Whose Tax Is It Anyway.
Income tax department is the most ill-informed one in India. They do not seem to have a mechanism that allows them to assess one’s income and wealth, professionally. They have of course many intuitions of their own to, smell and find the wrong man at the appropriate right time.
It always happens with all the Government establishments. The police cannot find the most dreaded terrorist or an extortionist, or a hard-core criminal, while the whole world gets familiar with him, particularly the print and broadcast media. Likewise, the taxmen cannot find a wealthy man, or one who amassed wealth in a short span of time, with no known sources of income. However, the whole world knows about this. Sometimes even the Income tax people too have information, but the department has certain guidelines before they strike.
The modus operandi is obvious. For instance, if the tax defaulter tends to go on a shopping spree, like buying a thousand pens or buying ten kilos of onions or buying ten tickets at a local IMAX theatre, or present or buy sunglasses, then they appear and strike. This makes their jobs easy. Previously, the Income tax department used to ask, if you are traveling by flight, if you have a credit card, if you own a car, then you need to file an income tax return. However, today they are not insisting tax returns from those who travel by flight, the rates of traveling by flight has come down to as low as 500 rupees, they do not target you, if you own a car, but will definitely do, if you are filling petrol into it. Now you need to file returns if you are traveling by train, if you are buying onions, if you are buying vegetables, if you are buying petrol. Next time, make sure that nobody is watching you whenever you go out shopping for onions or vegetables, booking tickets at a cinema theatre or buying petrol for your car. The guy who would be approaching you can be an income tax inspector.
Surprisingly, there are so many politicians in the country, who amass wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income. Why is the income tax department not able to organise raids, extract information, and squeeze their assets. Why the high-profile Finance Minister Mr. Chidambaram, do not question his MPs and his contemporary politicians about their amassed wealth, but instead run around those who buy pens and onions. It is easy to run a column in a leading magazine, when not in power and make ‘Politically Incorrect’ statements, than correcting the politics, when in power.
Mr. Chidambaram, are you listening.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Conversion ‘Code’
The ‘Da Vinci Code’ movie has been banned. Thanks to the AP High Court, for giving a go ahead for releasing the movie.
The movie is surprisingly banned in countries where the Christianity is a minority subject. The movie is banned in Pakistan, a Muslim Nation, Sri Lanka, a Buddhist Nation, then in some States in India, a Secular Nation. On the contrary, not all the Christian countries, including Vatican City initiated a ban on the movie.
Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu in India were the quick to react to the protests. They banned the movie without blinking an eyelid. The reason is far more evident – conversions. Tamilnadu banned all mass conversions and even made legislation under the Chief Ministership of J Jayalalithaa. Recently the DMK Government contemplating on withdrawing the legislation. In Andhra Pradesh, the conversions are on the high in rural areas, where the literacy and economic status is the lowest.
Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai, appointed Prefect of Vatican’s Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples on May 20, said ‘that any conversion is invalid in the Church if it is induced by force, fraud or allurement’. However, the approach is different. The missionaries pump their money into institutions and programs like education, community health or welfare activities and caring diseases inflicted persons. This process is used as a platform to woo the most vulnerable people in the society. The real motive is conversions and not service.
The ‘Da Vinci Code’ ban is targeted, that certain aspects may cause hindrance to the progress of conversions and not merely for any religious sentiments, as projected by some Christian groups. The faith is trust and belief, and cannot be erased by mere adverse propaganda.
Code or no Code, faith is faith.
The ‘Da Vinci Code’ movie has been banned. Thanks to the AP High Court, for giving a go ahead for releasing the movie.
The movie is surprisingly banned in countries where the Christianity is a minority subject. The movie is banned in Pakistan, a Muslim Nation, Sri Lanka, a Buddhist Nation, then in some States in India, a Secular Nation. On the contrary, not all the Christian countries, including Vatican City initiated a ban on the movie.
Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu in India were the quick to react to the protests. They banned the movie without blinking an eyelid. The reason is far more evident – conversions. Tamilnadu banned all mass conversions and even made legislation under the Chief Ministership of J Jayalalithaa. Recently the DMK Government contemplating on withdrawing the legislation. In Andhra Pradesh, the conversions are on the high in rural areas, where the literacy and economic status is the lowest.
Cardinal Ivan Dias of Mumbai, appointed Prefect of Vatican’s Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples on May 20, said ‘that any conversion is invalid in the Church if it is induced by force, fraud or allurement’. However, the approach is different. The missionaries pump their money into institutions and programs like education, community health or welfare activities and caring diseases inflicted persons. This process is used as a platform to woo the most vulnerable people in the society. The real motive is conversions and not service.
