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Election Commission says no violation of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s Mission Shakti announcement

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission says no violation of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s Mission Shakti announcement

The Election Commission of India has found no infringement of Model Code of Conduct in PM Modi’s announcement of a successful test of ASAT missile that placed India in the coveted list of countries possessing the anti-satellite capability. 

Responding to a complaint filed by Communist leader Sitaram Yechury, the election commission said that Modi’s speech did not attract the provisions of model code of conduct. EC had constituted a Committee of Officers to look into the accusations that Modi had violated the MCC.

Looking into the matter, the committee concluded that “the MCC provision regarding misuse of official mass media as contained in Para (IV) of Part (VII) of Model Code of Conduct, quoted above, is not attracted in the instant case”. The Election Commission accepted the conclusion of the committee, thereby giving a clean chit to Modi.

Checking whether the prime minister misused state broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio, the committee found that the speech was not directly broadcasted by them. They were informed that Doordarshan had used a feed provided by ANI, and AIR has used the audio from DD News. DG of DD submitted that Doordarshan subscribes to visuals of news event from News Agency ANI under an arrangement that is continuing for long time. DD broadcasted the video as received from ANI, and it was not directly captured and broadcasted by Doordarshan, the DG asserted

The DG of AIR also stated nobody from AIR went to record the speech of Modi, and they used audio signal from the telecast of the speech by DD News.

After studying the transcript of the speech of PM Modi and the responses of DD and AIR, the committee concluded that the model code of conduct not violated.

It may be noted that as state broadcasters, DD and AIR need to obtain prior permission from EC before broadcasting any message by politicians and ministers. But in this instance, PM Modi’s speech was not directly covered by DD and AIR. The speech was essentially broadcasted online by ANI, from where TV channels transmitted the feed. DD and AIR also had borrowed the feed from ANI, hence there was no requirement for them to seek EC’s permission before broadcasting the same.

The Election Commission had sought details after clamour from the opposition political parties regarding the violation of Model Code of Conduct grew as the announcement was made by the PM. The Model Code of Conduct is in force since March 10, 2019, when the Election Commission had announced the dates and other details of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The letter of EC and the report of the committee has been provided below.

Will work for spreading Christianity in whole world if elected, says candidate from Nagaland

OpIndia Staff
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Will work for spreading Christianity in whole world if elected, says candidate from Nagaland

MM Thromwa Konyak of the Indian Christian Secular Party will now contest the Lok Sabha elections from the lone seat in Nagaland as an Independent after he failed to produce the original signed copies of Form A and B issued by his party.

Konyak, for his part, believes his candidature is the Christian God’s work. His primary poll promise is sending 10,000 Christian Missionaries from Nagaland out into the world to spread the message of Christ.

“Our forefathers had a dream, that Nagaland sends 10,000 Christian missionaries out into the world. But that dream remains unfulfilled. I will take up the task once I win the election,” Konyak was quoted as saying by TOI.

He stated further, “Nagaland is a Christian majority state. I believe in and practice politics that is based on Christian principles. But I should not be mistaken as a religious bigot or communal. I am Christian by faith, Indian by citizenship and Naga by blood.”

Konyak appears to be blatantly in violation of the Supreme Court verdict which outlawed election campaigns in the name of religion, caste, race, community or language. Only recently, the Election Commission had reiterated that the use of caste and religion is prohibited. “As per the Model Code of Conduct, the use of caste and religion during the election campaign is strictly prohibited,” a statement issued by Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer had said.

Konyak had contested earlier in state assembly elections in 2008 and 2013 but has never won. It is reported that he had tried unsuccessfully for a BJP ticket before announcing his candidature. Besides his dream of 10,000 missionaries, he has stated that he wants to build churches in all remote regions of Nagaland, especially along the Myanmar border.

It is notable here that Nagaland is a Christian majority state and the Church has been involved in politics in most elections. Last year, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council was in the news for asking voters to choose between the ‘Trishul and the Cross’, apparently in opposition of the BJP-led NDA. The NDPP, which is currently ruling in the state, is an NDA member.

