Whispers Forum

Recently it was reported in News Papers that some RWA office bearers were not allowing Airline crews, Doctors etc to return to their own home. At some places tenants were asked to vacate their flats. Do the RWAs have power to take such decisions? Do they enjoy statutory powers?? In many private colonies (including DDA flats) RWAs have constructed gates on lanes/bylanes (these belong to MCD) and keep them Locked even DURING DAY TIME. This is against the guidelines/rules issued by MCD on the direction of High Court. They also collect money from Fruit/Vegetable moving Vendors for allowing them inside the colony!! Added to this, RWAs collect money from owners/builders while carrying out repair or rebuilding. Who has given them this authority? This is within the purview of MCD.
In multi storied apartments all over the country, as reported in News Papers, the associations prevents owners from letting their apartment on rent to Students, Bachelors, single woman or persons from certain religion/caste. Their plea is that such rules have been incorporated in their byelaws and approved by AGM. But the Basic question is whether such byelaws which are violative of our CONSTITUTION be legal not withstanding the fact that it has been approved by AGM? Unfortunately Registrar of Societies/Cooperative Societies do not scrutinise the bye laws thoroughly.
The recent Lockdown has also brought out the High handedness of RWAs (as reported in Papers).
In view of this I would request Government of India to issue fresh Guidelines for RWAs indicating what they can do and what they can not do immediately.
S Gopal

At the time of this COVID crisis all extraordinary efforts done by Central and State Govts. are highly commendable and any word of praise will be less, Yes I would express my gratitude by expressing that first time in the independent history of India such an expression and resolve of the state for welfare measure has been demonstrated. May i add that this is the situation where today India have more than 2-3 lakh MBBS qualified students are sitting idle at home for furthering their progression for higher studies but are at home without gainful employment and the irony is at this time of crisis their services could have been utilized to tackle this menace. I hope concerned authorities will take notice of this and make use of them.
Arun Sharma

Within the month of March India has transformed as the most livable place amongst mainstream countries in the world. Our habits of indiscipline, selfishness and divisiveness stand over powered by our deep rooted values of universal brotherhood and spiritual balance.
The hope that India is beginning to ignite for the rest- even in the wake of abject poverty and not so great health facilities- shows that love and concern are the best vaccines at least in the early part of the crisis of this kind. We need to maintain this fellow-feeling and self discipline if we have to emerge as an example to the rest of the world.
Ajay Agnihotri
Learn to live within means also means honesty !
Learn to live within means also means learn to live with the amount of money you legitimately earn. Never in the name of the Government exchequer or of the company's exchequer avail any illegitimate benefits. It could be in the matter of use of vehicles, having personal staff, stationaries or any form of any other similar type of benefits for personal purposes over and above the entitlements. The Defence personal of the countries are the worst lot in the country. For example for purchase of cheaper grocery items from the Defence canteens, they do not hesitate in burning petrol at cost of the exchequer. Government vehicles are used by the spouses to attend to kitty parties etc. and for the commuting of their wards from the Residence to Schools/Universities and back. Military Engineering Service (MES) is rated as the most corrupt Department in the Government of India. The other name of MES is 'Money Engineering Service".
BBS

As in the case of SBI merging all its subsidiary banks with itself became the largest bank and other Public Sector Banks are also being merged and restricting the number of 12 banks to 4 big banks. It would be more important to consider after the latest saga Yes Bank in which RBI and Government intervened, though late, at the behest of Government SBI acquired 49% shares at the rate of Rs.10/- and other private lenders also landed financial support. Taking clue from this, Government may think of pruning the number of private sector banks. Now-a-days, it has been observed that there are so many types of banks Smail size banks regional banks rural banks cooperative banks such PMC Bank. It seems that these banks are not functioning efficiently. On the other hand, there are very few banks who have been efficiently managing their affars in this tough time. It is my suggestion that the small private ticket size banks such as South Indian Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank etc. whose performances were not up to mark may suitably be merged with potential big lenders or NBFC who can manage it efficiently. It would, on the one hand, prevent any misuse of funds collected from common man on time and reinforce the faith in our financial system,
V P Sharma
Difficult days ahead, refrain from spreading rumours
We really have difficult days ahead of us. But Every Citizen should refrain from spreading rumours and not indulge in Hoarding of items. Dedicated Public Servants and others are doing their best to Contain the spread of this Virus. We individuals should help the Government and its agencies in containing this epidemic.
S Gopal

