Vodafone – How many tax cases?

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Telecom, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

How much the MNCs are cheating the government on taxes etc. is not fully known. But the following case is an indicator. The MNC is the telecom giant Vodafone.
There is already a tax case which is in talks to settle for an amount of Rs.13,000 crore with regard to its purchase Hutchinson stake in 2011. Secondly there is another tax case worth Rs. 3,700 crore with regard to sale of its Pune BPO arm which is in the court. Now the IT Department has put another tax demand of rs. 3,000 crore for an alleged transfer pricing case of 2010-11.
It is no wonder that telecom companies like Vodafone are getting profits after profits. They are continuously avoiding taxes and if notices are given they manage the government through politicians and bribing.
The casualties are PSUs like BSNL and MTNL which obeys the rule of the government.

Gandhiji Remembered – 30th January 2014

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

66 years back in 1948, it was on this day 30th January, that Gandhiji, the Father of the Nation, was shot dead by an assassin on the lawns of the Birla House, when he was going to offer prayers. It was a calculated murder intended to shut the voice of reason, the voice of the Hindu-Muslim unity, the communal harmony. The RSS could not tolerate the voice of sanity and for it this was the remedy.
The communal forces are still active as can be seen in Muzafarpur and other places where communal riots has taken place.
It is the duty of one and all to fight out this menace of communalism to ensure communal harmony in our dear country, where irrespective of religion, caste all can live like members of the same family.
We pay respectful homage to the memory of the Father of the Nation!

CPI(M) will tie up with Regional parties – Karat

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Bhubaneswar, Jan 30 : CPI-M today said Left parties were in consultation with various regional parties to forge a tie-up after the Lok Sabha elections in order to give an effective alternative to people.
The Left parties were in consultation with various regional parties like the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, JD(U) in Bihar, AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, JD(S) in Karnataka and BJD in Odisha, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here.
These parties could come together after the general elections, Karat said but rejected the term ‘Third Front’ for their platform.
“Our party is trying to have an electoral understanding with non-Congress and secular parties. I met Naveen Patnaik yesterday and hope to have an understanding with the BJD in Odisha,” he said.
Slamming both Congress and BJP, Karat said the two terms of the UPA has led to suffering of the people and loot of natural resources to benefit corporates. “Both the parties have entered into a competition to make better policies for the interest of corporates,” he said.
“The policies of Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi are not different. People are fed up with the price rise, loot of resources and of course corruption,” Karat said adding that the Left parties are trying to bail the country out from the twin national parties.
As Congress is going down, it will be Left parties and other secular parties which can fight BJP, he said.
CPI(M) has decided to field candidates in 35 Lok Sabha seats spread over eight states but could fight in more seats following tie-up with regional parties, Karat said.
Asked whether his party would like to have a tie-up with the BJD, which has been tainted by the mining scam, Karat said Left parties have an understanding on economic policies that is radically different from the policies followed by the BJP and Congress.
On whether Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik could be the prime ministerial candidate of their front, Karat said: “Let the election be held. Why do you want to jump the gun?”
Karat also ruled out any understanding with the Aam Admi Party (AAP). “AAP can not be a substitute for the Left parties. They think AAP is the only party to become an alternative,” Karat said. (PTI)

Germany propose to reduce retirement age to 63 from the present 67 years.

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, WORLD NEWS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has proposed that the retirement age be reduced from 67 to 63 years which will benefit the workers. The pension system is also reported to be reformed which may cost the government more.
It is to be noted that sustained agitations are continuing in the Euro countries against the austerity measures imposed on the workers and pensioners by the governments. The present decision may be as a result of the agitation.

Public Accounts Committee indicts Delhi Airport Modernisation Project

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Corruption

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

What the people have been doubting about the modernisation deal of the Delhi airport with DIAL giving huge concession to the company may be fully true. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament in its draft report is reported to have made castigating remarks about the huge concessions given to DIAL, the firm which has taken the contract for modernisation. Vast area of land has been given for use ,for a paltry sum of Rs. 31 crore. The potential earning capacity of the land can be hundred times more or much more. In the same way, DIAL has been given lease of the airport for 60 years for a contribution of just Rs. 1,813 crore. The potential earning capacity of the same according to CAG report is about Rs. 1,63,557 crore.
Not only that. Against the agreement with the AAI, the DIAL has imposed development fee from the passengers also.

