Midweek Thoughts

We are in the middle of this week, and as per present multi national working days we are approaching weekend. Last few days Mumbai news papers and most of the news channels were following the story about stampede accident in Mumbai. I think our news channels thrive on these type of accident stories which give them enough ammunition for govt bashing and time for panel discussions, which boosts their TRPs. I want to ask one question to all the news channels who were engaged in govt bashing- is the problem of overcrowding at Elphinstone Road station’s over bridge started in  last 3 years of Modi rule? Why they did not question all the ex Railway Ministers of UPA govt in their tenure of 10 years when the problem started and what action they took. Now a days it has become a fashion to bash Modi govt for all the problems, without realising the nature of the problem and when the same cropped up. At least Railway Minister of Modi Govt sanctioned the bridge in 2015, but the Railway babus never realised the importance and were sitting on the same for 2 years, they did not even issued the tender. All those officials should be held responsible for this incident and the delay.

Now let us see some interesting news items of this week

1. Karti Chidambaram- Yesterday CBI counsel made a statement in SC that Karti Chidambaram when he visited  abroad in May and June 2017, closed all his foreign bank accounts and transferred the money and tried to give this information to SC in sealed cover, which Karti’s counsel Kapil Sibal objected and said the same information should also be available to them and said as the court is only discussing about look out notice served to Karti therefore this can not be submitted as evidence, which SC accepted. SC further asked Karti to cooperate with CBI investigations and give 3 day prior notice  if he wants to go abroad. One side Karti’s counsel says that his client will cooperate with CBI, but on the other side he refuses to honour CBI’s summons to present himself for further questioning in Aircel -Maxis case. Karti further  said that CBI’s move to summon him in this case is illegal, malafide and a bid to harass him and his family. It looks like 2 corrupt ex ministers of UPA govt who also happened to be legal experst are guiding Karti, one is his father and other is his counsel.
2. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted an affidavit in UK court that Vijay Mallaya siphoned Rs 500 crore from the loan of Rs 900 crores which he took from IDBI bank to revive Kingfisher Airlines. The affidavit provides the details about Vijay Mallaya’s shell companies thru which he siphoned off funds. CBI and ED  with the help of other agencies are preparing a fool proof evidence against how Mallaya systematically laundered most or Rs 6027 crore loan taken from consortium of 17 banks led by SBI. Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has also started recently money laundering investigations against Vijay Mallaya.
3. After Elphinstone Road episode, Railway police along with city police have launched a drive against illegal hawkers who occupy railway foot over bridges and entrance area at stations. Yesterday most of the bridges and stations entrances were free from illegal hawkers and peddlers. But is is to be seen, how long it is going to remain hawker free. The response from commuters is that this always happen. on the day of the raid every thing is clear but from next day hawkers start coming back after bribing the police force and railway officials. Let us keep our fingers crossed.
4. Congressmen are criticising the Modi Govt about the increase in Petrol/Diesel prices. My advise to Congressmen would be if you want to gather some brownie points than ask the Congress ruled states to remove state VAT on Petroleum products  thus reducing the price in congress ruled state, but they do not have guts to do this as their CMs will not like their revenue to be affected. I think the states where they are ruling like Karnataka and Himachal, which are going in for elections in near future, can do it as they have nothing to loose, this move might give them additional votes. But will they do it???? For that they should have strong and sensible leader and his team, who should have alternate revenue plans ready to govern the state  if they come back to power. Any takers—-

So what you say my friends.

Awaiting for your feed backs and  comments.