Whispers Forum

If you wish to foresee the future of India in coming five years, there are so many points which attracts to Global players irrespective of Industry Sector or as whole complete scenario where India is transiting towards developed Nation from developing Nation. The incumbent Central Govt. has four years left to complete with sound majority in respective house of parliament, the incredible aspects includes major change in the following: --A Govt. working tirelessly to implement the reforms in financial sectors & Agriculture sector with profound legislations and amending irrelevant laws/policies etc at Central/State Govt. level that proponent a steady growth which can be seen even if such a huge pandemic/crisis like Covid-19, a leadership has emerged to lead the Nation decisively to fight & undertake humongous exercise/task effectively and it is continuing. --The resultant are based on above actions which enable them to handle & dispersed the handhold benefits to needy with complete transparency during lock down and simultaneously recreated the infrastructures of Medical facilities from ruptured level to sustainable or accommodative level which can be seen from the relaxations made in curtailment through response in operation & improvement which is far more better then USA, China & other European countries. This sort of milestone is in itself very rewarding & encouraging Investors to invest in discipline way Example: Reliance Jio and some sort of is going to happen in every sector of Industry. --FOR the 1st time in the History of Independent India , a Govt is decisive enough to overcome Geo-political mistakes including some very important judicial decisions that has given clear indications to the world that time has come when India is resolving its prolonged treacherous issues with effective democratic legislative means by removing all redundant problems which is enough to foresee the best as Nation in stability, resolve & commitment towards Nation building with boosting so many welfare schemes touching the ground level & enriching the benefits to deprived one for years. --The present LAC problem with China-after effects-:one very important point -the amount of business & trade involved between India & China is substantial- who is more benefited till date can be a question? Otherwise, one can easily observed that when policy relaxation started during UPA region calumniated in large size for China because they were prepared instead we missed the Bus. Now, the situation has reversed when incumbent Central Govt NDA formed 2nd time with more strength and relentless effective implementation in reform and diplomatic initiative enriched and brought India in advantageous position therefore, China and its ridiculous policy without understanding the real meaning of Globalization,they just believed in malpractice & corruption and took benefits in trade with various countries. Being Asian & neighbour country, rising India is possibly bigger threat then other country for them. That led them to transpire mischievous steps which is a mistake. All the Industry sector of China is horrifically facing USA sections and after Covid misled, every Nation is suspicious of China. So what will happen to their internal unrest is going to increase many folds day by day because even the people of China has realized purchasing power & comfort after so many years reign of communist. India is going to win over most of the Investors & Industry players of China who in turn invest in big way in coming one year. What one can visualize that a Nation which in last six years time moving ahead in every spectrum by facing challenges/problems in its stride with effective & decisive leadership at Central Govt. Therefore, it is lesson for every entrepreneur to become adaptive in a sense that growth is inclusive with perspective benefits for the organization, mass and Nation as a whole with welfare equated with federalism in pronouncement. Those who learn fast and practice early will be rewarded bringing out & represent the organisation in Nation Building by effective contribution in disciplined & regulated manner which enable Govt. to reach out easily & transparently with out iota of doubts. Hope, Every Nation is undertaking introspection & realization by understanding Multi-layer effect of Covid-19 where those who are not ill, suffered the most by loosing love ones as well as self-actualization so there is new beginning which will more resounding & bright. God bless everyone creature.
