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Arun Jaitley answers why Sanitary Napkins can’t be made tax free

OpIndia Staff
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Arun Jaitley answers why Sanitary Napkins can’t be made tax free

There has been an ongoing debate revolving around why a basic need such as Sanitary Napkins can’t be made ‘tax free’, considering many women, especially from the rural belt need to be motivated to use this hygiene product.

During the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, an audience question was posed to Mr. Arun Jaitley, who is the current Finance Minister as to why the Government has decided to levy GST on sanitary napkins at while it has made Bindis tax free and what factors decide whether the product should be included in GST.

Arun Jaitley said that there are various economic factors that need to be kept in mind while making such decisions. He said that the first question that needs to be answered is what was the tax on sanitary napkins prior to 1st of July.

If one is to take all the taxes, by the centre, the state and the embedded taxes, Sanitary Napkins were already being taxed at around 13%. The GST Council put it in the 12% category. In the 12% category one has the additional benefit of availing input credit. So a lot of adhesives and additional materials that are used in the manufacturing of Sanitary Napkins are all 18% tax items. Hence, all the input items are taxed at 18% while the final item is taxed at 12%. Owing to this, after one avails of Input Credit, the next tax on the product is nominal as against the 13% tax bracket the Sanitary Napkins used to be in.

He then went on to directly address the ongoing debate by mentioning that ‘some television anchor and some MP’ started a debate that Sanitary Napkins shouldn’t be taxed at all. He said that firstly, as opposed to 13%, the effective tax rate post GST has come down to about 3-4% (after availing Input Credit) as explained above.

He then proceeded to explain why Sanitary Napkins needed to be in the 12% GST category to ensure that local manufacturing thrives without the market being taken over by Chinese goods.

He said that if the Government exempts Sanitary Napkins from GST, then all the input taxes payable on raw materials used for manufacturing of Sanitary Napkins, which are mostly taxed at 18%, won’t be eligible to claim Input Credit. Consequently the local manufacturer would add it to the cost of the finished product which would ultimately be paid by the consumer. This would make locally manufactured Sanitary Napkins more expensive for the consumers.

Other than that, the Chinese goods would be taxed at a lower rate, considering they would only have to pay 12% IGST (integrated GST). This would effectively make the Chinese product cheaper than the local manufacturer (because the Chinese products being exported from China are exempt from export duty in their country).

The ultimate effect would severely compromise the Indian manufacturing sector in this category considering the market would be flooded with cheaper Chinese products are compared to locally manufactured products.


This ill-informed controversy was advertised recently by Ms. Faye D’Souza of ‘Mirror Now’.


Many, at the time, had tried to counter her misplaced understanding of taxation, but to no avail.


We now hope Ms. D’Souza and others who outraged on the issue can understand nuances and perhaps refrain from creating fear psychosis.

Religion, like caste, does matter in politics: Twitter users shut up virtue signallers

OpIndia Staff
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Religion, like caste, does matter in politics: Twitter users shut up virtue signallers

Virtue Signalling is a term used to describe the statement/action of a particular person, who issues a statement aimed at ‘flaunting’ how morally upright he or she is compared to others. This is often done to appear politically correct and win ‘liberal’ brownie points.

Such instances of virtue signalling regularly surface on Twitter, and yesterday was one such day when the virtue signallers descended as a swarm with their full might.

On Wednesday, Congress got into a bit of a swamp after social media became rife with reports of Rahul Gandhi’s name entered in a register meant for non-Hindus before visiting the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat. Later the Congress clarified this ‘gaffe’ by causing extra confusion, and then took things to the next level by calling Rahul a “Janeu dhaari Hindu”.

So the question was — does it matter in politics what religion Rahul Gandhi follows? The virtue signallers were ready with the answer:


The biggest problem with such statements is that, these same virtue signallers don’t shy away from bringing in religion when they find it convenient.