The ‘Da Vinci Code’ ban is targeted, that certain aspects may cause hindrance to the progress of conversions and not merely for any religious sentiments, as projected by some Christian groups. The faith is trust and belief, and cannot be erased by mere adverse propaganda.
Code or no Code, faith is faith.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Jayalalithaa's Anguish.
Jayalalithaa seemed to be adding more woes by her name, despite adding an extra ‘a’ to her name. The numerology in which the former Tamilnadu Chief Minister, Ms J Jayalalithaa had innumerable faith, now settling scores with her. It is always the number game that fascinated her and played to (her) perfection. Even the recent debacle in the State elections, never dampened her spirited faith in numerology. She was just too happy; that the percentage of votes cast in her favour has improved than the last elections.
The latest number game that failed to work in her favor was straight from the grave. The one who could not make their presence felt, or say absence felt are the one who are dead and buried. The agony of her loosing elections either saw some committing suicide or died of terrible shock. It is estimated that 105 people either died of shock or committed suicide, as per Namadhu MGR, an organ of AIADMK.
Whenever Ms Jayalalithaa wins or looses, it might be a reason for some, commit either suicide or die of a shock. The news might be as disgusting as it can be, for both the opposition and her allies. However, someone dying at the age of 85 never seemed to understand the logic behind attributing a reason for his death, other than old age. This number game seemed to be a blatant effort in transforming the prevalence of deaths on that day into a political advantage.
The number of reported deaths on that day was 105. It could be 6000 people, only if she could have waited until the earthquake in Indonesia. The number that derived more mileage and political advantage.
Jayalalithaa seemed to be adding more woes by her name, despite adding an extra ‘a’ to her name. The numerology in which the former Tamilnadu Chief Minister, Ms J Jayalalithaa had innumerable faith, now settling scores with her. It is always the number game that fascinated her and played to (her) perfection. Even the recent debacle in the State elections, never dampened her spirited faith in numerology. She was just too happy; that the percentage of votes cast in her favour has improved than the last elections.
The latest number game that failed to work in her favor was straight from the grave. The one who could not make their presence felt, or say absence felt are the one who are dead and buried. The agony of her loosing elections either saw some committing suicide or died of terrible shock. It is estimated that 105 people either died of shock or committed suicide, as per Namadhu MGR, an organ of AIADMK.
Whenever Ms Jayalalithaa wins or looses, it might be a reason for some, commit either suicide or die of a shock. The news might be as disgusting as it can be, for both the opposition and her allies. However, someone dying at the age of 85 never seemed to understand the logic behind attributing a reason for his death, other than old age. This number game seemed to be a blatant effort in transforming the prevalence of deaths on that day into a political advantage.
The number of reported deaths on that day was 105. It could be 6000 people, only if she could have waited until the earthquake in Indonesia. The number that derived more mileage and political advantage.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Call Of The God.
Fuel Price Roll Back.
The Oil minister’s mobile is ringing. He is as usual busy napping. This is what the ministers tend to do. They burn their energies on the party activities and during their shuttling between the party office and party president’s official residence. They hardly find time to sleep; in fact, they never get to sleep when the party president is awake.
After a futile exercise and fatiguing all the PR skills, the Minister emerged successful in arriving at an understanding and acceptable decision on the price rise with the Party President, while the left parties are flexing their muscles against the oil minister on the price rise. The Party President is not happy about the fuel price hike, as one is given to understand. The Oil minister too is obviously not happy, not for the price rise, but the party President is unhappy. The Prime Minister too is not happy as he is sidelined and the credit or whatever had gone to the Party President. The poor consumers too are unhappy. It’s been an unhappy situation that is glooming large.
The phone woke up the Oil Minister. Actually, he is not answering the phones after the fuel price hike. There were no pleasant calls since then. However, he cannot ignore the reactions of the people at the same time, every time. He pressed the ‘yes’ button on his mobile and started speaking.
This is a call from the God and the conversation is as follows.
“Hello, who is this?” the minister asked.
“I am the almighty,” said God.
“Are you calling from the party office?” asked the minister.
“No, I am calling from the Heaven,” said God.
“What the hell? You are calling from Heaven. And for what?” asked the minister.
“Mantriji, I have with me the Chitragupta of Yamaloka, who has a complaint against you.” said God.
“What is the complaint?” asked the Minister.
“He says that the people are not dying as they are scheduled to ever since you hiked the prices of the fuel.” said the God “and you must immediately roll back the prices,” ordered God.