The gushing pro-Imran lobby wouldn’t ask for ‘proof and evidence’ now

Ashish Shukla
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The gushing pro-Imran lobby wouldn’t ask for ‘proof and evidence’ now

His swooning and gushing crowd in India would go berserk now that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has acknowledged his country has terror groups and that the “Naya Pakistan” wouldn’t allow them to function with impunity on its soil. They wouldn’t bother to seek “proof and evidence” of this resolve, unlike Balakot.

The Lutyens Media is on its own trip, refusing to acknowledge what Imran has himself conceded—that Pakistan has a terror group on its soil. Instead, the Lutyens Media—Times of India, Indian Express, The Hindu and Hindustan Times—have all based headlines on Pakistan’s fear of India attacking them before 2019 Polls.

This swooning crowd is wrong on both counts—India never initiates a war and is always reactive to threats. Second, Imran Khan is unlikely to follow on his promise. But then, one has to ask why Pakistan has acknowledged that it has terrorists on its breakfast table?

That’s because Pakistan has seen the limitations of being a client-state to China. That’s because it knows it cannot do without the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is controlled by the United States (nearly 18 per cent share). If it doesn’t fall in line with Trump’s distaste for their terrorism, Pakistan could simply blow up.

Before we illustrate that Imran Khan is unlikely to follow up his resolve on terrorism-on-its-soil, let’s look at its askance with China and IMF both.

Despite China pulling all stops to flow financial assistance, Pakistan needs at least $12 billion bailouts from the IMF to remain on its feet. As it is, China’s 22 infrastructure projects in Pakistan under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are worth $28.6  billion and Pakistan would have to pay back close to $100 billion to China by 2024, presently completely beyond its capacity.

Imran Khan has begun pushing back against this “client status” of China. It has downsized the main Chinese railway project by $2 billion, removed a $14 billion dam from Chinese financing and scrapped a 1320-megawatt coal-based power plant in the pipeline. The predatory swoop of China is hurting Pakistan: For instance, China would receive tax-free 91 per cent of revenues from the Gwadar port until it returns it to Pakistan in four decades.  Equipment imports from China are rising and the foreign-exchange reserves of Pakistan are consequently seriously depleted and the balance-of-payments crisis is acutely real.

Meanwhile, IMF, as said controlled by the United States, wants “complete transparency” from Pakistan before it loosens its purse strings. Chillingly, IMF has stated that it needs transparent disclosures to determine whether Pakistan has debt sustainability. This means that Pakistan would have to come out clean on the extent, composition and terms of Pakistan’s debts to China. The US, on its part, doesn’t see Pakistan fit to get IMF bailout. The US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said there would be “no rationale” for an IMF bailout of Pakistan that pays off Chinese debts.

That makes it clear that Pakistan would’ve to hedge its bets. It can’t leave the umbrella of China which shields it from international furore on terrorists and sells it weapons that China’s own military has not inducted, including prototype nuclear power reactors.  It also can’t leave out IMF just to live another day, so to say.

The Immy (Imran)-loving elites in India are completely oblivious to the fact that China and Pakistan together are in a blood-pact to contain, if not destroy, India.

China is salami-slicing India in the Himalayan belt and Pakistan is inflicting a thousand cuts in Jammu and Kashmir through its terror networks, many of whom have been officially blacklisted so by the United Nations (UN) itself. Presently, 55 per cent of Jammu and Kashmir is in the hands of Pakistan (35%) and China (20%). China also has ambitions to build a land corridor to Pakistan so that the Arabian Sea and Indian Oceans opens up to them directly.

It would be great news for India if IMF doesn’t release another round of funds – this would be IMF’s 22nd bailout to Pakistan in six decades—unless Pakistan shows some real action on the ground against terrorists. Pakistan’s financial viability alone shouldn’t be criteria to supply the oxygen of funds.

There is no reason to believe that Imran Khan can walk the talk. The terrorist network and Pakistan’s army, which keeps Imran Khan in office, are Siamese twins. It’s simply time-buying tactics till Pakistan secures IMF loan.

So readers, don’t you believe a line in what you read in our partisan Lutyens Media. India is not an aggressor and would never be. It’s just to demonize Narendra Modi and the BJP/NDA government. Terrorism is Pakistan and Pakistan is terrorism.