Take the case of the same Zakka Jacob who here is clearly seen analysing elections via a religious angle:


Also Seema Goswami had herself accused PM Modi of not taking proper care of Muslim sentiments:


Apart from religion these people also can’t stop talking about caste, which is another identity like religion:


Hypocrisy aside, which is an essential ingredient for being a ‘liberal’ in India, these people were questioned as to why they can’t stop talking about caste, but have a problem the moment religion is mentioned:


People further highlighted not just their blissful acceptance of ‘caste’ being an essential part of Indian politics, but how religion indeed has been an essential part of Indian politics. Users pointed out how for dynasty loyalists, it doesn’t matter when Rahul Gandhi is involved:


Such a glaring disparity in what these Virtue Signallers practice and preach, itself goes out to prove that neither politics nor caste are issues which can be alienated from politics. Religion, like caste, influences people’s worldview and any attempt to say that it doesn’t matter is an attempt to brush uncomfortable issues beneath the carpet.

Tata Motors issues statement debunking Rahul Gandhi’s lies on Sanand factory

OpIndia Staff
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Tata Motors issues statement debunking Rahul Gandhi’s lies on Sanand factory

Rahul Gandhi has been on a whirlwind campaign trail in Gujarat in a bid to defeat the indomitable BJP which has held on to its bastion for the past 2 decades. It doesn’t come as a surprise, given Rahul’s penchant for gaffes, that he has peddled more than one lie in his attempt to demonize Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

One of those lies was when he claimed that the Gujarat state government had given Tata Motors Rs. 33,000 crores for its factory in Sanand.


While we had comprehensively debunked Rahul Gandhi’s lies related to the Sanand factory, Tata Motors has today issued an official statement in an email sent out to media houses, taking on Rahul Gandhi’s assertions.

“The investor friendly environment created by the Government of Gujarat (GoG) encouraged Tata Motors to set-up its manufacturing plant in Sanand, with a long-term vision to make it one of the leading automotive hubs, further enabling Gujarat to contribute to the prosperity and growth of India.

Given the scale of the project and its potential to drive growth in the state, the GoG offered Tata Motors an incentive package in the form of a loan (not a grant), which is to be repaid to the State Government as per the Loan Agreement executed. The loan given to Tata Motors from the GoG is from taxes paid by Tata Motors.

Until now, the State Govt. has given a loan of Rs 584.8 Cr to Tata Motors. Since the establishment of the Sanand plant, there has been a spurt in economic activity and growth in employment (direct and indirect) within the State, making Gujarat one of the key auto hubs within the country with huge employment generation. The project has also given rise to capital investments which has further resulted in the development of incidental industrial activities and employment generation in small and medium scale industries.”

While we know Rahul Gandhi’s predisposition to misrepresent facts, we wonder if we will see a public retraction or acknowledgement of this statement by either Rahul Gandhi or the Congress party.

How Rahul Gandhi’s description as a ‘Janeu dhaari Hindu’ exposes his and Congress’ hypocrisy

OpIndia Staff
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How Rahul Gandhi’s description as a ‘Janeu dhaari Hindu’ exposes his and Congress’ hypocrisy

29th November 2017 might turn out to be a day of momentous gaffes for the Congress party.

Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi who has been going on a “temple run” in Gujarat ahead of state elections, saw his “pilgrimage” getting into trouble after social media erupted with reports of him declaring himself a non-Hindu before taking the Darshan of the famous Somnath Temple.

Later the Congress decided to clarify this ‘gaffe’ by causing extra confusion and later took things to the next level by calling Rahul a “Janeu dhaari Hindu”. This assertion by the Congress was questioned by social media users who hinted towards a possible catholic origin of the Congress Vice-President.

Speculations aside, it seems that such an assertion of a ‘Janeu Dhari Hindu’ identity exposes his and his party’s hypocrisy on this whole caste/religion issue.

For example take this statement made by Rahul Gandhi two years ago, while he was undertaking some farmer outreach program in Uttar Pradesh. While being asked by a reporter whether he endorsed the Brahmin narrative of the UP campaign, he replied that:

I don’t believe in caste, nor endorse any of that. UP needs to get out of this morass. The only way to do that is to become a party that represents everybody equally. My view is the Congress is a party for all

Quite clearly it seems that the Rahul Gandhi of 2016 would have thoroughly condemned his party’s idea of depicting him as a “Janeu dhaari Hindu”.