The Draft PAC report has demanded criminal investigation in to the above deals which has resulted huge loss to the government. It is to be noted that Praful Patel was the Civil Aviation Minister at the time of the deal. He is one of the richest Minister in the UPA II Cabinet.

Air quality in India 174th out of 178 countries – Delhi worst

30 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

As per the report of the Environmental Performance Index – 2014 by a UNESCO organisation, India ranks 174th out of the 178 countries in the matter of Air Quality. Of course, the other countries below are also from nearby viz. Pakistan, China, Nepal and Bangladesh. but that is no consolation.
As per an unconfirmed report, Delhi has been mentioned as the worst polluted city in the world.
The Government of India need to urgently attend to this worst scenario adversely affecting the health of the people.

‘Beating the Retreat’ on 29th January 2014.

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

After the Republic Day Celebrations on 26th January, there is another celebration on 29th January, called the ‘Beating of the Retreat’. It is treated as the end of the Republic Day celebrations.
I went to see the Retreat along with my wife. The arrangement for the ceremony was in Vijay Chowk, in front of the South and North Blocks and well in front of the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Many thousands of people were there to see the function. The President, sat in a Chair with the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Airforce nearby. The bands of the three forces in shining colours and accurate movements marched in harmony with the tunes played by them.
After the bands retreated, the National Flag was taken down and the President returned to Rashtrapati Bhavan in the Presidential Chariot drawn by many horses.
For more than one hour, it was a wonderful show.
The Beating Retreat is a part of the tradition taken from the British Rulers. It was a system started in the 16th century by the British in their own country. As in many other system, this was introduced in India. India continues the tradition.
Whatever be the basis or justification, people enjoy the scene, especially the children who were there in large numbers. They cheered and clapped hands whenever the show became very interesting.

Snowden recommended for Nobel Prize

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

‘A Norwegian member of parliament nominated fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden for the Nobel Peace Prize today in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. ‘He has contributed to revealing the extreme level of surveillance by nations against other nations and of citizens.’ – A report in HT.
There is full justification for the same. Edward Snowden has exposed one of the biggest espionage that has ever happened – the snooping of the entire world by the US imperialists and Special Services. The US stands exposed and accused.

India has the largest illiterate population of 28.7 crore

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

Once again shame for India. EFA Global Monitoring Report 2013-14, commissioned by UNESCO has stated that India has the maximum number of illiterates, a 37% of the population with 28.7 crore. The population of India as per 2011 Census is 121 crore.
The literacy in India has increased from 48% in 1991 to 63%, but the number of illiterates has increased, due to the rise in the population. According to the report there are 55.7 crore illiterates in the world.
While the government is spending funds for higher and professional education, the basic education is neglected. Sufficient funds for the same are not allotted. The ruling class is not much interested in educating the poor, since education will bring to them strength to fight for their cause. Illiterates can be more exploited also.

In India two states, Kerala and Tripura are having more than 96% literacy. It can thus be seen that if there is a determination to raise literacy rate, it can be done. Literacy is the right of the citizen and the government should be compelled to ensure that each and every citizen has got the right to be educated. Literacy will empower the people.

President Obama says that he will veto if the Congress brings sanctions against Iran

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

US President Barak Obama has stated that if the Congress brings bill for tough sanctions against Iran, he will veto it. The opposite Republican Party has majority in the Congress. The Congress is expected to press for tough sanctions against Iran.
Attributing the tough sanctions on Iran for bringing Tehran on the negotiations table, Obama threatened to veto any Congressional bill that imposes new sanctions on Iran as talks of curtailing the latter’s nuclear weapons programme continue.
“The sanctions that we put in place helped make this
opportunity possible. But let me be clear: if this Congress
sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail
these talks, I will veto it. For the sake of our national
security, we must give diplomacy a chance to succeed,” he
said.
So far, so good. After the agreement, if more sanctions are issued it will be a breach of agreement. Further it will create more tension, which the world people want to be reduced.