Sachidanand
Katchatheevu Island between India and Sri Lanka
Katchatheevu island is an uninhabited island of 285 acres situated between Neduntheevu, Sri Lanka and Rameswaram, India in the Palk Strait. It has a Roman Catholic shrine in the name of St. Antony built by a wealthy Indian fisherman in and Sri Lankan fishermen for fishing operations and drying their nets. The ownership of the island had been under dispute between India and Sri Lanka since the British era who were administering both India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon as it used to be called). In 1973, the then DMK Government headed by M. Karunanidhi appointed late V. Karthikeyan IAS (TN:1948) then Commissioner for Revenue and Land Administration as one-man commission to examine ownership of the island. Karthikeyan, after examining all land records, found that the island had a clear patta (title) in the name of Raja of Ramanathapuram and the Enquiry Report was sent to New Delhi. In 1974, then Indian Prime Minister Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi - who had a friendly relationship with the Sri Lankan President Shrimathi Srimavo Bandaranaike – simply gifted away the territory to Sri Lanka as a “gesture of good will without going into the historical claims of both countries” In the Berubari Union case, the Supreme Court had clearly ruled on March 14, 1960 that that cessation of any piece of Indian territory to another country had to be ratified by the Parliament after amending the Constitution. Late Mrs. Gandhi neither bothered to consult the Parliament nor was the Constitution amended in this case. The documentary evidence provided by the Tamil Nadu Government was simply swept under the carpet. In 2010, the Sri Lankan Government issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Government that the Indian Courts had no power to nullify the 1974 agreement between the two nations. The decision by Late Mrs. Gandhi to gift the island to Sri Lanka was a major blunder committed by her since she never realized how the decision affected the livelihood of Indian fishermen as both Indian fishermen and Sri Lankan fishermen used the area around the island for fishing as it is rich in prawns.
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According to a report by D.J. Walter Scott published in the Hindu dated February 18, 2018, 4000 Rameswarm had borne the brunt of attack by the Sri Lankan Navy which used to arrest the Tamil fishermen and seize all their boats. On August 18, 2012 the Times of India reported that Government of Tamil Nadu submitted before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that between 1991 and 2011 there were 176 attacks on the Indian fishermen in which 85 fishermen lost their lives all within the Indian territorial waters. The alleged charge against the Tamil fishermen was that they had crossed the IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line) while the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1974 clearly says that the Indian fishermen shall have access to the Katchatheevu “as hitherto”. Major politicians in Tamil Nadu have been maintaining that the Indian diplomats never presented the plight of the Rameswarm properly before the Sri Lankan President and in fact used to echo only the view of Sri Lankan authorities who were blaming the Tamil fishermen for crossing the IMBL. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Vikramasinghe had even declared that he had issued shoot at sight orders to Sri Lankan Navy at the Tamil fishermen who cross the IMBL. The only person took personal interest to solve the problem in the recent years was the former Minister for External Affairs ,the late Mrs. Sushma Swaraj but she is gone. Former Foreign Secretary Mrs. Nirupama Menon (IFS: 1973) shamelessly accepted a gift from President Rajapakse before she went to Washington as India’s Ambassador. There is justification in the demand that “the gift of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka should be taken back. General elections to Tamil Nadu assembly are just 10 months away and efforts should be taken to arrive at a negotiated settlement to prevent further loss of lives of Tamil fishermen.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (TN: 1972) former District Collector bof the Composite
Ramanathapuram district with headquarters at Madurai).

No takers for CVOs (WIC 23.6.20) Truly said. Vigilance system protects corrupts and punishes HONEST and lesser corrupts. Even CVC is least bothered about corruption complaints online or offline. Instead of acting as watchdog, CVC acts as post office. It simply forwards complaint to the SAME officer, through its representative CVO, for examination against home complaint is made. NO FEEDBACK report is taken by CVC about progress of complaint. Corrupt officer manages rejection of complaint with the help of corrupt vigilance officers CVO/Secy. So complaint is frustrated. Moreover Annual CR of cvo is written by Secretary of Deptt, not by Secretaey CVC. Hence CVO is not independent. He is more worried about his acr rather than doing cvo job independently. Normally Yes-man of Secy is given charge of cvo by Secy. For independence CVO should be appointed by CVC with reporting and ACR to cvc. No use of CVC and Cvo. Cvc becomes luxurious retirement ground for retired bureaucrats from ias. Hope PM is made aware of real working of vigilance system through CVO, CVC so that corrupts are kicked out and honest officers are protected, not vice versa as is happening today for past 70 years.
Bharat
Role of CVO's in CPSEs
I was working in a very large defence PSU ibased n Bangalore for 38 years and retired as a very senior executive. I am completely aware of the functioning of the vigilance system and I can certainly vouch that the vigilance setup is a very professional one with lot of emphasis given on ensuring a very transparent system of functioning of the company as a whole and in the different divisions, at the same time ensuring that wrong doers are penalised . May be in or two PSUs , the vigilance dept may have been caught napping but on the whole the system of CVOs under the superintendence of very eminent CVCs over the years has maintained high standards as expected of them in their roles.
