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Coronavirus: Pakistan President first cites Prophet justifying not evacuating its citizens from China, then contradicts himself

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus: Pakistan President first cites Prophet justifying not evacuating its citizens from China, then contradicts himself

On Friday, Pakistan President Arif Alvi shocked the world when he resorted to preaching Islam to fellow Pakistanis stuck in China instead of advising the Pakistan government on the urgent need of evacuating their citizens who are begging for help amidst global health crisis of Coronavirus attack in China.

“Prophet’s directions regarding disease outbreaks are a good guide even 2day. ‘If you hear of an outbreak of plague in a land, do not enter it, but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place’ (Bukhari & Muslim) Let us help those stuck there,” tweeted Pakistan President Arif Alvi.


Shockingly, the President of Pakistan informed his own citizens currently stuck in China that they are least bothered about their life condition despite the emergency crisis that has struck China. Rather than making preparations for their evacuation, Pakistan administration is advising people not only to stop entering China but also urging Pakistanis to not return to Pakistan fearing the spread of the virus.

After his insensitive tweet, Pakistan President Arif Alvi had to face severe embarrassment for failing to evacuate Pakistani citizens from China and rather to deciding to place his trust on the Prophet.

As outrage against Pakistan President began to increase, President Alvi backtracked his early ‘Prophet’ statements and stated that Pakistani students in China need to be helped in every possible way. He said the students should be brought back to Pakistan by fulfilling all international health requirements ensuring health and safety of the students.


The parody nation of Pakistan, as an official policy, has decided to turn a blind eye to Pakistanis stuck at Coronavirus hit China as they have refused to evacuate their citizens stranded in Wuhan, as an “act of solidarity” towards their ally China.

Around 800 Pakistani nationals are stuck in Wuhan, China – the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak. Reportedly, the Pakistani government has snubbed its own citizens to show “solidarity” with China. The Pakistan Government is of the view that China is equipped with the requisite technology to contain the spread of coronavirus.

A heartbreakingly tragic video had emerged in which a Pakistani student shames Pakistani authorities for their apathy towards them as he watches Indian students boarding a bus sent by the Indian embassy.

Read- Coronavirus: Pakistan to not evacuate its citizens in China as an ‘act of solidarity’ towards its ally

India had evacuated over 300 citizens who were stranded in Wuhan after the virus outbreak. A special Air India flight was sent by the government and the Army was tasked with constructing an extensive and well-equipped quarantine facility in Manesar to house the people returning from Wuhan.

Though none of them who have returned back to the country are said to be infected, they will be kept under observation for 2 weeks at the centre. However, six Indians, who had symptoms of the outbreak, have been quarantined in China and were not allowed to board Air India flight that brought Indians back to the country.

Coronavirus outbreak: India airlifts over 300 more citizens from Wuhan, helps evacuate 7 Maldives citizens too

OpIndia Staff
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Coronavirus outbreak: India airlifts over 300 more citizens from Wuhan, helps evacuate 7 Maldives citizens too

Second special Air India flight from China carrying second batch of evacuees took off from Wuhan (China) at 3 am today and reached Delhi earlier today. There were a total of 323 Indian citizens and 7 Maldives citizens onboard this flight.


Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar for rescuing Maldivians from Coronavirus hit Wuhan province of China. The seven Maldives citizens will be kept in Delhi for the quarantine period before being sent back to their country.

A total of 647 Indian citizens including 282 students have been evacuated by special Air India flight from Wuhan as of this morning. First batch of 324 Indian citizens reached Delhi on Saturday. As per the health ministry, over 50,000 passengers from 326 flights have been screen amidst coronavirus outbreak.

President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih took to Twitter to thank India for helping evacuate Maldivians stuck in Wuhan.

Read: Watch: Pakistani student in Wuhan watches his Indian counterparts being evacuated as their govt ditches them after Coronavirus outbreak

Meanwhile, death toll in China because of coronavirus epidemic has risen to 304 and about 14,380 people have reportedly been infected with this virus in mainland China while 160 have reportedly been infected in rest of the world. As of now almost 20,000 suspected coronavirus cases have been reported from China.