Meanwhile, we await Navjot Singh Sidhu, Barkha Dutt and Shoba De to gush over how Imran Khan is “shanti ka messiah” in cracking the whip on terrorists. Let’s see if they also ask for its “proof or evidence.”

Congress making random poll promises as they know they won’t win, PM Modi tells Republic Bharat

OpIndia Staff
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Congress making random poll promises as they know they won’t win, PM Modi tells Republic Bharat

Taking a dig at the Congress on its populist minimum income guarantee promise, PM Modi said that the fifth generation of a family is making same promise of eradicating poverty by making such fantastical promises because they know they are not going to come to power to actually implement the same.


Prime Minister Modi in his interview with Republic Bharat touched upon various issues including the prospects of the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the emergence of an Opposition front, dynastic politics, his campaign theme ‘Mein Bhi Chowkidar’, Pulwama and several other issues ranging from the Rafale deal to unemployment.

Stating that in a democracy like India, Modi said that the voter is at the centre of the election and hence political parties have to go to the polls only to meet the expectations of voters.

Prime Minister Modi added that this year the elections will personality-driven. “After 5 years of being in power, it is usual for the people to make the election campaigns synonymous with a personality and I’ve been constantly among the masses,” said PM Modi in his first interview post-Pulwama terror attacks.

Responding to question on Balakot air strikes conducted by India Air Force and the opposition parties’ reactions to these incidents, PM Modi said he had given full freedom to the armed forces to make a plan and excute it.  “It is my behaviour, where there is a risk to the jawans of India, I’m constantly involved it. There is no expectation from their end, but I could not sleep and I was aware of what was happening.”

Regarding the Opposition’s ‘personal attack’ and saying the Pulwama attack, as well as Balakot air strikes, was ‘match-fixing’ between PM Khan and PM Modi, he added, “No one can question my patriotism for my country. Everyone was aware of how big the attack was, but you should question the Opposition regarding such personal attacks. If they are sure of what they are blaming us for, they can go ahead with this as their agenda for the polls.”

On accusations of the opposition regarding the timing of ASAT programme launch, PM Modi defended the allegations stating that a lot of global planning is needed before an event like ASAT test. A government in power can make mistakes, he said. But, Congress, who has been in power for a long time, should have considered these allegations more seriously. Taking a dig at the utter cluelessness of the Opposition on ASAT missile, PM Modi said, “The Opposition cannot keep the country safe as it lacks primary knowledge.”

Clarifying that the ASAT announcement cannot be considered violation of model code of conduct, PM Modi said, “Can government say it’s not on duty? Should the government not respond to critical issues because of elections.”

He further asserted that the BJP will come back to power in 2019 with a much stronger mandate. PM Modi said that country is not against coalitions, the country wants stability. The people of India don’t want to go towards instability and the people of the country have made up their minds, they want a government with an absolute majority, said PM Modi. He further added that BJP will get more seats than it did in 2014.

“We are the government that works 24 hours. It is unfortunate that when Abhinandan Varthaman was detained in Pakistan, the Opposition started questioning the Balakot air strikes and his safe return. It was their plan and they were going to bring out a ‘candlelight march’ for it,” PM Modi said.

Targetting the opposition over questioning him on the issue of handling Pakistan, PM Modi took a dig on opposition parties and their ecosystem saying that, “They see statesmanship in Pakistan PM’s statements and they doubt their own PM. The people should recognise these people.”

He asserted that Pakistan Prime Minister should prove his intent for peace by returning perpetrators of terror and criminals to India. “Pakistan has always assured that they will take decisive action, but they don’t. I do not want to fall into their trap now,” said PM Modi.

With reference to PM Modi picking up Chowkidar as a campaign theme for the elections, Arnab Goswami asked the Prime Minister on why did not he ignore the abuses hurled at him. PM Modi said that he was a Chowkidar, even though not literally, but in its spirit. He said that the issue of Chowkidar was not a simple issue, rather it was an idea similar to the idea of MK Gandhi’s idea of trusteeship.

“There are people who have gotten into the habit of undertaking personal attacks. As far as Chaiwala is concerned, did you hear it when I was the CM of Gujarat? When I was declared the PM candidate, they dug out my background.

“I’ve been the longest serving Chief Minister of Gujarat. Yes, I’m a chaiwala and my past was never spoken about during my tenure as chief minister. But when I was elected as the Prime Minister, they started raising these issues and I proudly said that I was a chaiwala,” he said.