K Srinivasa Rao

The IRS as service is in deep crisis today because the government is using IT Department to further its political agenda by targeting opposition, businessmen etc. The bosses of IRS are obliging for their personal interest and post retirement benefits. Though IT Department is all powerful now, the IRS officers are being hounded with compulsory retirement, CBI cases, transfer to unwanted cities, denial of promotions, demotion of junior officers etc to toe the line of government. But who will redeem the IRS ? The IRS Association is in deep slumber after trying to don the mantle of an economic think tank.
Ram Singh
Need to review status of Delhi
Subsequent to the passing of NCT act 1991, Delhi became a UT with State Assembly in 1992. The state government was not given full powers(Law and order ,Land etc was excluded). Reason being that Delhi is the Capital and many Foreign Embassies etc were located here.
All these years till AAP Government came to power in Delhi, there was a cordial relationship between Central Government and State Government. In the recent years relationship has deteriorated and it has affected the functioning of various agencies in Delhi. Recent handling of pandemics due to Covid19 has reinforced this strained relationship. Added to this confusion is the multiplicity of agencies eg MCD ,NDMC ,Delhi Cantonment board etc. Many of functions performed by them is overlapping, like Education ,Health, road maintenance etc.
It is high time that Central Government review the NCT act and make Delhi a full UT again ,without a State Government. Further NCT Delhi should include some areas of NCR (those which were included before 2000) for smooth and seamless travel/movement of people from those areas to Delhi and back. This will avoid the unnecessary chaos and confusion which was created recently due to blocking of borders with Gurgaon, NOIDA etc .
UP and Haryana are ruled by BJP Government and hence it should be possible for Central Government to pass a law without difficulty.
S Gopal

Complaints of China betraying India or stabbing in the back are devoid of rational. It is India’s fault to trust the enemy who has not stopped harming her interests, going to the extent of supporting Pakistan for terrorist attacks on India and building tension on the LAC intermittently. China is not supposed to be friendly with anybody. It is opposed to a democratic country in the immediate neighbourhood, as it ignites the movement for democracy, freedom of thought and speech, liberty, equality and justice in China. China is the worst form of communism: it has killed millions of its own people in the name of “cultural revolution” which is unique in human history. It calls ‘people’s subjugation’ as ‘people’s liberation’! Its retired army personnel get no pension. Its leaders are well-fed while the majority of the people go hungry. It is anything but communist now: it is a variety of ‘communist capitalism’. Coca Cola has achieved more than all the efforts for containment of China as today’s Chinese youth don’t subscribe to the ideology of the old guards. It is this conflict that makes China indulge in self destructive exercises in the neighbourhood. China was never trusted by any country, but by its misadventure in Laddakh it has destroyed even the faintest chance of getting accepted in the comity of nations. The myth of Chinese economy will explode any day once the pro-democracy forces come to power. India should demonstrate it’s might to drill necessary fear in the Chinese mind. Then, we will not complain of betrayal/stab in the back.
M L Gupta
Rajiv Mehrishi – an outstanding CAG
Rajiv Mehrishi has been an outstanding CAG, truest aide and ally of governance. He is best suited for Finance Minister of the Government of India. His protege Ravindran, IA&AS of 1983 could be the first IA&AS CAG of India after four decades.
Malay Chakra

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the net worth of Mukesh Ambani (63), Chairman of Reliance Industries who owns 42 percent of Reliance, has jumped to $ 64.5 billion making him the” only Asian tycoon in the exclusive club of the world’s top 10 richest people., overtaking Larry Ellison of Oracle Corporation and France’s Francois Bettencourt Meyers, the wealthiest woman, to reach the No.9 spot. Investment in Jio Platforms Limited has been responsible for making Reliance Industries net debt-free well ahead of March 2021 budget.
As noted by Jayati Ghosh, Chair of the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, “Ambani’s companies in general and the telecom giant in particular have prospered while the Indian economy “has been nearly decimated “during the lockdown in order to control the spread of Covid-19.
While a crash in oil prices caused uncertainty in a stake sale of Reliance’s s oil and chemicals division, in a matter of just two months, Jio managed to attract some $ 15 billion --- more than half the investment into the telecom companies worldwide this year. Facebook Inc, General Atlantic, Silver Lake Partners, KKR Co, and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund figure among those aspiring to get “a slice of one of the world’s fastest growing online commerce markets.”