Delhi police calls out Congress worker’s lie that he was granted permission to hold rally chanting ‘desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko’

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi police calls out Congress worker’s lie that he was granted permission to hold rally chanting ‘desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko’

DCP Delhi police took to Twitter to expose the lie being peddled by ‘activist’ Saket Gokhale that Delhi Police had granted him permission to hold a rally chanting “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko.”

Calling the claims baseless and false the DCP New Delhi said: “It is hereby clarified that no permission to hold a protest on 02.02.2020 has been given to Sh.Saket Gokhale. A copy of his request letter is being circulated in the social media as permission, which is not the case.


Saket Gokhale, a less-known individual who fancies himself as an activist and threatens people at random with no concrete result, took to Twitter to share a copy of his application to the Delhi police seeking permission for a rally and claimed that he has been granted permission by the Delhi police to hold the rally.

Saket Gokhale’s Tweet

Posting the letter he had sent the police on January 28 to seek permission for such a rally Gokhale said on Twitter: “The @DelhiPolice has, shockingly, granted me permission to hold a rally chanting “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko.” The permission was given to me today when I visited Parliament St. Police Station. This chant now, it seems, has state sanction.”

Minutes later, he concocted another lie saying that the police had informed him that the slogan would be “problematic” in view of the ongoing Model Code of Conduct and that he had been “requested” to move the protest to after 8th February”.

 

Saket Gokhale’s Tweet

As one can see in his Tweet that the picture attached is that of a reminder notice to the Delhi police written by Saket to seek permission. Nowhere has he shared any kind of approval letter which would validate his claims. His letter had only a seal acknowleding the receipt of the same by police, which is a routine practice, and nowhere it is mentioned that police had granted the approval as sought in the application. An acknowledgement of receipt of an application does not mean that the application has been granted, which Saket tried to imply.

Several media houses fell for Saket Gokhale’s dubious claim and reported that Delhi police has granted Saket Gokhale the permission to carry out the rally to chant “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko.” This included left-wing propaganda site The Wire, Congress mouthpiece National Herald, even financial portal Moneycontrol. The Wire reported that Delhi Police had given the permission but later backtracked, despite the fact that there is not evidence to support Saket’s claim’

‘Activist’ Saket Thakur was attempting to mock the ruling government as the ‘left-liberals’ think that MoS Finance Anurag Thakur had provoked the crowd in Delhi by using this jargon during a rally.

In fact, the ‘journalists’ had pointed their fingers at MoS Finance Anurag Thakur and held him for responsible for the incident after a person brandished his gun at the Shaheen Bagh protests.

Shaheen Bagh ‘protestors’ urge Delhi citizens to join them in their ‘dharna’ ahead of Delhi elections

OpIndia Staff
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Shaheen Bagh ‘protestors’ urge Delhi citizens to join them in their ‘dharna’ ahead of Delhi elections

With Delhi state assembly elections less than a week away, ‘protestors’ at Shaheen Bagh have urged Delhi citizens to come forward and join them in their dharna. Numerous parties and individuals, most of them their well-wishers, have been impressing upon the Shaheen Bagh protesters the need to abandon their protests. Under such circumstances, the ‘official’ Twitter handle of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act has called upon the citizens of Delhi to join them in their protests against giving the persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh citizenship rights in India.

Source: Shaheen Bagh Official/Twitter

The statement on Saturday said, “In the last few days of this non-violent, democratic dharna, we have been threatened, endangered, and witnessed hate speech against us by senior BJP leaders and other fringe groups, such as Hindu Sena.” The statement said that in light of the two instances of shooting in Delhi, that did not result in any fatalities and causes only one injury, they are requesting the citizens of Delhi to join them in their protest on the 2nd of February.

The statement said further, “We are increasingly fearful of the consequences of the politicization of these peaceful protests and maintain that we are a non partisan gathering.” These are the same protests where slogans of ‘Jinnah Wali Azadi’ were raised. The mastermind of these protests, Sharjeel Imam, wished to cut off North East India from the rest of the country. The protesters said that this was an “earnest appeal to the conscience of all citizens” of the country.

Earlier in the day, the second instance of firing in Delhi was reported from Shaheen Bagh. The suspect has been identified as one Kapil, a resident of East Delhi. The first instance occurred on the 30th of January when a juvenile opened fire near the Jamia Milia University, injuring one student.

