The Madras High Court’s interim order to lift the ban on TikTok has undone a draconian decision. Banning an app, popular or not, just because some may have misused it is a grossly disproportionate response in the world’s fastest-growing smartphone market. The court’s final order should uphold the interim ruling.
AAP must stop misleading Delhi’s voters
Aam Aadmi Party’s Lok Sabha election manifesto is an exercise in evasion, obfuscation and duplicity. AAP promises the moon but delivery is incumbent on Delhi getting full statehood — a dispute already settled by the Supreme Court. Arvind Kejriwal’s party should stop misleading Delhi’s voters and inventing excuses for its failures.
One important reason cities like Bombay. and Bangalore cannot attain global standards is because they sustain the finances of large states of which they are the capitals. Delhi alone does not suffer from that disability. It can spend all its tax revenues on its own citizens. It also receives subvention payments from the Centre. For example, the entire cost of Delhi Police is borne by MHA. Its Metro gets central subsidies as well. There really is no good reason – apart from electoral politics – it cannot get full statehood, with some special provisions for VIP security and certain immunities and privileges for the union government. So it is tragic that not only is the demand for statehood not moving – despite both national parties having supported it in the past – but it is not even permitted to take a restroom break without the LG’s prior permission in writing.