According to a recent report by Sanford Bernstein, Jio is likely to capture 45 percent of India’s mobile subscriber market share by 2025.
In the early 1980s, when Mukesh Ambani was at Stanford Business School, his father called him back to India to supervise construction of a polyester mill.
As Mukesh Ambani has made India proud by making it to the top 10 richest people in the world by the stint of his sheer hard work, I think his services should be utilized to improve the Indian economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should seriously consider appointing Mukesh Ambani as India’s Finance Minister. I am sure the moment an announcement is made the Indian Rupee will gain sharply against the US dollar by at least two to three rupees.
Sitharam Gurumurthi
(The author, an IAS & IMF Retiree, is currently Founder Chairman of Sri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel School for Monetary Economics, Chennai)
No takers for CVOs
This is but natural. I have seen the functioning of this vigilance structure in the Govt and CPSEs very closely and evaluated the infrastructure established by the Govt as an anti-corruption measure. The present structure is such that CVOs are expected by the CVC, the Govt and the CPSEs to only be a silent spectator to all the malfunctions of the systems imbibed over the decades and act as and when or as per their whims and fancies and not to disturb the applecart. Bhugtabhogi hone ke Nate I know the whole anti-corruption set up of the Govt. is only to protect the Corrupt and punish the relatively less corrupt or Honest.
Kabal Singh
No one wants to be questioned ?
No one wants to be questioned, specially those at the highest levels in governance. The more senior a office is, the more is the degree of contempt it has for the RTI Act. If the Cabinet secretariat is ill equipped and ill trained to deal with the RTI Application, only god can help those who are placed at far flung corners of the country. Surprisingly, the CIC has been reduced to a body which is issuing sermons and passing strictures, not imposing any actual penalty. If only the CIC was strict, the RTI Act would have been better implemented in the country.
Shailendra Sinha

A disturbing video of Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Vadra family and Dr. Karan Singh, HH The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir (former), on a visit to China was on a TV channel on 18th June 2020. It was quiet a news! Why did the family visit China along with Dr. Karan Singh? Will Dr. Karan Singh, former His Highness of J&K, please issue a statement immediately to assure the people of India that he did not give any vital information on Aksai Chin (China Occupied Laddakh) to the Chinese government or handover any map to them delineating the borders of J&K and China, or any historical document from the Princely State’s Archives, under duress from the government or the Congress Party, who signed an MOU with the Chinese Government/Communist Party, making another Sharm-al-Sheikh debacle?
As Dr Karan Singh still enjoys good-will of the people of India as an honest leader and has been Chairman/Member of the Ethics Committee, an honest statement is expected from him. People would also like to know if the Bofors gun imports corruption fame Italian businessman Quattrocchi was conducting any business with the Chinese at that time of the visit of Sonia-MMS delegation ?
Remember the well-known tactic of the corrupt in Lutyens Delhi to first make a PSU (Public Sector Unit) sick so that some foreign companies paying commission of 11% or more may be promoted in that core sector of the Indian economy. In power equipment, BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.) was harmed and in electronics two other PSUs, which made the Chinese only too happy. Indian market in power equipment and electronics was handed over to the Chinese without a thought.
Whether Quattrocchi was operating any kind of business with the Chinese on supply of machines/ equipment to India in the same manner as the Westland Helicopter was signed on huge commission basis? Whether the commission the Chinese government companies or private enterprises made was paid in US Dollar account in any foreign country outside China and India? Whether the RBI is in the know of these details?
If the RBI was in the dark, as in the Mehul Choksi & Nirav Modi case, whether banks like the SBI, PNB, BoB or any other bank with branches overseas had handled the commission account? Will the Government of India tell the people of India the facts in its possession including the report of the Officer from the Indian Embassy in China accompanying the delegation to all meetings and visits, including to Churches/temples etc/ other places of worship?