Such a list doesn’t end here:

  • Around the same time, reports had emerged from Uttar Pradesh which quoted Rahul Gandhi accusing the BJP and RSS of being traders of religion. He was quoted as alleging that the BJP would do anything to come to power like using issues means like religion, cow and violence. That Rahul Gandhi too might be outraged when he knows that currently Rahul is touring various temples of Gujarat, possibly in order to woo the Hindu voters and the Congress too has affixed an outright Hindu identity to the leader.
  • Rahul had also tried to take a moral high ground when it comes to caste and religion issues in 2013 when he was quoted as accusing the BJP of dividing people on the basis of region, religion and caste to win the then upcoming election of Rajasthan. This again completely contradicts the current actions of Rahul and the Congress.

One doesn’t even need to go this far back in time to dig up such glaring contradictions:

Just this September, while addressing a divisional congregation of the Congress activists in Nanded, Maharashtra, he was again seen accusing the BJP of dividing people on the basis of caste and also claimed that his party will not allow them to do.

Such paradoxes might lead many to believe that the Congress has glaringly exposed its own hypocrisy when it comes to using caste and religion for winning elections, something which the party and its “heir apparent” have time and again been accusing the BJP of doing.

Muslim man’s child expelled from an Islamic school due to the father’s love for “Vande Mataram”

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim man’s child expelled from an Islamic school due to the father’s love for “Vande Mataram”

In a news which might dent the so-called “composite ethos” of India, a Muslim man has run into a variety of troubles due to his love for national song “Vande Mataram”.

As per reports [1][2], an Agra resident Gulchaman Sherwani, who resides in the Muslim dominated Azampara area has alleged that, he and his family are facing a boycott, which includes an expulsion of his kids from an Islamic school. They have also come under attack from a section of their community for wearing Tri-colour clothes.

As per Aslam Khan, the person who runs the school, he was forced to remove Sherwani’s daughter for the school due to objection from other parents. As per Khan, this opposition stemmed from the family wearing “Tri-colour clothes” and the father singing the national song.

Sherwani has also faced difficulties in the past which as per him, include an issuance of fatwa against him by Shahi Imam of Delhi Jama Masjid, Maulana Ahmed Bukhari. Bukhari had not stopped at that and even called him a “Kafir” or unbeliever.

Such an opposition to Vande Mataram was also seen in the Meerut Municipal Corporation House after a group of Muslim councillors left the venue where “Vande Mataram” was being sung. The “justified” this decision of theirs by claiming that Sharia law doesn’t allow them to sing it. Their membership was later terminated.

This isn’t the only time certain people of the Muslim community have been tormented for going against the “prescribed norm”.

We had reported how 25 Muslim families in Madhyatilla locality in Shantirbazar sub-division of South Tripura were denied entry in their local mosque because they had joined the BJP. These 25 families which comprised of a total of 200 people had quit the CPM to join the BJP.

It was also seen that a Kerala mosque committee had ordered the boycott of a Muslim family because they had agreed to the marriage of their daughter to a non-Muslim.

Mehbooba Mufti orders the withdrawal of cases against 4,327 stone pelters

OpIndia Staff
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Mehbooba Mufti orders the withdrawal of cases against 4,327 stone pelters

On Wednesday, Mehbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir ordered the withdrawal of stone pelting cases against 4,327 youths of the state. Most of these youths were booked with stone pelting cases prior to 2014.

As per reports, this decision was a result of the recommendation provided by a high-powered committee headed by Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid. Soon after coming to power the Mufti government had initiated a review process of stone pelting cases which were lodged against youths from 2008 to 2014.

It had earlier withdrawn 104 cases against about 634 youths, two months after coming to power. This process which was disrupted last year due to the violence, was renewed yesterday with the withdraw of about 744 such cases which involves 4,327 such pelters.

The Mufti government doesn’t seem to be stopping at that and it has also asked the committee to look into the cases filed in 2015, 2016 and 2017, a report concerning which will be submitted in the next 10 days. The justification provided for such a move is that the government wants to help the youths rebuild their lives.

This withdrawal though doesn’t include cases filed against repeat offenders and those suspected of heinous crimes.