On being questioned about the fleeing of fugitive economic offenders Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, PM Modi said that the Opposition is slamming him for losing these fugitives but was it is because of his strict actions in the country that they have had to flee, asked PM Modi. He claimed the credit of bringing them back stating that his government has come down severely on their assets for which they have had to run because of our actions.

“During Opposition rule, you would not have even known the names of such fugitives, leave alone know what happened to them and what action was taken against them. Properties worth Rs 14,000 crore belonging to Vijay Mallya have been seized even though total liability against him stands at Rs 9,000 crore,” said PM Modi.

PM Modi also spoke about middleman Michel, “I have got Christian Michel, he is sitting in jail and revealing details. The law is taking its course. We made a law for the fugitives, wherever in the world they hide, their money can be confiscated. All the cheats are waiting for the government to change so that they come back.”

Targetting Congress party over their involvement in various defence deals and scams, he said that previous governments used defence deals as their ATMs as they can not imagine that deals can be done with transparency.

With reference to the issue of Robert Vadra and failure of his government to take any action against the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, PM Modi said that the law is taking its course. “In India, there is a proper system of law. Congress has received a number of notices from the Court, but they take their own sweet time to respond. If we had to take the political route, we could have but we cannot and we have to ensure we follow the judicial system and it will the investigation is working at the right speed” added PM Modi.

Taking on the Mahagathbandhan, PM Modi said, “In Bengal, Kerala and Odisha, has there been any understanding between the Opposition parties then how is the gatbandhan working? It is not yet happening. If people of this country have decided to give us the majority, then who can keep us out even if they decide to ally up after the polls are done? The country has made its decision to ensure full majority and reinstate the NDA government, no one can question that,” asked PM Modi.
He also assured that after the outcome of the upcoming elections is declared, he will work with everyone together. “As a responsible citizen, as a responsible political party, as a responsible PM, I will work with everyone together. Be it Congress or Mayawati or Mamata Banerjee,” said PM Modi indicating that a national consensus may be reached post elections.

Commenting on dynastic politics, PM Modi said, “It is not my problem, but dynastic politics is a major threat to India’s democracy. The parties which are run by families, the country cannot function out of the families control. The party which works as a personal company where no one else can come in as President, this is wrong. It is the responsibility of media houses like you to bring out such dynastic political families.

Prime Minister Modi on TDP’s comments accusing him of ‘ending the democracy if Modi wins’, said, “Those who have no issue to raise will focus on fear-mongering to divert from problems. Were the founding fathers so weak that they would make something that one Modi could destroy? They are insulting those who died for independence.”

“Who wanted to impeach the SC judge, who brought in an emergency? Before levelling allegations they should look in the mirror,” PM Modi said.

“Those who have seen my tenure as CM of Gujarat in the past 13-14 years, they won’t accuse me of trying to control the judiciary and parliament. I’ve been silent all this while but should I question as to who ordered for the Emergency? Who jailed political leaders? Who stabbed their own father in law? Please, not make me open my mouth,” PM Modi warned against rumour mongering.

West Bengal: Brother of BJP Panchayat Member shot dead in Malda, Trinamool goons blamed

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Brother of BJP Panchayat Member shot dead in Malda, Trinamool goons blamed

Patanu Mondol, brother of a Gram Panchayat member from the BJP in West Bengal, Utpal Mondol, was murdered at Malda on Thursday. Mondol was allegedly shot dead by miscreants from Trinamool after barging into his home.

“We have received a complaint of murder against two persons, but they are on the run. Central paramilitary personnel will conduct route march in the area to restore confidence among the locals before the election,” a senior police officer of Malda district was quoted as saying.

District BJP president Sanjit Mishra blamed the Trinamool for Mondol’s murder. He said, “Mondol used to work as a civic police volunteer for Harishchandrapur police station. Earlier, Trinamool workers framed him in a false case and he lost his job. Thereafter, he became a BJP leader in the area and a couple of days ago he was instrumental in organising a rally in the area where more than 1,000 people gathered, unnerving the ruling party workers. Trinamool-backed goons have killed Mondol.”