“What? Roll back. I have no power. But why the hell, will the Hell have a problem with my fuel price hike,” asked the Minister.
“I will explain. The fuel price hike caused a panic among the people. They stopped filling their vehicles with the fuel and taking them for a ride. They started going to their respective offices and houses by walk. This walk has improved their overall health condition. The chronic diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes were improved and the people who are supposed to die of this are not dying.”
“Then the case with those suffering with lung related diseases too have improved alarmingly. The pollution levels have dropped to healthy levels, as the vehicles on the road are reduced. Then the accidents that these vehicles cause daily have also come down considerably. Least we say about the train and bus the better. The passengers owing to the steep hike in train and bus fares avoided the mass suicide specials. Then there is the most conventional murdering monster on roads, AUTO, which can send any number of people to hell in a moment, is being ignored by the people, giving themselves a renewed lease of life”
“It is now understood that the roads are wearing a deserted look leaving it to the children to play cricket and beggars to sleep peacefully on it. If this mass killings and conventional forms of killings are held up, it becomes difficult to continue the Department of Yama here and in all likelihood, both Yama and Chitragupta will loose their livelihood. It is against our Sastra, to allow anyone to live beyond their destined time. If the population is not controlled, you too will have a problem in providing employment to them. Think about it”
“Hence I strongly suggest you roll back the prices, not only in the interest of the people, but also in the interest of our ‘Dharma and Karma’.” Concluded the God.
The Oil Minister understood the God’s dimension, left, right and center. However, he cannot do anything with the ‘left’ and the ‘center’ is his forte. The only ‘right’ decision he can take is roll back the prices based on the ‘God’s Karma and Dharma’ Siddantha. But the party president is from a different world and will not yield to this Siddantha.
The minister switched off the mobile phone and returned to his nap.
Fuel Price Roll Back.
The Oil minister’s mobile is ringing. He is as usual busy napping. This is what the ministers tend to do. They burn their energies on the party activities and during their shuttling between the party office and party president’s official residence. They hardly find time to sleep; in fact, they never get to sleep when the party president is awake.
After a futile exercise and fatiguing all the PR skills, the Minister emerged successful in arriving at an understanding and acceptable decision on the price rise with the Party President, while the left parties are flexing their muscles against the oil minister on the price rise. The Party President is not happy about the fuel price hike, as one is given to understand. The Oil minister too is obviously not happy, not for the price rise, but the party President is unhappy. The Prime Minister too is not happy as he is sidelined and the credit or whatever had gone to the Party President. The poor consumers too are unhappy. It’s been an unhappy situation that is glooming large.
The phone woke up the Oil Minister. Actually, he is not answering the phones after the fuel price hike. There were no pleasant calls since then. However, he cannot ignore the reactions of the people at the same time, every time. He pressed the ‘yes’ button on his mobile and started speaking.
This is a call from the God and the conversation is as follows.
“Hello, who is this?” the minister asked.
“I am the almighty,” said God.
“Are you calling from the party office?” asked the minister.
“No, I am calling from the Heaven,” said God.
“What the hell? You are calling from Heaven. And for what?” asked the minister.
“Mantriji, I have with me the Chitragupta of Yamaloka, who has a complaint against you.” said God.
“What is the complaint?” asked the Minister.
“He says that the people are not dying as they are scheduled to ever since you hiked the prices of the fuel.” said the God “and you must immediately roll back the prices,” ordered God.
“What? Roll back. I have no power. But why the hell, will the Hell have a problem with my fuel price hike,” asked the Minister.
“I will explain. The fuel price hike caused a panic among the people. They stopped filling their vehicles with the fuel and taking them for a ride. They started going to their respective offices and houses by walk. This walk has improved their overall health condition. The chronic diseases like Hypertension and Diabetes were improved and the people who are supposed to die of this are not dying.”
“Then the case with those suffering with lung related diseases too have improved alarmingly. The pollution levels have dropped to healthy levels, as the vehicles on the road are reduced. Then the accidents that these vehicles cause daily have also come down considerably. Least we say about the train and bus the better. The passengers owing to the steep hike in train and bus fares avoided the mass suicide specials. Then there is the most conventional murdering monster on roads, AUTO, which can send any number of people to hell in a moment, is being ignored by the people, giving themselves a renewed lease of life”
“It is now understood that the roads are wearing a deserted look leaving it to the children to play cricket and beggars to sleep peacefully on it. If this mass killings and conventional forms of killings are held up, it becomes difficult to continue the Department of Yama here and in all likelihood, both Yama and Chitragupta will loose their livelihood. It is against our Sastra, to allow anyone to live beyond their destined time. If the population is not controlled, you too will have a problem in providing employment to them. Think about it”
“Hence I strongly suggest you roll back the prices, not only in the interest of the people, but also in the interest of our ‘Dharma and Karma’.” Concluded the God.