Slogans in support of Shaheen Bagh mastermind Sharjeel Imam, ‘Azaadi’ and against CAA raised in Queer Mumbai Pride march 2020

OpIndia Staff
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Slogans in support of Shaheen Bagh mastermind Sharjeel Imam, ‘Azaadi’ and against CAA raised in Queer Mumbai Pride march 2020

“Sharjeel tere sapno ko manzil tak pahunchayenge,” was amongst the many slogans raised at the Mumbai queer pride parade in Mumbai on Saturday, 1st February.


At around 23 seconds in the video, you could hear the above chant.

The Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride’s “solidarity gathering” in Mumbai at Azaad Maidaan was used by anti-CAA propagandists to link the cause of the LGBTQIA community with the Azadi slogans raised against the Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC and NPR.

Read: Delhi Pride Parade: ‘Kashmir maangey azadi’, ‘Bharat Mata wants girlfriend’ slogans raised at the queer parade

Following the denial of permission to carry out the Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride March from its traditional starting point-August Kranti Maidaan, the Queer Azaadi Mumbai(QAM) managed to winkle permission from the Mumbai police to organise a “solidarity gathering” at Azaad maidaan on Saturday, 1 February, from 3 pm to 6 pm.

However, the gathering was put to use by anti-CAA protesters to promote their propaganda. A large number of anti-CAA protesters attended the rally which was essentially meant to be a solidarity congregation for the queer community, for celebrating queer pride and a platform to raise their concerns. The anti-CAA protesters not only raised Azaadi slogans but also carried and wielded placards denouncing the new Citizenship Law that intends to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.


As can be heard in the video attached in the above tweet, the Queer Pride March event saw participants chanting slogans of Azaadi against the Citizenship Amendment Act, NRC and NPR.

One of the placards also demanded independence of Kashmir, along with criticising CAA and NRC.


It is notable to mention that the Mumbai Police had earlier denied permission to organise the Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride March 2020 will be used by anti-CAA dissenters to stoke anarchy in the city. The Mumbai Police while denying the permission claimed that the anti-CAA protesters might co-opt the Queer Azaadi March to fuel their propaganda which may lead to deteriorating law and order situation in the city.

While most of the media channels remain remarkably vocal against the most mundane of issues, they had been deafeningly silent over the denial of permission to carry out the traditional Queer Mumbai Pride March by Mumbai Police under the ‘secular’ government of Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi. Though, subsequently, QAM was granted the permission of organising a truncated event- “solidarity gathering’, but it doesn’t absolve the media channels of their pusillanimity in bringing to light the denial of permission to an annual march which has been organised in Mumbai for the last 10 years.

Two Income Tax regimes with and without deductions, which one is better for you? A ready reckoner

Ashutosh Muglikar
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Two Income Tax regimes with and without deductions, which one is better for you? A ready reckoner

Personal taxation is one of the most important things commoners watch out for in any budgets that the central government presents. Mainly because that is what affects them “directly” and either hits their pockets or provides relief. As expected, something similar happened today as well when the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a new Income Tax regime in her second budget in the Parliament.

The Finance Minister announced a new and separate ‘simplified’ tax regime for personal income taxpayers, while retaining the existing tax regime. The new Income Tax system has lower rates, but without any exemptions and deductions, and taxpayers can choose which tax regime to opt while paying their income tax and filing their returns. After the initial announcement, it was time for me to look at the fine print and come up with an explainer for the commoners in a language that they understand and relate to. Here is an attempt at breaking down the complexity for you.

Firstly, the latest “simplified” tax regime is applicable to the following persons:

  1. Individuals and Hindu Undivided Families
  2. Individuals who have no income from “business or profession”, i.e. salaried class with interest income and/or income from house property have an option to choose between old regime or the new regime as per their choice which mainly depends on tax outflow.
  3. Individuals with income from business or professional have to decide this just once and the decision shall be binding on them but an exit from this regime is permitted just once. So, they should be extra careful as to what they wish for.