Such a move by the Jammu and Kashmir government comes  after the National Investigative Agency (NIA) had undertaken extensive efforts to try and put a dent into the stone pelting menace.

We had reported in the past how the investigative agency had identified 117 individuals who led stone pelting groups and gave instructions over WhatsApp. It had also identified 79 WhatsApp groups which were used to mobilise stone pelters, many of which had admins in Pakistan. The agency had also arrested two notorious stone pelters, one of whom was also a photojournalist.

It remains to be seen as to what is the response of coalition partner BJP on this whole issue. It also remains to be seen whether such an “amnesty program” by the Mufti government indeed helps drive away these Kashmiri youths from insurgency or whether they would be back on the streets in the near future.

Social Media questions Congress’ claim about Rahul Gandhi being a ‘Janeu dhaari Hindu’

OpIndia Staff
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Social Media questions Congress’ claim about Rahul Gandhi being a ‘Janeu dhaari Hindu’

Social Media erupted today when pictures of Rahul Gandhi’s name in the Somnath Temple’s ‘Non Hindu register surfaced. Following that, Congress came out with confused justifications and declared that ‘Rahul Gandhi is not just a Hindu, but is a ‘janeu dhaari Hindu’.

As expected, Twitter erupted yet again, questioning Congress on its recent claim of Rahul Gandhi being a Brahmin Hindu.


Questions are being raised about his lineage and how he can possibly be a ‘Brahmin Hindu’. Some were even seen seeking proof of his ‘Upanayan’. Journalist from ABP, Vikas Bhaduria also raised questions as to why the Congress party never countered claims of the 1998 New York Times article that proclaimed that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were raised as devout Catholics.

While questions and conspiracy theories grip Social Media, Congress party seems to be spinning a tangled web for itself.

Congress clarifies Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Non Hindu’ gaffe by creating more confusion

OpIndia Staff
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Congress clarifies Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Non Hindu’ gaffe by creating more confusion

In a stunning twist of events, Twitter today erupted when news surfaced that Rahul Gandhi’s name was entered in the ‘Non Hindu’ visitors register.

ANI reported that Congress’ official defence was that Rahul had not signed the ‘Non Hindu’ register, and released the picture of the ‘real signature’.


However, there seems to be a dichotomy since the Somnath Temple Trust PRO, Dhruv Joshi confirmed that Congress Paty’s media coordinator had entered Rahul Gandhi and Ahmad Patel’s names in the ‘Non Hindu’ entry register.


Congress party earlier said that Rahul Gandhi has signed only in one register, which is the visitors register. That fact is not contested since it is said that the entry in ‘Non Hindu’ register was done by the Media Coordinator Manoj Tyagi.

Manoj Tyagi, probably sensing the ramifications of his actions issued a statement to IndiaToday saying that he had only entered his name in the register to take media personnel inside and that Rahul Gandhi and Ahmad Patel’s names were added later.

Congress later came out and insinuated some fabrication. But the party did not comment on the Somnath Temple Trust PRO issuing a statement that his name was indeed added by Manoj Tyagi.

However, Congress hasn’t clarified whether their contention is that Rahul Gandhi’s name was added later, or that the image itself is fake. They seem to be flip flopping between the two statements.


Sambhit Patra in a debate on Zee News observed that Congress is being ambiguous on this issue so as to retain the minority votes while also wooing the Hindu voters.

BJP leaders Subramanium Swamy has also mocked Rahul Gandhi several times by saying, “Rahul Gandhi has been a practicing Christian for so many years, let Rahul Gandhi declare that ‘I am not a Christian, but a Hindu’. Why has he got a church in 10 Janpath and he goes there to pray? So unless he declares that he is a Hindu like his father Rajiv Gandhi, we won’t believe him.”

This also seems to be an opportune moment to ask Rahul Gandhi why he didn’t clarify when New York Times in an article published in 1998, described him as a Roman Catholic?

While the controversy brews, Congress came out and declared that Rahul is a “Janeu Dhaari Brahmin”. We also wonder if Congress is so confident of mischief or fraud, why hasn’t the party filed a police complaint yet.