“Since that victory last year, the family has been facing pressure from local Trinamool leaders. After Utpal’s victory, Trinamool workers set fire to his (Utpal’s) house and damaged the jute that he cultivated. Ruling party workers were also putting pressure on Patanu to join the Trinamool,” he added.

Khagen Murmu, the BJP candidate for Malda North, echoed Mishra’s sentiments as well. “He was our active worker and used to organise meetings. TMC-backed goons have killed him and the party is trying to spread terror before the polls,” he said.

The TMC, on the other hand, accused the BJP of murdering Mondol. Dulal Sarkar, TMC’s Malda district president, said, “The brother of the victim, Utpal, has already joined the Trinamool, and has been appointed the pradhan of local gram panchayat. Inspired by the development spree of the state government, Patanu, too, was also planning to join the Trinamool. BJP-backed goons killed him because of this.”

“The BJP is blaming the Trinamool for anything that is happening in Malda. They are trying to politicise every incident to gain mileage. Trinamool Congress is not involved in this incident at all,” said Moazzem Hussain, TMC’s candidate for Malda South.

Political violence has been a harsh reality in Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal. The Panchayat elections in the state were riddled with extreme violence and numerous cases of murder. There were numerous instances of murders, attacks, and vandalism. Even ballot boxes were looted and found destroyed in multiple areas. The TMC government is being charged with employing goons to intimidate its political rivals.

In 2018, there was a series of murders of BJP workers as saffron in the state began to rise as a serious political force. Earlier in January, a woman was gang-raped because her husband is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Congress: It is all about loving your family (business)

Nirwa Mehta
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Congress: It is all about loving your family (business)

What is the similarity between the grand old party and Bollywood? Their constant state of denial when it comes to ‘loving their family’, or in other words, nepotism.

In both the industries (I would call Congress an industry because it is run more like a family business than as a political party), there is no educational qualification requirement. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, another product of nepotism who perpetuates the same, had said how a politician making his child a politician is the same as a doctor making his child a doctor. Abdullah Senior (or should it be Abdullah junior if I were to refer to him as Shaikh Abdullah’s son?) clearly forgot that even if a doctor wants his child to become a doctor, the child will still have to clear all medical examinations to become one. Just because the child has seen the parent being a doctor, he/she magically cannot become one.

Similarly, if you are born into the Nehru-Gandhi family, by default your career is ‘politician’ with aspirations of being a prime minister of India. Like the Kapoors of Bollywood. But only a few made it to the A-league and gave hits, and others faded into oblivion (like Karan Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor’s children who disappeared from Hindi film industry without a trace).

Usually, defenders of nepotism argue that in politics, people elect their representative and in Bollywood, the audience makes a film a hit or a flop. These delusional fans forget that nepotism doesn’t guarantee success, but it just gives the star kids easy access and more opportunities to try succeeding or just failing better. Just like the Gandhis in Congress. Just because Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi’s father, grandmother and great grandfather were prime ministers, does not automatically give them the easy access to the prime minister’s chair or the right to become the Party President without proving one’s worth.

This is also why Rahul Gandhi, who seems to have realised that Amethi may not a ‘safe’ Congress seat, which The Family has won since the 80s, is now scouring for another ‘safe’ seat.

Another similarity between family-run political parties and Bollywood is that if you are even married into The Family, your entitlement quotient increases. A spouse of a forcefully successful film star kid sometimes gets to become a producer (for taxation purposes) or an interior designer or a fashion designer. Similarly, a spouse of The Family will have country’s top lawyers defending them in various cases like money laundering. The entitlement is such that even when one is neck-deep in corruption allegations, as a spouse of The Family, one casually expresses the desire that they would contest elections if The Party wants them to. ‘If the party wants me to,’ is the political equivalent of ‘I will kiss if the story demands’.

The contempt for those who are the ‘outsiders’ in the industry is also a common factor. We all know how Kangana was mocked at, and continues being mocked at only for speaking out the obvious. An ‘outsider’ dared to say that the star kids have it easier. An ‘outsider’ Modi dared to challenge The Family. A man, who once sold tea at a railway station is now prime minister of world’s largest democracy which till now had one or the other Family member at the helm of the affairs.

