The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has put down the collapse of the Indian economy to an “act of God”. That a member of a political party based on the spread of religious majoritarianism should consider Divine Force responsible for a global pandemic and its resultant disastrous aftereffects, may lead one to ask whether the devotion of her party has been all that pure after all.
In the past six years, the greatest “achievement” of the Narendra Modi-led government has been to start work on a temple. A temple which will stand on the site of the criminal demolition of a mosque. And on a consequent viciously crafted rise of social hatred against Muslims. All this, after a long yatra to power, with death and destruction in its wake. May one dare to suggest that perhaps, well, maybe, someone up there is not so happy?
But what do I know?
From the time COVID-19 hit India, we have heard any number of faith-based cures for the virus from BJP ministers and members. Sunshine, consumption of cow excreta, various indigenous herbs, sitting naked in the mud and chanting, banging pots and pans… the list is endless.
Almost none of the poor BJP ministers and politicians who sadly contracted the virus ever followed any one of these so-called cures which they wanted to inflict on the general population. Quite intelligently, they all went off to various hospitals.
Let’s get back to the after-effects of this divine wrath, for what else could a true believer call it? The Indian economy has already on a downward slide, ever since the greatest PM ever announced his demonic demonetisation scheme in November 2016. Now the world’s economy has caught up with us. Our own local problems are our own of course. Not least the bungled, ill-thought-out and badly implemented Goods and Service Tax regime.
The effects of the virus apart, the states have not received their GST dues and now have been told they will not receive them. They must borrow to make up the shortfall. This effectively means that the entire reasoning behind replacing other taxation systems with GST has been turned on its head. God has a lot to answer for, by inflicting this on us.
Luckily for the “Fin Min”, racing to the rescue of his colleague who is under God’s angry eye, is Union Railway Minister, Union Footwear Minister and part-time Commerce and Weird Idea Minister Piyush Goyal.
Never short on extreme cleverness, Goyal has a novel scheme to increase India’s exports and therefore presumably up our economic prospects. It’s a ₹7500 crore export scheme using the famous K
Ignore the propensity of hotel guests to steal from their rooms for now. Instead, ponder on this problem. Ever since the Modi government first came to power at the Centre in 2014, it and its party have carried out a sustained and bloody “cow-protection” campaign. By banning cow slaughter and lynching anyone transporting cattle, particularly Muslims and Dalits, the Centre and BJP in effect have finished India’s large and thriving (and export rich) leather and tanning industries. As people pointed out on Twitter, Kolhapur’s leather industry has suffered a 50 to 60 per cent fall in production. You can work out the downward spiral on costs and livelihoods from those figures.
What exactly then does Goyal mean? Given the high religious nature of his party and his government, given that cow protection was an integral part of their whole plan to make India into a Hindu majoritarian state, has the cow now been exiled from political favour, to the unloved and ignored category? (You know, like all the sad cows wandering the country eating garbage.) Will this idea further enrage God or will hotel guests the world over now be blessed with free Kolhapuri chappals while managements tear their hair out and weep over their already plummeting profits?
Of course, it is possible that God has no role to play in the Union Finance Minister’s mind. It is entirely likely that the Modi government sees itself as a shady insurance company which refuses to shell out what it owes you and blames God…
Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman says tho…
01-04-2025
Uttarakhand Waqf Board chairman Shadab Shams criticized the opposition for opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. He emphasized that PM Modi aims to mainstream poor Muslims and accused the opposition...
Read moreHC to Uttarakhand govt: Respond to UCC p…
01-04-2025
The Uttarakhand High Court has requested a response from the state government within 48 hours regarding multiple petitions challenging the Uniform Civil Code. Petitions criticize issues ranging from live-in relationship...
Read moreWill consider Allahbadia plea on passpor…
01-04-2025
The Supreme Court deferred the request for return of passport and international travel by influencer Ranveer Allahbadia amidst ongoing police investigations on multiple FIRs against him for inappropriate remarks. The...
Read moreAny settlement in a case of rape & c…
01-04-2025
The Allahabad high court rejected a petition to quash criminal proceedings in a case involving alleged rape and unlawful religious conversion. The court emphasized the severity of such offences, citing...
Read moreRaise concerns over FPIs with Sebi, SC t…
01-04-2025
The Supreme Court has declined to consider Mahua Moitra's plea to disclose details of alternate investment funds and foreign portfolio investors in India's stock market, directing her to first approach...
Read moreSupreme Court legal aid panel to come to…
01-04-2025
The Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, led by Justice Surya Kant, is set to file appeals for over 4,000 poor prisoners whose appeals were dismissed by High Courts. This initiative...
Read moreBar & bench spar over SC 'vexatious …
01-04-2025
Supreme Court reprimands an advocate for filing a 'vexatious litigation' in a criminal case and seeks explanation. Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma issued a contempt notice after...
Read more'Calcutta HC can't be dumping ground': L…
01-04-2025
Lawyers at Calcutta High Court boycotted court proceedings on Tuesday, protesting the transfer of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma from Delhi HC. The lawyers expressed discontent with the SC collegium's decision...
Read moreCan't reveal name of father, kin details…
01-04-2025
A Kerala YouTube channel exposed a father's scheme to frame his wife by manipulating their son to accuse her. Although the boy's identity was indirectly revealed through his father's photo...
Read moreNGOs can't stall every project citing ec…
01-04-2025
The Supreme Court criticized certain NGOs for stalling development projects by conjuring false environmental risks. It dismissed an appeal by 'Kahar Samaj Panch Committee' challenging a floating solar power project...
Read more'Most affected' Naxal districts down to …
01-04-2025
India has achieved significant progress in reducing Left-wing extremism, with the number of affected districts decreasing from 38 to 18 across seven states. Most-affected districts have halved, leading to substantial...
Read moreSoros-funded desi company also got Rs 8 …
01-04-2025
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is under scrutiny in an ongoing investigation related to hedge fund operator George Soros. ASAR Social Impact Advisors received Rs 8 crore from...
Read moreRight to shelter fundamental, pay 10L fo…
01-04-2025
The Supreme Court of India mandated the Prayagraj Development Authority to compensate five homeowners, whose houses were unlawfully demolished in 2021, with Rs 10 lakh each. The court emphasized that...
Read moreGovernment set to push for Lok Sabha nod…
01-04-2025
The government is pushing for the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, facing strong opposition from parties and Muslim organizations. Opposition parties plan to...
Read moreShould we start digging up 30,000 mosque…
01-04-2025
RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale states the Sangh's opposition to reclaiming thousands of mosques allegedly built on demolished temples. He underscores the potential societal hostility and urgency of other priorities...
Read moreAshwini Vaishnaw to CBI: Embrace AI, wor…
01-04-2025
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the challenges posed by AI-related crimes and questioned accountability for such crimes. He urged CBI to collaborate with academic and technological institutions to improve their...
Read more