What is the new scheme of taxation proposed by the Finance Minister

The old regime of slabs and exemptions shall continue, however the taxpayers have been given an option to opt for the new regime with certain conditions which I have tried to explain below. The slabs as per the new tax regime are as follows:

Income From Income Upto Tax Rate
Zero 2,50,000 Zero
2,50,001 5,00,000 5%
5,00,001 7,50,000 10%
7,50,001 10,00,000 15%
10,00,001 12,50,000 20%
12,50,001 15,00,000 25%
Above 15,00,001 30%

 

However, to avail the new scheme the individual will have to forego the following exemptions:

  • Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
  • Housing Rent Allowance (HRA)
  • Allowance for income of minor
  • Standard deduction of Rs. 40,000 from Salary income
  • Entertainment Allowance
  • Professional Tax Paid Deduction – Rs. 2,500
  • Housing Loan Interest Deduction for self-occupied property
  • Additional Depreciation – in cases of business
  • Family Pension Deduction of Rs. 15,000
  • All other deductions under Chapter VI-A which includes widely claimed deductions as – Section 80C – PF, Insurance Premium, Housing Loan Principal Repayment etc.,
  • Section 80D – Medical Insurance Premium for self and family
  • 80E – Education Loan Interest
  • 80G – Donations
  • Business owners will have to forgo carried forward loss or depreciation emanating from aforementioned deductions claimed in earlier years.
  • Loss from house property (Let-out Properties) will not be allowed to be set off against income from any other head of income.

To have a basic understanding, let’s calculate the total tax with ZERO DEDUCTIONS.

Income Income Tax As per Old Regime Income Tax as per New optional regime Tax Savings
₹5 lakh No Amendment No Amendment No Change
₹7.5 lakh ₹65,000 ₹39,000 ₹26,000
₹10 lakh ₹1,17,000 ₹78,000 ₹39,000
₹12.5 lakh ₹1,95,000 ₹1,30,000 ₹65,000
₹15 lakh ₹2,73,000 ₹1,95,000 ₹78,000
Above ₹15 lakh Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable

 

Clearly, if you have no deductions to claim then the new regime is advisable and good for you. This is nothing but basic arithmetic. The rates have gone down hence then the tax outflow obviously will. However, this is not very practical because the taxpayers will definitely have one or the other exemption to avail, like an insurance policy, provident fund contribution or interest on home loan etc.

Read- Budget 2020: Dual tax regime, a complicated tax structure that may require professional help

So as to simplify it further for you, here is a simple table which shall help you to decide which option to choose when you have deductions that can be claimed:

Income Break even deduction to achieve tax parity Decision Making Matrix
₹5 lakh No Change No Change
₹7.5 lakh ₹1,25,000 If your income is up to ₹7.5 lakh and deductions above ₹1.25 lakh then old regime is better for you.
₹10 lakh ₹1,87,000 If your income is up to ₹10 lakh and deductions above ₹1.87 lakh then old regime is better for you.
₹12.5 lakh ₹2,08,500 If your income is up to ₹12.5 lakh and deductions above ₹2.08 lakh then old regime is better for you.
₹15 lakh ₹2,50,000 If your income is up to ₹15 lakh and deductions above ₹2.5 lakh then old regime is better for you.
Above ₹15 lakh ₹2,50,000 If your income is above ₹15 lakh and deductions above ₹2.5 lakh then old regime is better for you.

 

Conclusion:

The new scheme is neither simplified nor very beneficial as analysed by me above. An individual assessee will still have to make two charts and compare instead of one that he was making earlier. The above table only provides a tentative and indicative number and is based on a lot of assumptions but is as close to reality as possible.

The new regime will be helpful to those who don’t save or save lesser than the indicative break-even deduction number I mentioned above. Further our tax exemption system always depends on savings to avail benefits on reduced rates which many critics identify as a hindrance to the consumption economy which is need of the hour.

To sum up, I sincerely feel that the Ministry could have come up with a simpler proposal to increase tax slab limits which would have ensured clarity for the taxpayers.

Opposition spread rumours that if 370 is scrapped, the country will witness heinous bloodshed, but nothing happened: Yogi Adityanath

OpIndia Staff
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Opposition spread rumours that if 370 is scrapped, the country will witness heinous bloodshed, but nothing happened: Yogi Adityanath

In a spirited speech by Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Jahagirpuri assembly constituency of Delhi, he lashed out at opposition saying that Baba Saheb Ambedkar used to say that 370 will be the reason for separatism in the country. Opposition spread rumors that if the 370 is scrapped, the country will witness heinous bloodshed, but nothing happened, he said.

