The triple talaq bill will uphold women’s dignity
Arif Mohammad Khan | Former Union minister
Hindustan Times
Arif Mohammad Khan makes a case for the triple talaq bill which seeks to make the practice of instant divorce a punishable offence. The assertion that “opposition to the introduction of the bill doesn’t mean defence of the triple talaq” demonstrates a total ignorance of the history of this practice, he argues. It has always been considered a criminal act in the religion, he says, and to substantiate his point Khan cites how Caliph Umar “always flogged the offenders”.
He mentions a triple talaq case that took place on 5 September, 2017 where a man and his family had refused to reconsider the decision even after his and the police’s intervention. But a month later, when the offence was made punishable through an ordinance, the man reunited with his wife.
He ends the piece by asking those who are against triple talaq but don’t support the proposed law to explain how the practice can be stopped without a bill in place.
Nurturing a friendship
C Raja Mohan | Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore
The Indian Express
In this piece, C Raja Mohan argues that even though India-US ties have been marked by tension in recent times, it is important to remember the four factors about this relationship. First, India is not the only country which is facing difficulties with the US. Some of its closest allies have been facing similar challenges too, and it was only a matter of time before India started facing the heat as well.
Second, this is not the first time that India-US relations have entered a “crisis-like” phase. Things were much worse in the 1990s and 2000s, and yet these difficulties were eventually dealt with.
Third, he says, Trump’s “transactional approach” to foreign policy has its advantages as well. “There is no mystification of the issues involved,” he says.
And fourth, he says, the recent situation accords Delhi and Washington an opportunity to take “a fresh look at the relationship that has seen some stagnation in recent years”.
Now for some emollient: India-US trade frictions are growing, here’s how to deal with them
Ritesh Singh | Business economist with Indonomics Consulting
The Times of India
Ritesh Singh discusses various issues which have plagued India-US ties in recent times and offers suggestions on how some of these can be resolved. He notes how many “market distorting actions in trade and commerce” by India have placed further strain on the relationship. Some of these actions, for instance, include price cap on medical devices, ban on import of American dairy products, tweaking of e-commerce rules, and attempts at data localisation.
He further notes that India’s close relations with Russia andIran are also affecting its ties with the US.
He argues that while India can’t do much to assuage US on certain issues such as purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence system, there are many others where a more conciliatory approach can be adopted. India can show more flexibility in price cap on devices and resist pressure from domestic lobbies on e-commerce regulations.
Upgraded planes in tough skies
Arjun Subramaniam | Air Vice-Marshal, retired fighter pilot from IAF and a visiting professor at Ashoka University
The Hindu
Arjun Subramaniam “explore[s] some of the less-dissected issues that continue to plague aviation safety in the IAF”. He compares mishap rates in the IAF with the UK and US air forces. Subramaniam notes that the rates are comparable, even though he accepts that one shouldn’t do a literal comparison with the US Air Force given that they are engaged in multiple locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
He also addresses criticisms over slow phasing-out of planes such as MiG-21 and MiG-27 and argues that replacement process of these planes has proceeded at a very slow pace. With no usage of MiGs, the IAF will be “saddled with a large number of fighter pilots without operational continuity”.
He says that India needs to expedite the process of replacement and upgradation of aircraft. “We will fight and train with what we have” should not be the approach, he argues.
IBC delayed is IBC denied
Amitabh Kant | Chief Executive Officer, Niti Aayog
The Economic Times
Kant argues that loopholes must be closed in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in order to ensure that the 180-270 days’ ceiling for a resolution process is “not bypassed in any way”.
He points out that innovations are required “to straddle the fine line between intrusive discretion on the part of the courts and NCLT and ensuring that the principles of justice are not compromised”. He suggests raising the admission threshold to Rs 1 lakh initially. He also advocates use of pre-packaged bankruptcy scheme proposed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, and training programs for resolution professionals and judges who are part of the NCLT system.
Labour migrates to its last resort
Mahesh Vyas | MD and CEO, CMIE
Business Standard
Vyas writes that the number of people employed in agricultural activities in India has increased by 5.1 million in the past year, with most employment taking place in crop cultivation and livestock. He also mentions how number of overall employed people has declined by 1.5 million at the same time. Given that farm prices are depressed and livestock businesses are not doing well, there may only be two reasons for the rise in agriculture employment: one could be that agriculture had absorbed the excess labour that had nowhere to go. In which case, it would mean that employment did not actually increase. Another could be that people have gone back to farming due to the PM Kisan scheme.
The outsider’s perspective and the wisdom of lateral hiring
V Anantha Nageswaran | Dean of IFMR graduate school of business (KREA University)
Mint
Nageswaran argues how insiders in the government – bureaucrats and politicians – think that outsiders give “high-level” advice that is useless for policy makers. But there have been instances where advice given by outsiders has been implemented, he says.
He writes how it is nearly impossible for outsides to figure out the right political economy incentives for governments. But adds that the only solution can be to make these outsiders “insiders”.
“Lateral recruitment by droves is the way to go”, he argues.