Democratic Governance/Participation
India's Democracy Faces Existential Crisis| Rethinking Liberties | Barkha Dutt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cv_tPjufpg
Mar 17, 2021 In a seminar at Brown University, in conversation with Professor Ashutosh Varshney, Rahul Gandhi compared the state of India's democracy to regimes under Saddam Hussein & Gaddafi. While this has invited a flurry of criticism, it has to be noted that many international organisations such as Freedom House & V Dem have also argued how India is now a "partly" free country, and an "electoral autocracy". As we try to make sense of these viewpoints, the key questions that arise are - has India's democracy really dwindled, or are such blanket statements a generalisation of the status quo? Barkha Dutt discusses with Gurcharan Das, Shruti Kapila, Irfan Habib & Sushant Sareen.
A Conversation with Rahul Gandhi https://watson.brown.edu/events/2021/conversation-rahul-gandhi Mar 20, 2021
'Witnessed Saddam-like time during Emergency': Minister attacks Rahul Gandhi https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/witnessed-saddam-like-time-during-emergency-minister-attacks-rahul-gandhi-101615965902979.html MAR 17, 2021
Rahul Gandhi made the comment while speaking to Professor Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University. Gandhi was speaking to Professor Ashutosh Varshney of Brown University on different issues, when he was asked about the recent report which downgraded India to an "electoral autocracy" and Freedom House analysis which shifted India's status from a 'free' country to 'partly-free.'
"Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi used to have elections. They used to win them. It wasn't like they weren't voting but there was no institutional framework to protect that vote,"
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/i-t-authorities-unearth-fictitious-transactions-of-rs-2200-crore-in-pan-india-search-cbdt/articleshow/84714503.cms .
This is a challenge to the current opposition parties. Besides talking about raids as politically motivated, they will commit themselves to ruthlessly follow-up each and every case or issue they have raised while in opposition.
One can only hope that this will bring in greater compliance and less corruption.
But this will work only if there is a transparent and publicly visible process.
We need a law that forces agencies of government to declare transparently within 48 hours, the outcome of the raid or process. Even if the case needs further investigation, the details of pachanamas, items seized which are continued to be confiscated, should be made public with reasons for holding each item and submitted to the victim/raidee. The raidee should be entitled to file a counter FIR on each such raid and full discovery. And in case the raid turns out to be false, an public apology and a process for reparations to make up losses if any should be initiated at the request of the raidee.
Press notes or leaks not given full and proper information, vague innuendo ridden statement by govt agencies should be outlawed.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/i-t-authorities-unearth-fictitious-transactions-of-rs-2200-crore-in-pan-india-search-cbdt/articleshow/84714503.cms. Such leaks, should be open to a demand by the raidee for a public clarification if the item is related to them, thus opening the agency to public scrutiny and legal redress.
The same process should of course be available to all other raids, seizures particularly in political tinged cases.
IT unearth Rs 3000 crore irregularities in Pan-India company https://newsriveting.com/it-unearth-rs-3000-crore-irregularities-in-pan-india-company/ July 24, 2021
Income Tax Department carried out a search operation under section 132 of the Income – tax Act, 1961 on 22.07.2021 on a prominent business group, which is involved in businesses in various sectors, including Media, Power, Textiles and Real Estate, with a group turnover of more than Rs. 6,000 crore per annum.
Media संस्थानों पर Income Tax की रेड l NL Charcha https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvQunaMYyWA Episode 178
12,234 views
Jul 24, 2021
Dainik Bhaskar Group evaded taxes on Rs 700 crore of income over 6 years: IT Department https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/topstories/dainik-bhaskar-group-evaded-taxes-on-rs-700-crore-of-income-over-6-years-it-department/ar-AAMxCKo
In its official statement, the tax department said that the conglomerate was evading taxes by operating companies in the names of its employees to "book bogus expenses" and "siphon off profits".
The Dainik Bhaskar Group has denied the allegations and claimed the income tax raids came only after its media coverage during the devastating second wave of Covid-19 in India exposed the government's lapses.
यशवंत सिन्हा on Undeclared Emergency: https://youtube.com/embed/P9pqles4YRw?start=1300&end=1734 Centre State relations, Laws being passed without consulting Parilamentary committees, Constitutional values, detention under Sedition