Taking the women empowerment as a primary concern, Yogi said, “The second term of Modiji has just completed 5-6 months of governance and the government delivered a string of historic decisions taken in this term. The women’s empowerment is a topic of discussion from the very day of independence. But women empowerment isn’t worth until the women are respected in their homes. The courageous effort was part of Modiji led BJP’s governance.

In a rebellious tone, Yogi asserted that 500 years had been fighting war battles, legal battles, firstly concealed by Mughals, then Britishers and now congress concealed and stretched the Ram Mandir dispute issue for so long. “Those who used to say that if Ram Mandir verdict will be delivered, the country will see the worst bloodshed, I convinced them not to worry as I’m here in Uttar Pradesh”.


Yogi said, “Pakistan’s terrorists are not willing to enter India, by doing so they are being killed like a mad dog. Now no biryani is served to the terrorists, this was a Congress’s ritual of serving biryani to terrorists in Kashmir and the same AAP is doing in Shaheen Bagh”. “In BJP’s favor, we see the population cheering for us, but in favor of Aam Aadmi Party Pakistan’s minister is urging people to vote For AAP on twitter, Kejriwal does not have faith in Delhi’s populace, now he’s asking his lord across the border to ask to vote him”, he added.

As a foremost reason of protests in Delhi the CAA was included in his speech, he convinced the rally, “Each and Every person knows that CAA is for persecuted minorities of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It is our duty to nurture minorities in the country. In India 3 crore Muslims grew into 21 crores, their population generated 7 times but in Pakistan, only 1% of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, etc are remaining from 23% at the time of independence”.

Read- Anti-CAA riots: ‘Liberals’ brought back the ‘urban riot’, but Yogi Adityanath might have a solution

Yogi Adityanath blamed Arvind Kejriwal for misgovernance and administrative glitch in the national capital. Hei said, “The roads are worse in Delhi and doesn’t make one feels like we’re in the capital, where is Delhi’s fund going?”

Yogi Adityanath lashed out at Anti-CAA protestors saying that the anti-CAA protests in Delhi were “not about the amended law” but a manifestation of the “grouse” harbored by the protesters “against an Indian state that is an emerging as a major power in the world”. He alleged that their ancestors divided India, so they have grumbled against “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

He dared Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna as he did in Ganga on the occasion of Basant Panchami. “There are two godly rivers one is Ganga and the other is the Yamuna. I dare Kejriwal Ji to take a dip in the Yamuna as I did in Ganga this Basant Panchami. Due to the Namami Gange program delivered by Modiji, Ganga is nirmal now. Delhi’s common public is suffering due to a permanent administrative glitch. The population of Delhi is drinking poisonous water, Kejriwal’s satisfaction is connected with Shaheen Bagh and not with the development of the state.”

Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath will be campaigning in Delhi till February 4. He will also visit Shaheen Bagh, Jamia Nagar, Maulvi Nagar where the protests are happening against CAA and NRC.

Hindu Sena to clear the road at Shaheen Bagh blocked by anti-CAA protesters on February 2, announces founder Vishnu Gupta

OpIndia Staff
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Hindu Sena to clear the road at Shaheen Bagh blocked by anti-CAA protesters on February 2, announces founder Vishnu Gupta

The founder and national president of Hindu Sena, Vishnu Gupta has stated that his organisation ‘Hindu Sena’ will carry out a march from Sarita Vihar to Shaheen Bagh on February 2, 2020 against the illegal occupation of one of the busiest thoroughfares of Delhi. Gupta has hoped that he will be able to get the road “cleared” at Shaheen Bagh.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M34bQogLaD4]

In an interview with Molitics, Gupta shared his organisation’s plan to root out the anti-CAA squatters occupying the road in Shaheen Bagh. The former Shiv Sena member, who now leads the Hindu Sena, said that he will be leading the march along with a raft of villagers and other members to vacate the road occupied by Shaheen Bagh protesters.