The fervor with which the Congress Party has been attacking the government raise legitimate doubts about some unholy business between vested interests, particularly the fact that the Communists were supporting the Congress Government. Was China helping opposition parties to stall the rise of Narendra Modi? Did the Chinese pump money to influence the General Elections in 2014 and 2019? Was it a China sponsored and funded propaganda to create doubts about the integrity of EVM (Electronic Voting Machines)? Was it a Chinese dirty attempt to interfere in the general election in 2019? Was China looking for supplying EVMs to India which could have been so programmed as to help the Congress and/or the Communist parties?
Communists getting paid is a matter of old public perception. Why is the Congress jittery today? Has China been made promises of more territory in Laddakh or elsewhere (Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet) in the meeting? Should the All India Congress Party have signed any agreement with the Communist Party of China at all? Was it not a betrayal of the people of India who were assured that China would be punished severely for the misadventure of 1962?
The similarity in the rhetoric of these leaders and China’s mouthpiece Global Times echoes the 1962 pro-China campaign run by the communist party in India, which attacked Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress then; it is the prime minister Narendra Modi now and the Congress and the Communists are attacking him as they campaign for China.
M L Gupta
Kind Attention to Lt. Governor, Delhi
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is playing an important role in containment of Covid-19 spread. Property tax is good source of revenue for MCD. But it is shocking and surprising to note that property tax for south Delhi and north Delhi can be filed using new application form and another portal. It is very untimely and ill-conceived decision to adopt new system during corona lock and unlock period and using unproven and incapable software. The new software does not have the capability to fetch the data related to property details, personal details, tax related data etc.from the existing data base and has many technical glitches and problems while submitting the forms. May and June is peak period for collection of taxes and using new form and software is putting property owners in trouble and unable to file return and deposit the due taxes. What was tearing hurry to adopt new methodology in the month of May not waited for June end for the owners to file property return and deposit the taxes. In new system the submission gets stuck in between. It is urged that Lt. Governor should take serious note about adopting untimely new methodology by SDMC and NDMC using unproven and incapable software (not able to fetch data from existing data base about property and personal details etc) during the peak period of tax collection and order SDMC and NDMC to revert to old method/web portal for filing of property tax return and payment of taxes. As old system was working satisfactorily since several years and owners were able to file return and payment of taxes within 10 t0 15 minutes. Old method was good enough as soon as you punch property ID, all data is fetched from database and tax is calculated and payment is made. East Delhi is still working sensibly to follow old method for filing of return and deposit of property taxes. New methodology can be adopted after fixing the technical problems and organising camps in association with RWA when situation becomes normal or adopting new methods from FY 2021-22. It is expected a favourable action for reverting back to old system by SDMC/NDMC allowing owners to file return and deposit taxes with rebate.
Naveen

The appellant explained that he is the owner of the 1st floor in a building and an alleged illegal construction has been carried out on top of the 2nd floor, which renders the building unsafe and risky. He filed a complaint and later through an application under the RTI Act, sought the action taken with regards to stop the unauthorized construction report. As he was not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, he filed an appeal and the FAA vide order dated 15.06.2018 directed the PIO to provide a modified reply within 15 days. The PIO complied with the order of the FAA after an inordinate delay of almost 2 years. The appellant submitted that the illegal construction was in the initial stages i.e., only brick-work was started and presently, the unauthorized construction of the alleged illegal building has been completed. The CIC directed the PIO to submit an explanation as to why the order of the FAA was not complied within the stipulated time period. The CIC also directed the PIO to provide an action taken report with regard to the alleged illegal and unauthorized construction after ascertaining the position from SHO.
Comments
Unauthorised construction is rampant throughout the country and this case law shows how a common citizen can use it to his benefit.
Citation: Shri Yogesh Agarwal v. PIO/EE (Bldg.-II), West Zone, SDMC, New Delhi in Second Appeal No. CIC/SDMCW/A/2018/144543, Date of Decision: 12.06.2020
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Two days ago China killed about forty Indian soldiers. It does not offer any solace that the number of deaths on the Chinese side were higher. It was China which provoked India with indiscreet killing of Indian soldiers , a phenomenon that has not been witnessed in the last four decades. Nepal has been instigated by China to redraw its map to include three disputed areas between Nepal and India. The Constitution has been amended in a great hurry without consulting India. It is a question of time that Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipee will slip of the Chinese hands since the US President Donald Trump is bound to carry out these operations before the Presidential polls scheduled for November 2020 .
