Whispers Forum

Unleashing second wave of demonetisation has shaken the confidence of common man in indian currency that is being projected to become an international reserve currency.People are re-living the horrors of disastrous demonetisation of 2016.
Ironically,the announcement this time was made by RBI governor,not the PM,nor even the Finance minister.It was being projected as a normal /periodical job ostensibly to bring back black money into banking system. Absurd logic.An eye wash; an exercise in futility.
The public is not aware of the hidden cost of demonetisation including cost of printing currency notes.Why were currency notes of 2000 rupee denomination,at all, printed,when the idea was to withdraw these from circulation?Similar situations do not occur in other emerging economies like Brazil,Russia,China and South Africa.India is an exception.
The adhocism merely reflects desperation and confusion at the centre.This is bound to adversely affect the electoral prospects of party-in-power in the coming elections.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Mr Mehrotra and Dr Verma - Even if you continue to shout at the top of the voice, the public information officers will continue to delay or deny information under the RTI without any logic. I have been reading the articles regularly and it is strange that for timely replying to the RTI Applications, there is no sense of urgency in the public information officers. There are unnecessary appeals and delays for very simple RTI applications. There is a need to change the DNA of the officers. Unless there is a culture of transparency, such denial of information will continue. The CIC must take strong penal action to instil discipline in the officers and a feeling of respect towards the RTI Act.
Vinayak

It stands proved now that the Vajpayee government was ill advised to replace the pension scheme for the central government employees by the NPS. It has been weaponised to deliver at least two state assembly results. The Raj-hath of generics-only over the branded medicines is going to prove a fatal weapon in the hands of the opposition political parties. Are government employees the only ones to be penalised every time, be it family planning or pension or medicines? While the employees were brought to the NPS in 2004 the MPs/MLAs/Local Self Government office holder were not. Politics today is the most rewarding vocation in India. Same is going to be the case for medicines for them from the govt hospitals and CGHS facilities. CGHS for employees is a modest facility which employees get on payment and not free. Many keep waiting for reimbursement of their claims even after writing to the Prime Minister at the end. Before it is too late, the government need to take a re-look. There are fault lines in the NEP too as dictionaries, glossaries, compendiums, reference books etc. are unlikely to be available even in the next decade and only the learners would suffer. It will be scrapped the moment government changes or made a slogan to seek change of government. Please spare the employees or their performance is bound to suffer. Let the generics medicines win the market on merit and patient loyalty rather than the government marketing these medicines.
M L Gupta

The 2000 note was started in March 2017 after failed demonetization of 500, 1000 notes in 2016. Again now we are just into 2023 the 2000 has been demonetized w.e.f 1.10.2023. My question to the dispensation is that about 60000 crores spent on ATMs to make it compatible to withdraw 2000 notes through ATM, who paid the money, certainly the taxpayers and may be another 60000 crores to reverse the process now, this dispensation finds ways to loot the middle class and favour the industrial lobby. Of course this gives boost to BJP RSS to deposit their cash into banks. Let us pray 2024 public keeps in mind while voting.
Harish Kumar

The Congress’s joy of landslide victory in Karnataka has been followed by a bitter battle for the post of CM. It seems Congress is going to squander the advantage too quickly. This will surely affect the party's prospects. There was an opportunity for the party to build on this victory achieved after hard work and long wait. The victory served to boost the morale of party workers and other states also. But what is happening in the southern state is not good for Congress. The same is the situation in Rajasthan where BJP will surely benefit from the tussle between Gehlot and Pilot.
Neha Kumari

BJP lost badly in the Karnataka poll due to several reasons such as its autocratic style of functioning, misuse of religion, official agencies, taxpayers fund, over-confidence and extravagance. Public has grown wiser and is no longer influenced by political rhetoric.
BJP is not infallible. It has serious flaws, which need to be overcome. It must resort to chintan, manthan to analyse causes of its failure. First thing first. Collective arrogance is its first and the foremost enemy. It must rein in its loose cannons and acolytes. Its enemies hide within, not outside. All must be shown the door.
The Congress would be wrong to take credit for its victory nor attribute it to Rahul Gandhi's country-wide yatra. Far from it. It must thank BJP for its undeserved electoral victory.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

Two Empires: Mughal & British? It is strange that the British are made fun in Indian films but the Mughals are glorified. Is it a true account of the Indian history? Wouldn’t the Mughal imperialism have continued if the British imperialism had not destroyed them completely? The Mughals destroyed India in every manner- economic, agriculture, religion, intellectual. They destroyed libraries and prohibited learning Indian works of knowledge like the Vedas. The British, on the contrary, contributed greatly to the dissemination of the knowledge contained therein and encouraged valuable interaction at scholars and academicians level. They exploited India but in the process laid the foundation of development. Our love-hate relationship is too deep and strong. We don’t like them for their colonial misdeeds and they don’t like us for destroying the British Empire! More for this reason, there is a need for historical review of our long association. The royal ceremony on the 6th May 2023 reminded me of that fairy tale London evening through late in to the night when Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married and the romantic spell it cast on the people assembled outside the Buckingham Palace- only to be seen to be enjoyed with the British Royalty in all its regalia and the doting people weaving a unique magic of an ethereal kind. I watched the entire proceedings in great amusement since the institution of Princes had been abolished in India (exceptions apart) and their privy purses snatched! Britain retains the Royalty to attract tourists even today. Makes good sense and economics beyond mere democracy, socialism or secularism!
M L Gupta