Gupta further added, “I have asked all the residents living in the nearby areas, villagers and others to join me in our march from Sarita Vihar to Shaheen Bagh against the demonstrators who have occupied the road on the pretext of opposing Citizenship Amendment Act. I hope we would be able to flush out the protesters from there tomorrow

“Occupying road is an offence. If they want to exercise their democratic right to dissent, they camp at Jantar Mantar or Ramlila Maidaan in Delhi. This is not the right way to protest. Lakhs of people daily travel from that road. It is causing grave inconvenience to them. People who want to reach Noida are finding it difficult to reach their destination because of these protests,” Gupta reasoned.

When asked about the chances of a violent confrontation between the Hindu Sena members and Shaheen Bagh protesters, Vishnu Gupta nonchalantly said that it is well-within in his rights to lead a protest to vacate the road that is causing distress to the residents and the daily commuters.

Read- Shaheen Bagh shooting: The second step in a cold and calculated conspiracy?

“Government is observing how the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh are blocking the road. They will also see our pressure. If police stops us from visiting the place, our pressure will be directed on the police then. If they won’t allow us to read there, it is their responsibility to get the road cleared,” Gupta asserted.

Extolling Modi government, Gupta said that the government doing is a fine job. However, he raised questions on Delhi police, asking why are they helpless against the protesters.

“We want Delhi Police to lathicharge the protesters at Shaheen Bagh. What is stopping them from taking action against the demonstrators. Everyone should be equal before law,” Gupta said.

Furthermore, Gupta added that blocking anyone’s road is an offence and not a method of exercising one’s democratic right to protest. “Half of Delhi has come to a standstill because of the road blockade at Shaheen Bagh. If they want to exercise their democratic right to protest, carry out a sit-in march at Ramlila maidaan or at Jantar mantar, not at one of the arterial thoroughfares of the national capital,” Gupta said.

Watch: Pakistani student in Wuhan watches his Indian counterparts being evacuated as their govt ditches them after Coronavirus outbreak

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Pakistani student in Wuhan watches his Indian counterparts being evacuated as their govt ditches them after Coronavirus outbreak

While India continues with its operation to safely evacuate its citizens from Coronavirus hit China, Pakistanis remain stuck at Coronavirus hit China as Pakistan refused to evacuate their citizens stranded in Wuhan, as an “act of solidarity” towards their ally China.

A heartbreakingly tragic video has emerged in which a Pakistani student shames Pakistani authorities for their apathy towards them as he watches Indian students boarding a bus sent by the Indian embassy. The bus would carry these Indian students to the airport from where they would be airlifted to India.


In the video shared by journalist associated with The Print, many people can be seen boarding a bus. The man speaking in the video introduces himself as a Pakistani student. He says that the bus, seen in the video has been sent by the Indian Embassy to safely carry the Indian students stuck in Wuhan, China to the airport from where they would be heading to their country by the aircraft sent by the Indian government to evacuate its citizens stranded there.

He furthers that even the Bangladeshi citizens would also be evacuated by their government. He says that it is only us, Pakistanis, who are stuck here as our government does not care for their citizens stranded in China. Angrily he says that Pakistani government are not concerned about our well being -whether we live or we die or get infected, they have said that they are not concerned, the student is heard saying. They will neither evacuate us nor provide us with any facility, says the disturbed student.

Read: Coronavirus crisis: Indian Army sets up quarantine facility at Manesar in Haryana for 300 Indians returning from Wuhan

He ends by saying “shame on you Pakistan government… learn something from India, learn how they care about their citizens”.

Another 800 Pakistani nationals are stuck in Wuhan, China – the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak. Reportedly, the Pakistani government has snubbed its own citizens to show “solidarity” with China. The Pakistan Government is of the view that China is equipped with the requisite technology to contain the spread of coronavirus.

India had yesterday evacuated over 300 citizens who were stranded in Wuhan after the virus outbreak. A special Air India flight was sent by the government and the Army was tasked with constructing an extensive and well-equipped quarantine facility in Manesar to house the people returning from Wuhan. Though none of them is said to be infected, they will be kept under observation for 2 weeks at the centre.

Budget 2020: Dual tax regime, a complicated tax structure that may require professional help

Guest Author
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Budget 2020: Dual tax regime, a complicated tax structure that may require professional help

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today announced a new dual regime of taxation for individuals and HUF (Hindu Undivided Family). This is first time in Income tax where such dual regime would be applicable. 