When the government of India as well as the states are taking full steps to contain the COVID-19 epidemic, and the DOPT has asked all the central government offices to call only fifty percent staff to office, the irony is that there is one office that has refused to implement these instructions of DOPT, stating that the office deals with essential services. The Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Zone -II, Rajiv Talwar has refused while his counterparts in Mumbai Zone I and III have already issued necessary instructions in this matter. So, how is the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, which caters to imports and exports through the port of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, dealing with essential service while the import and export business at old Mumbai port, as well as at Mumbai air cargo complex, and the passenger arrival and departure and customs clearance thereof is not essential. The terror created by the Chief Commissioner Talwar is to such an extent, that his Commissioners are getting angry on the lower staff who dared to post the instructions of the DOPT, and the circulars issued on the basis of these instructions, by other two customs zones of Mumbai, on the whatsapp groups, thinking that it will create a mutiny. Incidentally, Rajiv Talwar has joined this Zone II of Mumbai Customs just a month back, and his predecessor Vivek Johri, Principal Chief Commissioner is not head of Mumbai Customs Zone-I, where he has implemented the instructions of DOPT. Does the Finance Minister allow such double standards? Or the Mumbai customs Zone II has been given an autonomous status ? So far as the preparations for the fight against this epidemic, in JNCH, are concerned, there was no water in the washrooms of this Custom House, today afternoon, on 20.02.2020, and this is also when the footfall in the building has been quite restricted due to this epidemic. Indeed this is the implementation of the day curfew ordered by the prime minister.
Vikas Singh
Equally irresponsible are those who attended Kanika’s party
This girl Kanika Kapoor has acted in a very irresponsible manner but equal guilty are those who hosted these parties of large crowd during these days when they should know that people must avoid such gatherings. Equally irresponsible are those who attended these parties. Do these VIPs not know that they should avoid going where so many people are there. It only shows their carelessness and non-seriousness about such a serious situation with which the whole world is grappling.
Aarti Khosla

The only way to lessen the burden of the Government is stop the misuse of perks & facilities by the Ministers & Bureaucrats. If we do a study on this subject, then we will definitely find that scam in financial terms in this area of operations, will far outreach the financial scam of Yes Bank. One of Modi's Minister has taken Chappal and Hajmola from the office expenses budget of his Ministry. During his official travel his wife and daughter accompanied him. The Principal Private Secretary has claimed from the office the journey cost of his wife and daughter. One former Secretary purchased I Phone for his PS at the cost of exchequer and also footed the mobile bills of his PS at the cost of exchequer. There is CAG para on this subject and the office wants that this paragraph should be dropped. The concerned Chief Vigilance Officer in the Department of Economic Affairs is not taking any action on the complaint. Feudalism in this country has engraved like a Corona Virus. The Feudal Bureaucrats and Ministers need to be brought on to their knees. Only God can do this.
BBS

Withdrawal of Rs. 2000 denomination currency notes from ATMs by SBI and Indian Bank (hopefully by all the other Banks too) is a prudent and wise decision. Withdrawal from ATMs is meant for meeting small expenses and not for paying hotel bills or high value purchases in cash. Those who withdraw such large amounts will surely have credit/debit cards which should be used for high value purchases. I also suggest that Banks limit ATM withdrawal to Rs10, 000 per swipe allow only one swipe per week. This is from safety angle. The loss to an user/Bank in the event of a fraud, theft etc will be restricted to Rs. 10, 000 only and the one week gap will give enough time to the user to get the card blocked, lodge complaint etc. Progressively Banks should withdraw Rs.500 denomination currency also from ATMs and disperse only Rs.100 notes.
Raghavan
CAA protests
Through the whispers, I want to appeal to the Government to collect the information about the participants at the Saheenbagh and other places, and announce that the facilities extended to them by the government will be stopped forthwith. Recover the loans granted. Stop transferring scholarship money, etc.
BBS