The truth alludes, but these are questions that are bound to haunt the Congress Party and it’s Party President in waiting, Rahul Gandhi.

Malini Parthasarathy called out for her Sonia Gandhi sycophancy

OpIndia Staff
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Malini Parthasarathy called out for her Sonia Gandhi sycophancy

It comes as no surprise how myriad journalists tend to revere the Nehru dynasty. There seems to be an entire clan of journalists that would worship anything related to the political monarchs. From their misplaced, ill informed statements to how their dog can balance a biscuit on its snout.

One such veteran journalist, Malini Parthasarathy attempted to do the same after the news of the Royal engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.


Firstly, Malini was factually wrong, which is not a surprise, but its still laughable. The article she plugged specifically stated that Meghan plans to take UK Citizenship and would retain her American Citizenship through the process which is expected to take several years. It was also stated by the spokesperson that it was unclear whether Meghan would opt for dual citizenship.

India on the other hand, does not allow dual citizenship at all. Hence, for Malini to link the news of the Royal engagement and somehow connect it to Sonia Gandhi’s ‘patriotism’ in taking up Indian citizenship despite her Italian roots, is misplaced and ridiculous, to say the least.

Other than the factual error, Malini was also countered vociferously for her unbridled sycophancy to the Dynasty and lack of general knowledge.


It would seem like Malini Parthasarthy is neither aware of Indian citizenship laws, nor of the history of the British Royal Family. But one thing seems certain. She does think of the Nehru family as ‘Indian Royalty’, which is a scathing indictment of not only her integrity as a journalist, but also her sycophancy.

Twitter erupts with reports of Rahul Gandhi declaring himself non-Hindu at Somnath temple

OpIndia Staff
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Twitter erupts with reports of Rahul Gandhi declaring himself non-Hindu at Somnath temple

Rahul Gandhi is playing the so-called ‘soft Hindutva’ card these days ahead of Gujarat assembly elections by visiting various temples and offering prayers there. It is being seen as an attempt to appeal to the Hindu voters not yet divided on caste-lines, who are supposed to vote for the BJP.

However, if the attempt was to win Hindu votes and appeal to Hindu sentiments, the step appeared to be backfiring after there were reports that the Congress Vice President signed on a register meant for non-Hindu visitors while paying a visit to famous Somnath temple at Rajkot in Gujarat.

Around two years back in June 2015, it was reported that non-Hindu visitors would need to take permission from the office of general manager of Shree Somnath Trust before entering the Somnath Temple for darshan. It had been made mandatory to all non-Hindu pilgrims.

Today, there were multiple reports attributed to various local media organisations that suggested that Rahul Gandhi had signed on a register meant for non-Hindu visitors at the Somnatth temple. Incidentally, the renovation of the temple was opposed by Jawaharlal Nehru, the great grandfather of Rahul Gandhi.

Signature of local Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who is considered very close to Sonia Gandhi, was also seen on the register, photos of which were shared on Twitter by many media organisations and journalists:


This was immediately taken up by BJP, with the party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya and Delhi unit spokesperson Tajinder Singh Bagga raising the issue over transparency of Rahul Gandhi’s religion:


The issue was also raised by various Twitter users who were amused by this act of Rahul Gandhi:


It’s not yet clear if Rahul Gandhi himself signed on the register or it was done by someone on his behalf. It is also not clear it is a goof-up or a genuine declaration of faith by Rahul Gandhi. Or whether there are another technicalities involved that might have led Rahul Gandhi’s name being included in that register reportedly meant for non-Hindu visitors.

Congress had not released any official statement on this development at the time of publishing this report.

UPDATE 1: As per the local news website DeshGujarat, Somnath temple trust has confirmed that the register was meant for non-Hindu visitors, and it was the media coordinator of Rahul Gandhi, Manoj Tyagi, who put the names of Ahmed Patel and Rahul Gandhi on the register. The statement has been attributed to the PRO of Somnath temple trust. Congress still has not reacted if it was wrong on the part of Tyagi to have added Rahul Gandhi’s name along with Ahmed Patel’s in the register.

UPDATE 2: Congress has reacted on the whole episode. This report contains details about their response.

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