Editor,
The promise made by Narendra Modi before the 2014 election campaign that Rs15 lakh would be deposited in everyone’s Savings Bank account if black money stashed abroad was brought back. The promise has not yet faded from public memory. Recently the people of Munnar were victims of a WhatsApp message. The prank had caused a mad rush for the Munnar post office where everyone tried to open a Savings Bank account expecting to get the promised money of Rs. 15 lakh deposited as the message said, ‘Whoever wants the Rs.15 lakh dole should open an account with the India Post Payments Bank.’
It was this mischievous WhatsApp message that sent people to the nearby post office by the hundreds. But the harried post master, K Murugaiah, though tried his level best to dissuade the people who had lined up before the post office and told them that it was only a rumour and such amount of money would not be disbursed by the Central government. But people were not in a mood to pay heed to his request.
It may be pertinent to note that Modi’s 2014 campaign pitch on the Rs.15 lakh deposit had become an issue in the 2019 general election in Kerala, where the BJP did not win a single seat. It may be recalled that Suresh Gopi an erstwhile superstar who contested on a BJP ticket, had thundered before voters that Modi had not said Rs. 15 lakh would be shoved down the gullet of everyone but merely assessed that the amount could be deposited if the black money was brought back, stressing on the ‘if.’ However, the majority in Munnar are Tamilians and they might not have listened to the ill-conceived speech of Suresh Gopi. But it is a question of attitude here as to whether people should believe Suresh Gopi or if they even understood what he had spoken regarding the Rs.15 lakh.
What is to be underlined here is the promise of Narendra Modi during the election campaign in 2014 and the promise is deeply embedded in the psyche of people, especially, the rural folks. The poor people of this hill town are still looking forward to this covetous amount. The BJP party has a responsibility to clear this canard doing the rounds in this hill town.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email
Disinvestment of LIC
Editor,
If newspapers reports are to be believed, the Union Government has initiated steps to disinvest the LIC of India, which, as of now is 100% owned by the Government of India. This is extremely sad, more so because there is underlying intention of handing over, perhaps, the best financial institution of the country, to private hands. LIC, despite its shortcomings, has done yeoman’s service to the nation, contributing 25% of the five-year plans, all for the purpose of nation building activities.
Though in the first innings of the present NDA government, massive disinvestment programs were kept in abeyance, in the current innings, it is more than making up by taking such steps which would definitely be harmful for the Country. Disinvestment, as such is not bad, if commoners and retail investors are given an opportunity to be part-owners. But, if the underlying intention is to handover to the private entities, then it would be extremely harmful to the nation.
During Vajpayee-led first NDA government, many public-sector entities were handed over to private owners, without due diligence. The long-serving Chairman of GAIL, recently quit in protest against the Government’s move to split the Company into two, and thereby handing over, this public sector company to private entities.
Another move by the Government to garner funds by way of Sovereign Bonds is a matter of concern, as this may lead to many issues as was faced by Latin American and South-East Asian economies, over last few decades.
LIC has stood on its own since its inception in 1956, except for the initial contribution of just Rs. 5 Crore by the Central Government. Today, this institution has an asset of over Rs. 31,000 billions (that is, over Rs. 31 lakh crores). Even today, when we have presence of assorted multi-national and global companies setting their footprints in India, LIC is still the most trusted institution in India, with presence in several countries. If the disinvestment of LIC is initiated, Bharat Mata would lose its crowning glory. It’s the duty of all citizens to see to it that this does not happen.
Yours etc.,
D Bhutia,
Guwahati
Online newspapers for parliamentarians
Editor,
It is heartening to know that the Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha has provided an option for online papers to be delivered to the members in lieu of physical copies from next session onwards The decision taken during Zero hour is a highly appreciable gesture especially towards ensuring paper free environment and encouraging seamless flow of information.
The decision to go paper free is optional but the same needs to be carried out as a mandatory measure. As most of the members have access to emails and technology, it is high time that both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adopt paper free office environment and implement the same to ensure seamless communication. The Lok Sabha Secretariat may also adopt the best practises to encourage paper free environment, from the other parliamentary bodies like the European Union, the United Nations Secretariat and the UN General Assembly which follow a robust paper free documentation system.
Further an effort should be made by the Hon’ble Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to provide details of private member Bills, Bills amended and tabled through a news website regularly. An extensive effort is highly necessary now to reach out to the public to disseminate Parliamentary proceedings of regular updates through news portals and leading newspapers.
Yours etc.,
Varun Dambal
Bangalore -72