How dare he? How dare he believe that the country is not an ancestral property which gets handed down through generation? How dare he not have a ‘vansh‘ for whom he could accumulate wealth? How dare he dream of an India which is not run by The Family?

Rahul Gandhi makes attractive promises for Startups, but Modi govt has already implemented them

OpIndia Staff
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Rahul Gandhi makes attractive promises for Startups, but Modi govt has already implemented them

As the Lok Sabha election approaches, Congress President Rahul Gandhi seems to have changed his campaign strategy from attacking BJP with lies to making promises. After promising the minimum income guarantee scheme, today the Congress president made some promises for startup businesses. He made 4 specific promises for startups: zero permissions for the first 3 years of any new business, elimination of angel tax, incentives and tax credits based on new jobs created by the business, and easy bank credit.


This announcement was celebrated by Congress supporters as Rahul Gandhi is promising something which was never available in the country, and hailed it as revolutionary thinking. But if we go into details, it can be seen that what Rahul Gandhi is promising, the Modi government has already delivered.

One of the major initiatives taken by prime minister Narendra Modi was the Startup India initiative, and the promises made be Rahul Gandhi are already covered by this. The Startup India already has provision for Single Window Clearance for starting a business, and it has the facility of self-certification for compliance with various labour and environment laws through a web-based portal and mobile app-based interface.

Under the Startup India scheme, no inspection of is done in the first three years regarding labour laws. Starting a new business just requires registration on a website, it does not need filling up pages of forms and doing the rounds of government offices.

Startup businesses are already exempted from paying tax for 3 years, irrespective of how many people they employ. While Rahul Gandhi proposes to link tax exemption with employment generation. This means, if a Congress party-led government comes to power, they will withdraw the 3-year blanket tax holiday and replace it with a complex incentive and tax credit system linked to the number of jobs created by a startup.

The Startup India initiative also has set up a fund of ₹10,000 crores to support startups which can be tapped by new businesses registered under this scheme as venture capital. The Modi government has also launched a 59-minute loan scheme for MSMEs, where the businesses can obtain approval for loans from ₹10 lakhs to ₹1 crore in just 59 minutes. This loan is provided without any collateral, and the application for the loan is to be submitted online, without visiting any office or bank.

For amounts below ₹10 lakhs, entrepreneurs can avail loan under the Mudra scheme, which also provides loans without any collateral or security. Startups are also guaranteed funds through National Credit Guarantee Trust Company or SIDBI over 4 years.

Rahul Gandhi promises to remove the angel tax, but he fails to mention that it was the UPA government that had introduced it in the first place. The angel tax, which comes under section 56(2)(VIIB) of Income Tax Act, was introduced by the UPA government in the 2012 union budget, but surprisingly media reports slamming it started appearing only after Modi government came to power.

It may be noted that recently the government has relaxed the norms of Angel Tax for startups. It is a mystery that while the same Angel Tax is there since 2012, it became an issue only 2-3 years ago, and Rahul Gandhi promises to remove what was originally introduced by his own government, ostensibly to curb black money.

Not only Modi government is already fulfilling the promises by Rahul Gandhi, but there are also several more benefits under the Startup India initiative. Startup businesses can participate in government tenders without the requirements of prior experience and minimum turnover. Startups are exempted from capital gains tax for a long time, and there is a provision of 80% reduction in patent filing fee for such businesses. Winding up businesses is also made easier, with the provision for closing up a venture in just 90 days.

Therefore, what Rahul Gandhi is promising for new businesses, the Modi government is already providing the same, and much more.

Will get more seats in 2019 than in 2014: PM Modi to Republic Bharat

OpIndia Staff
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Will get more seats in 2019 than in 2014: PM Modi to Republic Bharat

Prime Minister Modi today in an interview to news channel Republic Bharat has asserted that the BJP-led NDA will not only win the 2019 general elections but also win with more seats than in 2014. Taking on the Mahagathbandhan, the coalition of opposition parties, PM Modi said that the opposition today is more scattered than it was in 2014.

“In Bengal, Kerala and Odisha, has there been any understanding between the Opposition parties? Then how is the gathbandhan working? It is not yet happening. If people of this country have decided to give us the majority, then who can keep us out even if they decide to ally up after the polls are done? The country has made its decision to ensure full majority and reinstate the NDA government, no one can question that,” PM Modi said adding that the BJP, as well as all its allies, will definitely win more seats than 2014.

