Among other poll promises, the industrialist-politician has said he'll give scholarships to poor girls. People, however, feel this election is different & 'won't be a cakewalk for anyone'.
Ensuring free and fair elections, democratic governance, and limiting quid pro quo demands political funding regulations that go beyond the age-old methods.
Striking down the bond scheme on 15 February, the court had ordered the bank to furnish details of purchasers and redeemers by 6 March. The bank wanted time till 30 June.
For the Supreme Court to bless the SBI’s plea for an extension in electoral bonds case until 30 June would be tantamount to stamping on the spirit of democracy while performing its rituals.
The issues raised by the SBI do not appear to be germane to the Supreme Court’s direction. The court’s directions brook no ambiguity: furnish information from record.
Given its predicted loss, India’s opposition now will have the luxury of time to create a new, simpler, low-tech, face-to-face, patient politics that is not dependent on big money or even expensive data.
Electoral bonds are now set to bring transparency in political funding, but not in the way Arun Jaitley had claimed. The real deal will be when SBI reveals details of who donated how much to which political party.
In India, we are accustomed to glacial change. We love appointing Committees to ‘look into’ reform. Unfortunately for us, the rest of the world moves fast.
ED has accused Amtek promoter Arvind Dham of controlling web of nearly 500 shell companies operating as a layered structure, with up to 15 levels of indirect ownership, to divert funds.
Bengaluru-based CeNS designs accurate, portable, and cheap sensor using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. It could significantly reduce risks at vulnerable choke points.
From Munir’s point of view, a few bumps here and there is par for the course. He isn’t going to drive his dumper truck to its doom. He wants to use it as a weapon.
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