The bill related to Vivad se Vishwas is passed by the Parliament and is ready for its implementation. This does not look only scheme but looks vision of Govt. to resolve the disputed cases and build a Brand of Vishwas or Trust between tax payers and tax Administration. This is a step moving from fear to trust but it takes time and hard work to build the Brand TRUST. More than 9 lakhs crores are struck in dispute and success rate is around 35%. Considering other factors also it is worth while to spend money and time to bring the trust between tax payers and Tax officials. It requires change of mind set of tax officials and provide helping hand to tax payers in resolving the cases. Tax officials may take lead and work as a guide to tax payers for right approach. This is very necessary that trust gap between tax payers and tax officials must go. It should be ensured that from now the case should not move from Vishwas to Vivad. To start building trust, Govt. may consider the cases older than five years and income is below taxable limits but notices have been issued and submission has been made by the tax payers to close on the basis of submission. This will be first step not to move to Vivad from Vishwas. Let us understand why only 2% of people paying income tax, it is due to lack of trust or some other reasons? Tax compliance is good in salaried class but in professional and trade categories, it is less. This needs immediate attention. Tax officials to devote more time and energy in developing tools using present day technologies and methodologies to assess the correct income in these categories instead of wasting time with small tax payers. Sr, citizens (pensioners, house wives etc) to be completely exempted from notices and not moving to Vivad from Vishwas. Their submission to be accepted to create Brand trust. It is like building Brand Equity. Once Brand Trust is created between tax payers and tax administration, things may move in positive direction where not only the number of tax payers will increase but revenue will also increase. Let us hope good success in implementation. Good luck !!
Naveen
“Let us practise Aparigreh and learn to live within our means”
Massive shortages of consumer goods are around the corner. This will be followed by scrambles, stampedes, robberies, killing, looting and arsons at malls and big bazaars and supermarkets. All markets will be ordered to be closed, soon.
Total Lockdown of metropolitan cities, is imminent.
Avoid imitating the dirty Chinese, notorious for consuming raw wild animals like snakes, rats, cats, dogs, donkeys, lizards, donkeys , crocs as also delicacies like soups of owls, crows and whatever you can imagine.
Don't forget, hoarding of essential commodities is illegal.
The grim scenario seems like a precursor to WWIII.
Try your best to follow precautions.
Don't be afraid of death. If, it has to come, it will come, unannounced.
This will be the easiest way to attain Moksha without tapasyaa, santhara, voluntary starvation to death.
Worst days are ahead.
No hope for Achhey din as repeatedly promised by PM Modi.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Corona fright is an intimation from the Benevolent to seek Kshama for the misdeeds of the human race in the last 200 years which has destroyed the planet and is disturbing the Planetary Order. Benevolence in mercy melts even stones in to water, the elixir of life, but if infuriated (as in the last 200 years) make stones of the same water (we call hailstones). The violent must understand that non-violence is not a sign of weakness of mankind, but violence certainly is an expression of fear of the cowards, who are quick to take to violence. India is the only country which actively practices and promotes the practice of forgiveness or Kshama. To mitigate the severity of the current COVID-19 and to propitiate Benevolence, let us observe the period from now (March 15) up to 30th April as Special World Kshamaparv.
M L Gupta
Fall in oil prices to benefit individuals
Fall in prices of oil is going to benefit individuals who consume oil. It is going to be a huge loss for the Government, which earns a lot through Customs and Excise on oil. Lesser the money with the government would mean lesser amount for the government to spend.
BBS

DEBATE (1)
This move is not feasible. It will outnumber the Army and another important point will be the “Status “ to the Chief of the new Force. Besides what will be the fate of Assam Rifles ?.
M L Batham, ADG, BSF (Retd)
Divine intervention
Divine intervention has achieved what the recent years' Congress leadership could not or did not. Our beloved Congress Party is finally rid of the opium peddling criminal brigade and it's leaders masquerading as democrats, the anti-national line of Murdering British Stooge Aristocrats and their murdering henchmen who were defiling the core-nationalist Indian National Congress. Let us all make the most of this divine grace and renew our party and free it from psychopaths, socio-political parasites and lepers of all denominations. With regards and best wishes, I remain,
Yours in Congress,
Namit Verma
Budget 2020-21
Union Budget 2020-21 is likely to be approved. The Corona Virus has made big impact on investors investment. It is disaster for investors due to corona virus and difficult to bear it. The investment fund has reduced to nearly 50% and virtually are in the brink of begging. Govt. of India may consider the withdrawal .of tax on dividend and LTCG for the FY 2020-21 as a special dispensation to save the investors from the disaster. This will provide some relief to investors in this difficult situation. A positive and considerate step from Govt. can save thousands investors from ruining their life.
Naveen