Adding that even when it is the ruling party, it is his responsibility as a prime minister to work together with the opposition. “Be it Congress or Mamata or Mayawati, I am committed to work together with them,” he asserted that the people of the country are in favour of giving a strong mandate and full majority to the government.

Taking on the false promises of Congress, PM Modi said, “They have been talking about poverty since decades. Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Sonia and now Rahul is also parroting the same.” He added that if the people of the country sit and read all the promises made by the opposition, they themselves will agree that they should never be given the charge to form the government.

India disappointed over Pak’s response to the dossier containing evidence of JeM’s involvement in Pulwama terror attack

OpIndia Staff
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India disappointed over Pak’s response to the dossier containing evidence of JeM’s involvement in Pulwama terror attack

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s response to the detailed dossier sent by India to Pakistan containing the evidence of Jaish-e-Mohammad’s (JeM) involvement in the Pulwama terror attack and the presence of JeM’s training camps and its leadership in the territory of Pakistan.


In a statement issued by the MEA, the Ministry said that it is not surprised by Pakistan’s response as the country had acted in a similar way after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and after Pathankot terror attack in 2016.


The MEA said that Masood Azhar is based in Pakistan and this fact was admitted by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mehmood Qureshi before International media.

Earlier in the day Pakistan shared its “preliminary findings” to India on the Pulwama terror attack and denied having any role in it. The country claimed that it had examined the 22 pin locations provided by India and found no terror camps also sought further evidence from India. It also sought further evidence from India. “We have sought further information/evidence from India to take the process forward,” said Pakistan Foreign Ministry.

India’s dossier contained 91 pages and 6 parts. Pakistan has stated that only part 2 and 3 were related to the Pulwama incident and hence the foreign office has responded to those parts only.

Article 35A is constitutionally vulnerable, hampering economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir: Arun Jaitley

OpIndia Staff
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Article 35A is constitutionally vulnerable, hampering economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir: Arun Jaitley

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has said that Article 35A of the constitution is hampering the development of Jammu and Kashmir instead of helping the state. In a Facebook post published today, Jaitley said that Article 35A was surreptitiously included by a Presidential Notification in the Constitution in 1954, and it was neither a part of the original constitution nor it was inserted as a constitutional amendment. He also asked whether the policies of Nehru for the state was a historical blunder or was it the correct course to follow.

Jaitley said that as the article discriminates between people of Jammu and Kashmir and Indian citizens from outside the state, the state is suffering. As people from outside the state can’t get jobs, can’t own property and their children can’t get admitted to government institutions, people from outside the state are unwilling to go to the state. Businesses also don’t want to invest in the state due to the same reason. Article 35A has prevented investment and dismantled the State’s economy, Jaitley said.

The finance minister added that Article 35A is constitutionally vulnerable, and while it is used as a political shield by many, it has hurt the common citizen of the state the most. It denied them a booming economy, economic activity and jobs, he said.

The complete text of Arun Jaitley’s blog has been reproduced below:

The Rule of Law and the State of Jammu & Kashmir

The seven decade history of the State of Jammu & Kashmir confronts changing India with several questions. Was the Nehruvian course, which the State had embarked, a historical blunder or was it the correct course to follow? Most Indians today believe that it is the former. Does our policy today have to be guided by that erroneous vision or an out of box thinking which is in consonance with ground reality?

The Article 35A misadventure

Article 35A was surreptitiously included by a Presidential Notification in the Constitution in 1954. It was neither a part of the original Constitution framed by the Constituent Assembly, nor did it come as a Constitutional Amendment under Article 368 of the Constitution which requires an approval by two-third majority of both Houses of Parliament. It came as a Presidential Notification and is a surreptitious executive insertion in the Constitution.

It gives the right to the State Government to discriminate between two State citizens living in the State on the basis of declaring some as permanent residents while leaving out the others. It also discriminates between permanent residents of the State and all other Indian citizens living elsewhere. Lakhs of Indian citizens in J&K vote in Lok Sabha elections but not in Assembly, municipal or Panchayat polls. Their children cannot get government jobs. They cannot own property and their children cannot get admitted to governmental institutions. The same applies to those who live elsewhere in the country. The heirs of ladies marrying outside the State are disinherited from owing or inheriting property.