The Oil Minister understood the God’s dimension, left, right and center. However, he cannot do anything with the ‘left’ and the ‘center’ is his forte. The only ‘right’ decision he can take is roll back the prices based on the ‘God’s Karma and Dharma’ Siddantha. But the party president is from a different world and will not yield to this Siddantha.
The minister switched off the mobile phone and returned to his nap.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The Reservationists
Politics sans all logic. The decisions taken in the interest of public are seldom for them and do not make any sense. The recent reservation policy, for instance is a classic example.
I was wondering as to where this can lead to in the future
Reservationists are politicians, without a conviction. I may be excused if I am using something like, conviction in relation to a politician. Lack of conviction in a man makes him a politician.
The Politicians today are suffering from AIDS of a different kind, Acute Improper Decisions Syndrome. These decisions are mainly taken during the afternoon nap or a nap during a press conference. These decisions will have a tremendous impact on the future generations.
Say ten years from now, after the implementation of the various reservation schemes from time to time.
Year: 2015.
“Good Evening, Sir, how may I help you,” asked the steward. A common welcome note in any Indian Restaurant.
“Well, I am looking for a table for three,” said the visitor.
“Do you have a reservation, sir,” asked the steward.
“Actually, my secretary called up and reserved a table,” said the visitor.
“That is wonderful sir. Can I have your reservation category number, sir,” asked the steward.
“What category?” asked the visitor.
The steward gave a dirty look and said, “Obviously, your caste, on which the reservation is made.”
“My caste, I am a forward caste.”
The steward gave a ‘more than a dirty’ look and said, “You need to wait for a week to have a table.”
“But those three tables are unoccupied” asserted the visitor.
“Sorry sir, they are reserved for OBC, SC and ST,” and the steward vanished into the thin crowd.
. . .
In a train, the TTE asks one of the passengers to get up from his seat.
“Why, I bought a ticket,” said the passenger.
“That is ok, but the seat on which you are sitting is a reserved seat, said the TTE.
“But the chart says it is vacant,” said the passenger.
“Yes it is vacant, but is reserved,” said the TTE.
“How can it be vacant and reserved at the same time?” enquired the passenger.
“It is reserved for ST, group M. You do not have the right sit on this seat,” said the TTE.
“But if you happen to represent ST (M), show me your caste credentials,” asked the TTE.
The man showed him his caste ID. “Sorry, you do not have a reservation, please stand and travel.”
The passenger stood up to continue his journey. Just then, another passenger vacated a seat, No 4. The TTE checked the list and said, “Ok, you can sit here.”
The passenger made himself comfortable in the seat No: 4.
After a while, three passengers walked into the coach and approached the TTE. The TTE came to the passenger at seat No: 4 and asked him to vacate.
“What you just made me sit here and then you are asking me to vacate. I presume this seat is reserved for Forward class.,” asked the passenger.
“Yes, you are right, this seat is reserved for FC, but I have to allot this to SC, group G, since there is a backlog to be cleared.” said the TTE.
The passenger reserved his feelings.
. . .
“What do you mean the tickets sold out, you still have a bunch with you,” asked an angry fan of a film star, trying to watch the movie on the first day at a theatre. “Sorry, they are reserved for ST audiences.”
. . .
A man was brought to a hospital in a critical condition. He met with a major road accident and had a serious head injury. He is bleeding profusely. The hospital staff put him in the casualty ward and awaiting the Administrative Officer to clear his admission. The relatives are anxiously waiting for the A.O. The AO turned up and said, going through the papers of the injured. “Oh, he is a Forward class, we cannot admit him now.”
The relative pleaded,”Kindly admit him, he is already bleeding and there is a heavy loss of blood.”
“I cannot help you. There are no beds readily available now, and I am not sure when I can accommodate him. Try another hospital,” said the AO.
“But the time is running out, we cannot shift him to another hospital, he may die in the transit. Please do something, requested the relatives. The condition of the patient is getting worse.
Just then, a patient is brought to the hospital. “Sir, he has slight pain in the neck, he needs to be observed for 24 hours. Please admit him.”
Looking at the papers, “Ok, take him to the ICU and admit him at once”
The relatives questioned his action, “how can you leave a critical injured patient like this and admit a patient with slight pain in his neck? Don’t you understand who is more critical to be attended?”