DEBATE (1)
The 21st century reorganisation of our police force is overdue. Chanakya in his ARTHASASTRA clearly defined the need for law and order in the country. To achieve the same he wriote extensively on the need for field intelligence , security of citizens on the roads and highways throughout the country. Law and Order is successful in the land if the common man / woman is secure and can proceed with livelihood matters in a environment of safety. The External Environment is controlled by the Armed Forces against invaders and the internal backup is provided by the police in support of the Armed Forces Logistic Lines of Support. A very crucial requirement which is written in our Constitution. The Indian Central Armed Police Forces must be directly placed under the Home Ministry as our Indian Armed Forces are in the Ministry of Defence. Recruitment of officers and jawans must be organised by the UPSC. Training syllabus must be absolutely the same in all police training establishments for officers and jawans. Leadership must be taught as done in NDA / IMA / OTA of the Indian Armed Forces. Modern police forces today recruit a policeman for 10,000 people in a city / town . India should adopt this methodology.
Devindra Sethi
Parliament's sessions
Due to continuous disruptions in both Houses of Parliament, many Bills concerning the nation's economy, banking, trade, commerce, finance etc are awaiting clearance. To ensure that these Bills are passed in time the following suggestion is made. Both Houses can meet in two sessions i.e pre and post lunch. In the pre-lunch session these Bills can be taken up for consideration. From all parties members who have some awareness, familiarity, knowledge and experience on these matters can participate in the discussions in a calm atmosphere and pass these Bills . The post lunch session can then be devoted to purely political matters." Generalist" members with adequate lung power and oratorical skills can outshout each other and vent out their anger. There need be no adjournment and the session can go on till Members get tired and go out. This way both legislative work and political work will be done.
R. Subramanian

DEBATE(1)
I fully agree. Combined force will be too big to manage efficiently.
S Gopal
Black Economy, Art Market, Award Wapasi
Only a quick learner can master the skills of Lutyens Delhi in a few decades. It demands knowledge and super-speciality skills to enter the Lutyens fraternity as admission is strictly restricted. Even a person emulating Gandhi’s three monkeys is unlikely to gain trust of the boss who never comes in the open in person. In the Lutyens world virtue and vice are merely illusions depending on how one looks at it: growth can be seen as black economy depending who is evaluating. Art has played a valuable role in enhancing financial worth. If M.F.Hussain has gone for Rs. 2 Crores, it makes news. Actually it is no news because Lutyens has carried out domestic and export operations in art making the ordinary painter an artist of high stature. Even in the UK, it has been reported that Steve Bell, an award winning left-wing British political cartoonist, has drawn a cartoon published in the Guardian newspaper, showing Priti Patel a cow by the side of Prime Minister Johnson as the bull (artistic bullying? No, misogyny and racism of the liberal human rights secularist kind). Hussain is in the company of a few others. It is a closed group which worked for mutual benefit. Public sector companies and banks had been “advised” orally and/or in writing to buy many useless paintings for crores. The artist (s) honoured by giving Lalit Kala Akademi award first and Padma awards later. Publicity is given by the media. Corporate houses buy their works to appear as patrons of art. They build bridges through the artist to get huge bank loans giving paintings as collateral security. Loan defaulted they escape to foreign countries leaving the ED and IT with the works of art to calculate the seizure amount based on the book value. If the government does not help them, it gets flak. Even the artists join the opposition against the government as it boasts of transparency in Lutyens! Artists raise the banner of revolt against the government and threaten to return (some even actually return) the awards. Can the government place in public domain the amount spent by each PSU/Bank in buying such useless art works at unbelievable prices from 1980 till end 2019 and do the people a great favour?
M L Gupta