Let Mallya, Nirav and Choksi loot the banks and enjoy life on a sun-lit foreign beach
Mallyas, Niravs, Choksis plunder while India ups its rank on ‘Global Corruption Index’
You must be very angry. Like I am. In fact ‘angry’ seems like a mild
word. It doesn’t fully reflect what is raging in the collective consciousness
of us – the middle class - over the recent money laundering disclosures. We are
seething and sizzling with raw rage at the systemic, organized ‘loot’ we have
been witness to all these days. And why not? While we pay our taxes through our skins,
there are Mallyas, Niravs and Choksis plundering crores and making merry in the titillating company of hot, sexy Bolly- and Hollywood temptresses. So cool!
Just
look at the dismal, shocking picture. So tight is the tax noose that even a low
paid employee earning barely enough for the basic family needs has to pay
income tax. He/She has to SAVE the mandatory 1.5 lakh to help fall under a lower tax slab and thereby save a couple of thousand bucks. And save where? Fixed Deposits in banks that we think are a
safe and secure option. But wait. Here too the unsparing hand of taxman is
there to squeeze us. In the UPA dispensation, the banks reduced the rates of
interest on FDRs to discouragingly low levels and in the NDA government it has continued to be so. And if you still tighten your purse strings and do manage to save but exceed the precribed limit, you again pay tax on the interest. You save to avoid tax but finally
end up paying tax on what you save! How ridiculous. For me it simply defies
logic and the idiocy of it should shame any government. What is more, even the
pensioners have no respite from this faulty, strangulating tax noose. And those
of us who are more money wise and have been investing in tax-saving mutual funds
to earn better profits - though at some risk - and avoid tax at the same time
too have come under the tax net henceforth.
The
governments tax us (the middle class or the salaried class) so punishingly because
we are an easy prey for them, while most of the business folks and the
super-rich have several escape routes and loopholes to avoid the noose. And the
smart operators amongst them – the Mallyas and the Modis - connive with officials, babus and the politicians, loot the banks, park their crores in
foreign shores and thumbing their noses at us live happily ever after. They live
a life of lust, luxury and splendour on sunny beaches and in palatial bungalows
sipping their scotches, while the farmer, unable to pay small bank loan
(because of crop failure) commits suicide; while we pay our housing and car loans
taking utmost care not to default. Because we know if we fail, the bankman will
make life difficult for us; because he will be impatient to seal and auction
off our mortgaged property if we default. Or the interest rate will shoot up to heavens and make it painful for us to meet out from our monthly salaries. What gets our goat is not just the
incompetence, apathy and delay (perhaps deliberate to let the fraudsters escape
to safe sanctuaries abroad) by our governments in bringing the culprits to book
and recovering the booty. It is the silly doublespeak of the politicians on top that exasperates
us and makes our blood boil with rage. Mallya’s loot had been going on for
years. Ditto for Nirav and Choksi. Since
Congress days and right through the BJP’s present stint. What prevents Rahul
from being candid enough, say it out loud and clear and admit that yes it has been so…and we are sorry? What prevents Modi government
to be honest and say yes we erred in detecting the crime early, say sorry, and then
get to work in all earnestness and do what the whole nation is craving for: transparency, accountability, fairness and justice. But no. Obfuscation, subterfuge, distortion,
sheer falsehood and you-snipe-at-me-I-snipe at-you is all that is served out to us by
the politicians as well as in the ear-splitting TV debates.
Vote
with discretion we are advised. Vote for a candidate with a good, clean image
we are told by the wise. But when the whole system is so rotten, when all
parties mostly field incompetent, illiterate, criminal and corrupt candidates,
even goondas and history sheeters , when no party is willing to have proper electoral reforms introduced to
cleanse the system, जब इस हमाम में सब नंगे हैं, then we have no choice at all.
No
wonder therefore that we have not only slipped in international reckoning on
the 'democracy index' but gone up a few notches in the 'corruption index' also. We
now rank 81 from the earlier 79 in 2016.
Keep
it up Mr Politician! But beware the wrath of God if not that of the Aam Admi.
*
Ode to Sridevi
On your passing away the nation sighed and every heart missed a beat
O
celestial beauty, why from earth to heavens you made such hasty retreat
Your bewitching smile, your grace and
arresting charm we will dearly cherish
Eloquence of your eyes and childlike
playfulness, remember and always relish
While
alive, you ruled over our hearts with your undying magic spell
Now
RIP Sridevi, in our dreams and thoughts you will forever dwell
***
And 100th on Global Hunger Index.... Very sad state!
ReplyDeleteHa, Ha, Ha...yes. A sad, sad picture.
ReplyDeleteMy dear friend, the names referred to above by you would fade in front of the daily loot by multiple existing and past politicians since independence.Jai Prakash Narayan once remarked the people filling the legislative assemblies in India are deadlier dacoits than those inhabiting the Chambal valley.
ReplyDeleteYour sizzling but apt comments on the general rot in regard to our political class render me speechless and wordless...I have nothing more to say or add!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks.
It seems it is only the law fearing class that has to suffer
ReplyDeleteIt seems it is only the law fearing class that has to suffer
ReplyDeleteYes, very much so. We are an easy meat for the lawmakers.
DeleteNice to read something straight and from the Heart but, who is bothered in this Country or for that matter all over the World. Politicians the World around are the same and the rot continues unabated.........Is the American President any better? Subhash ji, dil bahlane ke liya khyal accha.....No one can bell the Cat, sadly.........Thank you for sharing thought provoking views.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much dear PS ji. You are very right. There is a steep decline in the quality of political leadership all over the globe. And this should be a cause for worry. With Trumps and Kims around, our doom may not be too far away.Keep sharing your thoughts... it is very encouraghing for a small town scribbler like me!
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