How Article 35A hurt the people of Jammu & Kashmir?

The State does not have adequate financial resources. Its ability to raise more has been crippled by Article 35A. No investor is willing to set up an industry, hotel, private educational institutions or private hospitals since he can neither buy land or property nor can his executives do so. Their ward cannot get government jobs or admission to colleges. Today, there are no major national or international chains which have set up hotel in a tourism centric State. This prevents enrichment, resource generation and job creation. Students have to travel all over, including Nepal and Bangladesh, to get college admissions. Engineering colleges and hospitals, including super-speciality facility set up by Central Government in Jammu are lying under-utilized or unutilized since Professors and Doctors from outside are unwilling to go there. Article 35A has prevented investment and dismantled the State’s economy.

Article 35A, which is constitutionally vulnerable, is used as a political shield by many but it hurt the common citizen of the State the most. It denied them a booming economy, economic activity and jobs.

Our faith in the mainstream parties of the Valley and the disappointment with them

Governments at the Centre have always desired that despite political differences we must allow more space to the mainstream parties in the Valley so that the separatist space is shrunk. Three families, since 1947, dominated that mainstream space. Two of them are based out of Srinagar and one in New Delhi. Regrettably, they let down the people of the State. The two major mainstream parties, even when they condemned terrorism, it was always with ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’. It is only their absolute distancing from separatism, violence and terrorism that can create an alternative space. Being soft in criticizing separatism does no good. It is for this reason that their own space has shrunk. This is the country’s disappointment with them.

The present situation

Why should the rule of law that applies to the rest of the country not apply to the State? Should violence, separatism, mass stone throwing, vicious ideological indoctrination be allowed on the plea that if we check it, it will have a negative effect. It is this misconceived policy that has proved to be counter-productive. Today, the present government has decided that the rule of law in the interest of the people of Kashmir Valley and the larger interest of India, must equally apply to the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

The Jamaat-e-Islami, in the last several years, has indulged in ideological indoctrination which provided the manpower resource for separatism. It transformed the Valley from the liberal land of ‘Sufism’ to hardcore ‘Wahhabism’. It has been banned. Hundreds of its activists have been arrested. Its offices have been sealed. Its activities have been significantly curtailed. The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which was working over-ground, has also been banned. Several of its people have been arrested. Separatists and Hurriyat leaders, as also several undeserving cases numbering in hundreds, have had their security withdrawn. You cannot advocate a break away from India and expect India to secure you.

The NIA has cracked down on terrorist funding. The Income-tax Department has swung into action after seventeen years and discovered several sources of anti-national funding. The CBI is looking into 80,000 gun licences given in recent years.

All this has witnessed insignificant protest, no mass stone throwing incidents, reduction in domestic recruitment to terrorist organisation. The past few months have witnessed the neutralisation of the largest number of militants.

The developmental activities

Today, the Government offices are opening and working regularly. Attendance has gone up. Several corrupt officials have been booked and are in prison. Nepotism in appointment has been done away with. There are no interviews conducted. They have been abolished. Multiple legislations have been passed and several legislative measures taken by the Central Government for SC/ST and weaker sections, have been extended to the State. 42,000 new posts have been created in the last six months.

Infrastructure projects, including the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation for both the cities of Jammu & Kashmir, the Ring Road for the two cities, AIIMS in both the regions, an IIT and an IIM in Srinagar and Jammu respectively are projects which have been resolved in the last few months and are progressing further. The State has become ‘open defecation free’ with hundred per cent sanitation. Every house has already been electrified. Several long pending projects in three regions have been cleared. Fifty new colleges in the State have been sanctioned and 232 schools upgraded. A lot of decentralisation of finances has taken place.

More power has been given to Ladakh and Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils. A Ladakh Division has been created. A new university has been established at Ladakh.

The separatists and the terrorists have been badly hit. The two mainstream parties are only giving television bytes and their activities are confined to social media. The people of the State are welcoming the steps taken. They wanted peace and freedom from violence and terror. The rule of law is being enforced in the Valley and is ensuring people a safe and peaceful life.

 

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