The purpose of this is simplification of Income tax and removal of exemption and deductions. There were many direct tax committees who had suggested this in past. However, this seems to be a complicated tax structure which requires professional help for each different scenario with lots of test and eligibility checks.

I have analysed some of the aspect of this below:

Tax slabs:

Different Slab rates for individuals less than 60 years of age in pursuance of the Budget 2020 is as follows:

Income

Old Regime

New Regime
Below Rs. 2,50,000

Nil

Nil
*Rs. 2,50,001 to Rs. 5,00,000

5%

5%
Rs. 5,00,001 to Rs. 7,50,000

20%

10%
Rs. 7,50,001 to Rs. 10,00,000

20%

15%
Rs. 10,00,001 to Rs. 12,50,000

30%

20%
Rs. 12,50,001 to Rs.15,00,000

30%

25%
Above 15,00,000

30%

30%

For age above 60 and upto 80 years and for age above 80 years separate slabs under old regime would be applicable. 

Eligibility and income criterion for choosing: 

Particulars Person not having Business Income Person having Business Income
Frequency of Option switching Can avail this option each year.

Can only opt in or out such option only once. Meaning once you choose this and then decide to opt out then cannot opt in again ever.

Implications

Need to keep check each year. Hence, this will lead to additional compliance cost to such person. Being flexible condition tax management will be easier but lead to additional expenditure on compliance to keep yearly check.

No need to keep check each year but an incorrect decision may lead to additional tax payment each year. Being rigid condition, this may lead to additional tax payment.
Change of Status A person started earning business income need to again make a decision.

A person no more having business income need to again make a decision.
Presumptive Taxation Not applicable

Decision on presumptive taxation option to be taken separately

Depreciation Not applicable

If opted for new regime with presumptive taxation then no depreciation allowed.

If opted for new regime without presumptive tax then depreciation allowed but additional depreciation not allowed.

 

Deductions and exemption to be foregone:

Person will have to forego many exemptions/deductions if they choose to pay tax under new system.

Major such exemptions or deductions are listed below:-

    1. Standard deduction for salary of Rs. 50,000
    2. Deduction 80C i.e. ELSS, PF, Insurance premium, School fees, principal repayment on housing loan, etc upto Rs. 1,50,000
    3. Interest on housing loan for self-occupied property or vacant property upto Rs. 2,00,000
    4. loss will not be allowed under house property income
    5. Carry forward of past losses including depreciation will not be allowed.
    6. Mediclaim premium and expenses on medical expenses (Sections 80D and 80DDB, etc)
    7. Interest on education loan under section 80E
    8. Deduction for donations made charitable and other institutions (Section 80G)
    9. Leave travel concession (Section 10(5))
    10. House rent allowance (HRA) (Section 10(13A))
    11. Allowances to MPs/MLAs
    12. Profession tax deduction for salary
    13. Family pension deduction u/s 57
    14. Depreciation u/s 32. 

Illustration:- Individual earning income upto Rs.20,00,000/- ( Salary), 80C deduction assuming eligible for Rs. 1,50,000, 80G deduction- 1,00,000 , PT:-2,500, Standard deduction for salary:- Rs.50,000.

Particulars

New  Regime

Old Regime
Salary

20,00,000

20,00,000
Less:- Standard Deduction

–

(50,000)
Less:- Professional Tax u/s 16

–

(2,500)
Net salary/ GTI

20,00,000

19,47,500
Deductions under Chp VI-A
80C

–

(1,50,000)
80G and other sections

–

(1,00,000)
Total income

20,00,000

16,97,500
Basic Tax

3,37,500

3,21,750

 

This is very basic example still, tax under new regime is higher. Hence, every person will have to calculate this every year. May be more than once depending on the availability of surplus for investment purpose and any life events. Hence, a person may end up doing such calculations at least two to three times in a year. 

However, a person who is not an expert in taxation will find it difficult to go through each section and decide each year. 

An ideal situation would have been to remove exemptions and deductions and have same simplified system for everyone. 

Author Nikhil Vadia is a Mumbai-based Chartered Accountant. Views personal.

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