Is it for this reason China is taking it out on India. If Nepal falls into the trap laid by China then the only Hindu Raj will become a relic of the past. Pasupathi Nath temple will be razed to the ground. It is shocking that the Communist Government in Nepal has submitted itself to the dictates of China that the Mount Everest belongs to China.
China should realize that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are not gullible like Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon who had no business to sign on the dotted line permitting China to annex Tibet.
In case there is a war, India will have to redraw its map that will include the whole of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Tibet and Nepal. The Dragon will not be able to wag its tail near its borders any longer--- be it Arunachal Pradesh, Japan or the South Sea islands of Vietnam.
ßThe game of chess, Wei qi will be over for ever for China.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS ( Retired)
Former Member State Planning Commission &
Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu

The developments in the last one month should be carefully studied against the background of US President Trump's plan to liberate Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipei. China knows very well that Trump will have his way at the United Nations since China has been illegally occupying Tibet since 1951 with the full blessings of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who simply accepted the sovereignty of China over Tibet during the visit of the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to India in 1954 besides signing the Panch Sheel for peaceful cooperation between India and China.
Dalai Lama who has been living in exile in India since then has been meeting all the leaders in the West. Corona Virus has presented an opportunity to President Trump to free Tibet from the clutches of China and restore the status quo to facilitate Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. Therefore China is now wooing Nepal. Nepal's silence over China's claim the entire area of Mount Everest shows that the Communist Government has accepted the claim of China over the entire region of Mount Everest. While India cannot interfere in bilateral relations between China and Nepal , what India should worry about the new map of Nepal by amending the Nepalese Constitution in a hurry for including areas which lie in Uttarakhand, namely, Kalapani in Pithoragarh district, Lipulekh pass and Limpiyadhura. The hurry with which the Constitution has been amended in a week without any consultations with India makes one suspect the unseen hand of China behind this development. . There is no room for diplomatic talks as the constitutional amendment is just not acceptable to India. In the most likely event of Nepal merging with China , China will say these areas were made part of Nepal through a constitutional amendment t. India should immediately take steps to protect all the three areas from any kind of trespass or encroachment,
Dr. Sitharam Guumurthi IAS TN 72) Retired

1. Nikki Haley, the Indian American Republican and former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of North Carolina has been a harsh critic of China, its manipulative tactics in particular.. She holds the Communist China fully accountable for lying about the Corona virus pandemic and has launched "Stop China "signature campaign where 40,000 people have already signed while her aim is to reach a figure of .1,00,000 . She has been urging the United States to stop relying on China for its medical supplies
2. This reminds one of India's experience with ChiOn April 1 1950 China and India established diplomatic relations. In 1954 the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai i visited India when he signed the Panch Sheel or Five Principles for peaceful cooperation with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru . he slogan of the day was Indo China bhai bhai. Nehru believed China completely and never doubted its sincerity and focused his attention on infrastructure development what he used to call "Temples of Modern India".To put it rather bluntly Nehru into the trap laid by China and allowed China to walk away with Tibet by acknowledging its sovereignty over Tibet. . The Chinese aggression of 1962 dealt a severe blow which Nehru could hardly bear. Nehru's heath started declining steadily after the 1962 war with China. Nehru who used o practise yoga could have easily lived up to 90 years but the Chinese betrayal of faith took away his life at the age of 75.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi, IAS Retired
More to the GST Quiz
Happy that someone has taken the trouble to open the riddle of GST, (WIC 15/6/20) which can spin the head of the coolest. Here is some addition to it: Higher education in India suffers a levy of 28% GST. Like private healthcare facilities, education in the private hands is excellent commerce to the owners as well as the M/o Finance. Tuition fee for a professional course range from 40,00,000 (forty Lakh) to 1Crore for one year’s programme. So, the cost of acquiring higher knowledge, qualifications and skills is very high. COVID-19 has forced many institutions to abandon the programmes. Those practising Fair Business have decided to refund the tuition fee but not the GST. Is it Fair Taxation not to refund the GST? It comes to Rs. 28,00,000 on 1 Crore. What can a citizen do: pay a middleman, engage a CA, file a case in the Consumer Forum?
M L Gupta
Heartiest Congratulations
Heartiest Congratulations to Raveesh Kumar IFS for new assignment.
