministers. We have many chief ministers who also have been central ministers. We have central ministers who have occupied important positions. Therefore, anyone can fill the bill.”
Asked if can be Mamata Banerjee or Mayawati, he added more names.
“Mamata, Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, (H. D.) Deve Gowda, Rahul Gandhi,” he said, adding that though Gandhi does not have administrative experience his party was doing well now.
Asked if he had endorsed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier, Sinha said he had not endorsed her.
“I barely said that she has the qualities to be a prime minister. One has to be be very careful or else media twist it. Who does not have the qualities, several people have qualities. That is why I am telling you what was Modi before, he was just chief minister of a state.”
Sinha said he had talked about Mamata Banerjee because a question was posed to him. “No one asked about others.”
To a further question about Mayawati, he said: “I have named all these people who can fill the bill.”
Asked about his assessment of how Rahul Gandhi has come up, he said he has come up very well.
“The way he was made fun of, he has proved them wrong. I think Modi and Amit Shah who wanted a Congress-Mukt Bharat and were talking about it, that has completely vanished from the discussion now.”
Sinha said he will not contest elections.
“As of now, no,” he said, adding that he had decided not to take part in electoral politics before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The former Finance Minister said he did not have problem with the BJP of Vajpayee and Advani but he had issues with the style of working of Modi and party President Amit Shah.
Sinha said ruled out his going back to the BJP but said “it will be a better party without them (Modi and Shah)”.
He said the most important issue against the government was that it has destroyed all the institutions in this country. “The federal structure has been badly hit under this government.”
He named agrarian distress, unemployment, issues concerning Dalits and crimes against women as other issues that the opposition would highlight.
He said considering the country’s diverse political landscape, a federal party concept “is an interesting concept which should be explored”.
He said such a front can have alliances with national parties such as Congress and CPI-M.
Asked if he will play a role in the formation of such a party, Sinha said he can play a role up to a limit. “Your effort depends on your accommodation space that everyone else is prepared to give you.”
Sinha said he will try definitely to bring opposition parties together.
“I will try definitely to make it as reasonable as possible for everyone. I am prepared to give whatever assistance whatever anybody wants. And it will depend on them now.”
(Anand Singh can be reached at anand.s@ians.in and Prashant Sood at prashant.s@ians.in)
(This story is an intellectual property of IANS)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said that the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was “very necessary” and added that the government was working on building a consensus with stakeholders in the northeast.
Addressing the media here, Shah also said that the government had brought the bill after much thought and Home Minister Rajnath Singh was holding consultations with various people to address the opposition to the issue.
“There are two sides of a coin. There are decisions that some like and some don’t… The fate of huge number of refugees can’t be kept hanging in the balance and we are firm on it,” he said.
Asked what would be the BJP’s stand if suggestions come to withdraw the Bill as it has created unrest in the entire northeast, Shah said: “Home Minister is holding discussions with political parties. Discussion with some parties have already taken place. If consensus emerges, we will definitely move ahead but the Citizenship Bill is highly necessary for the country.”
The Bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.
Political parties and civic groups in the northeast say if this is implemented, “outsiders” will overwhelm the local population.
The BJP President was also committed to build a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“The BJP wants the Ram Temple should be built at the same place in Ayodhya where Lord Ram was born. Our stand is clear. There is no confusion.”
Asking opposition parties not to create obstacles in the construction of Ram temple, he told them to clear their stand on the issue.
—IANS