“I understand. However, the rules do not. The patient who is sent to the ICU is a reserved patient. He falls under OBC. We still have five beds vacant for them, but the beds for FC are all full.”
In the meantime the injured patient died.
Long Live Reservations. Long Live Reservationists.
________________________________________________________________________
Politics sans all logic. The decisions taken in the interest of public are seldom for them and do not make any sense. The recent reservation policy, for instance is a classic example.
I was wondering as to where this can lead to in the future
Reservationists are politicians, without a conviction. I may be excused if I am using something like, conviction in relation to a politician. Lack of conviction in a man makes him a politician.
The Politicians today are suffering from AIDS of a different kind, Acute Improper Decisions Syndrome. These decisions are mainly taken during the afternoon nap or a nap during a press conference. These decisions will have a tremendous impact on the future generations.
Say ten years from now, after the implementation of the various reservation schemes from time to time.
Year: 2015.
“Good Evening, Sir, how may I help you,” asked the steward. A common welcome note in any Indian Restaurant.
“Well, I am looking for a table for three,” said the visitor.
“Do you have a reservation, sir,” asked the steward.
“Actually, my secretary called up and reserved a table,” said the visitor.
“That is wonderful sir. Can I have your reservation category number, sir,” asked the steward.
“What category?” asked the visitor.
The steward gave a dirty look and said, “Obviously, your caste, on which the reservation is made.”
“My caste, I am a forward caste.”
The steward gave a ‘more than a dirty’ look and said, “You need to wait for a week to have a table.”
“But those three tables are unoccupied” asserted the visitor.
“Sorry sir, they are reserved for OBC, SC and ST,” and the steward vanished into the thin crowd.
. . .
In a train, the TTE asks one of the passengers to get up from his seat.
“Why, I bought a ticket,” said the passenger.
“That is ok, but the seat on which you are sitting is a reserved seat, said the TTE.
“But the chart says it is vacant,” said the passenger.
“Yes it is vacant, but is reserved,” said the TTE.
“How can it be vacant and reserved at the same time?” enquired the passenger.
“It is reserved for ST, group M. You do not have the right sit on this seat,” said the TTE.
“But if you happen to represent ST (M), show me your caste credentials,” asked the TTE.
The man showed him his caste ID. “Sorry, you do not have a reservation, please stand and travel.”
The passenger stood up to continue his journey. Just then, another passenger vacated a seat, No 4. The TTE checked the list and said, “Ok, you can sit here.”
The passenger made himself comfortable in the seat No: 4.
After a while, three passengers walked into the coach and approached the TTE. The TTE came to the passenger at seat No: 4 and asked him to vacate.
“What you just made me sit here and then you are asking me to vacate. I presume this seat is reserved for Forward class.,” asked the passenger.
“Yes, you are right, this seat is reserved for FC, but I have to allot this to SC, group G, since there is a backlog to be cleared.” said the TTE.
The passenger reserved his feelings.
. . .
“What do you mean the tickets sold out, you still have a bunch with you,” asked an angry fan of a film star, trying to watch the movie on the first day at a theatre. “Sorry, they are reserved for ST audiences.”
. . .
A man was brought to a hospital in a critical condition. He met with a major road accident and had a serious head injury. He is bleeding profusely. The hospital staff put him in the casualty ward and awaiting the Administrative Officer to clear his admission. The relatives are anxiously waiting for the A.O. The AO turned up and said, going through the papers of the injured. “Oh, he is a Forward class, we cannot admit him now.”
The relative pleaded,”Kindly admit him, he is already bleeding and there is a heavy loss of blood.”
“I cannot help you. There are no beds readily available now, and I am not sure when I can accommodate him. Try another hospital,” said the AO.
“But the time is running out, we cannot shift him to another hospital, he may die in the transit. Please do something, requested the relatives. The condition of the patient is getting worse.
Just then, a patient is brought to the hospital. “Sir, he has slight pain in the neck, he needs to be observed for 24 hours. Please admit him.”
Looking at the papers, “Ok, take him to the ICU and admit him at once”
The relatives questioned his action, “how can you leave a critical injured patient like this and admit a patient with slight pain in his neck? Don’t you understand who is more critical to be attended?”
“I understand. However, the rules do not. The patient who is sent to the ICU is a reserved patient. He falls under OBC. We still have five beds vacant for them, but the beds for FC are all full.”
In the meantime the injured patient died.
Long Live Reservations. Long Live Reservationists.
________________________________________________________________________
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