India has exited recession but barely. Q3 GDP growth of 0.4% shows recovery is fragile and a Covid spurt is a new headwind. All the more important that the vaccination programme is pursued with vigour and the second wave is fought off. The economy can’t be allowed to stall again.
Activist Nodeep Kaur’s bail in HC lesson for lower courts on how to uphold right to liberty
Punjab and Haryana HC’s bail to activist Nodeep Kaur underlines the virtuous trend of higher judiciary upholding right to liberty. Lower courts have regrettably made jail the rule, bail an exception. HC held pragmatically that peaceful protest is a right but respect the thin line of what’s legal, what isn’t.
New OTT, social and digital media rules an overreach — shows ‘maximum government’ mindset
The new OTT, social and digital media rules are an overreach, and aim to rein in Big Tech with a ‘maximum government’ mindset. It creates another layer of bureaucracy when laws already exist, and strangulates new forms of media. It is being imposed without any public consultation or parliament sanction.
Don’t curse the pitch in Ahmedabad. Arrogant batters forgot how to play spin
Such is the dominance of pace that being ‘on the backfoot’ has become synonymous with being ‘pushed on the defensive.’ Meanwhile, arrogant batters forgot that defence against spin is to stretch forward respectfully on the front-foot to smother it. Saw any of that in Ahmedabad? Think before cursing the pitch.
Reduce indirect taxes on petroleum products. Bad policy to keep taxes high for revenues
The desperation of states and Centre to keep taxes on petrol and diesel high for revenues is understandable. But it’s poor economic policy. After a point, it hurts consumers and sparks inflation. Indirect taxes on petroleum products should be reduced gradually, especially in an economy crawling out of a recession.
Misbehaving with a woman prisoner crosses a line. We have got inured to so much. Her colleague Shiv Kumar’s toe nails being pulled out. Suffering fractures. India’s insurgencies, not all laid to rest, have coarsened our moral fibre. It is now for the media and the judiciary to keep the flame alive.
There is a formal grievance mechanism. People troubled by vicious on line trolling should make good use of it.