Vikram Jain

In an earlier post I had highlighted the fact that recently China has claimed the whole of Mount Everest as its territory while the established position has been that Mount Everest lies in Nepal and the back side of Mount Everest lies in the China (illegally) controlled Tibet. region. It is rather surprising that there has not been any sign of even feeble protest from Nepal to the new position taken by China while Nepal is busy protesting against the road laid by India to Lipu Lekh which lies well within the Indian territory. Earlier I posted about how China is in the habit of claiming land which does not belong to it---- be it India, Nepal, Japan or Vietnam (South Sea islands).
While India has no such extra territorial ambitions, I think that India should claim the Mount Kailash and its surrounding areas which is sacred to the Hindus as the Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
• US President Trump is determined to liberate Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipee from the hold of China which is quite likely before November 2020 elections. Once that happens India should request the US to restore, repeat restore, Mount Kailash to India as the Tibet has been under the illegal occupation of China since 1951.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)
‘Declare War; Retaliate against China, Pakistan’
Two soldiers and the commanding officer of Colonel rank of Indian army were killed by China at Galwan valley on the night of June 15, 2020. Chinese troops were wearing gloves fitted with nails. The matter is extremely serious. According to Global Times, China has lost 5 PLA soldiers and 11 injured.
India' appeasement policy towards expansionist China must be re-visited. China has insatiable appetite for land.It is increasing its maritime presence in Indian ocean. After Dhoklam stand-off, China started military exercises in POK followed by Ladhak face-off. It has incited Nepal against India to revive border issues. No wonder, Nepal could embarrass India by agitating its boundary dispute before the UN dominated by China as permanent member of UNSC. China is operationalising its String of Pearls policy against India.
What steps ?
(a) India must retaliate against both China’s latest misadventure and Pakistan’s proxy war.
(b) We must declare two- China policy by promoting cultural, commercial ties with Taiwan by according diplomatic recognition.
(c) Strengthen trade ties with Mongolia which has troubled relationship with China. India must take steps by having 2-front policy taking on Pak &China. India will have to contain Pakistan and China together by taking aggressive stand.
(d) A full-scale war against India’s hostile neighbours with the active support of US and its allies. China is building more artificial islands in south- china sea for locating additional military bases?
(e) A collective offensive by the US along with India,France, UK, Japan,Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and other allies,is the only option to stop the expansionist China. It could ignite potential flash points especially in south-China sea region.
(f) Pro- active steps must be taken before the rogue countries could launch pre-emptive chemical attacks or release another virus deadlier than Corona Virus,targeting India.
(g) Imagine , what would happen if China, Pakistan, and Nepal attack India at the same time? For ‘India ,the foremost threat could be from China whose sole objective is to capture Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) so that Indian hinterland could be cut off from its North-eastern States.
(h) Why ignore India’s internal saboteurs : the Congis, Commies, maoists , urban naxals and pseudo intellectuals , whose sole aim is to de-stabilise India. Some could be in touch with India’s adversaries.
(i) No more de-escalation talks with China. Enough is enough.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The WION TV (World is One) has brought to light how China has been trying to woo the American Press, big and small. With the advertisements released to various print media for US $19 million, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) earned $ 6 million while the Washington Post earned $ 4.5 million. China has released advertisements to several other US papers like the New York Times, Boston Globe, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Many of these newspapers have international editions in Mandarin. The Washington Post's sharp criticism of the US President Donald Trump should be seen in this light.
The 2500 year old Chinese game called Wei Qi, something akin to the game of chess, literally means "surrounding pieces". The game symbolises China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh in India, its attempts to encroach part of the Ladakh, while China's desperate attempts to control the South Sea belonging to Vietnam and its claims over some of the islands near Japan should all be seen as part of the Chinese game Wei Qi. China has recently claimed the entire territory of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world as its own by highlighting the Tibetan side of Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest located in the Chinese Tibet autonomous region, thus downplaying the more popular peak located in Nepal .
China did win the war against India in 1962 making initial gains by crossing the Mc Mohan Line but was compelled to make a hasty retreat after it realised the US, UK and USSR stood in readiness to support India.
It should not come as a surprise that China has been extensively lobbying to ban the WION TV.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)