Nascent Wings Surabhi Quotes

WHEN I MET MR. RAMACHANDRA GUHA & MR.NASEERUDDIN SHAH

http://readersfavorite.com/book-review/13317

NASCENT WINGS- A POETIC ENDEAVOR

AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT ENCOURAGES ME TO CONTINUE THE STRIVE! MY FIRST BOOK IS OUT AND IS BEING WIDELY APPRECIATED.

DELHI BLAST

AIIMS HELPLINE: 011-2610 1925

RML HOSPITAL HELPLINE: 011- 2374 4721/ 2336 5525

SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL HELPLINE: 011- 2670 7444

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2: 00 pm: Rs 4 lakh to kin of dead

1: 55 pm: Blast is shocking and numbing, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi
Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi addessed the media outside the court. He said, "this is a terrible tragedy. This is something which is shocking and numbing. Our hearts go out to each litigant. They've come with great pressure and to be torn away suddenly out of the blue is terrible.

1: 50 pm: Chemical analysis on bomb likely by evening, CNN IBN

1: 45 pm: Sheila Dikshit at RML hospital
Delhi CM visits the injured in RMLhospital and says doctors are doing the best they can.

1: 35 pm: Will not succumb to pressure of terrorism: PM
Dr Singh said that all political parties and people of India must stand united. The PM is expected to return to India this evening.

1: 25 pm: Major metros placed on high alert after Delhi HC blast

Major metros of India have been placed on a state of high alert after Wednesday morning's explosion outside gate number five of the Delhi High Court.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of senior Home Ministry and police officials. The emergency meeting was chaired by Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh.

Thirteen members of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the bomb squad are at the blast site collecting evidence as to what caused the explosion at around 10. 15 a.m. this morning. More here

1: 20 pm: Terrorism in Delhi - A timeline

With today's bomb explosion outside the Delhi High Court, the number of terrorist attacks on the capital since 1997 has gone up to 30.

Among the most recent incidents, 59 people were killed and 155 injured during the October 18, 1997 serial bomb blasts that ripped through the markets of Sarojini Nagar, Paharganj and Govindpuri.

On September 13, 2008, five low-intensity explosions were set off within minutes of each other, beginning with Ghaffar Market, two explosions at Connaught Place, one at Barakambha Road and another near the Central Park Metro station at 6.31 pm. Blasts also rocked M-block market in Greater Kailash-I. Within seven minutes another bomb exploded in the same market. Twenty-five people were reported killed and 150 injured.

On September 27, two men on a motorcycle dropped a polythene packet containing a low-intensity explosive in the crowded Flower Market in Mehrauli. Three people, including a nine-year-old boy who picked up the bag, were killed and 21 people were injured.

On September 19, 2010, two armed men opened fire at Taiwanese tourists as they boarded a bus in the crowded Jama Masjid area. A Maruti car also went up in flames near the mosque, triggering panic. No casualties were reported though 14 injuries were claimed. The attack came two weeks ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

1: 15 pm: PM's statement on the blast
Dr Manmohan Singh says the terror strike is a "cowardly act". Meanwhile, Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit visits at the RML hospital and HM Chidambaram visits the blast sight.

1: 10 pm: 4 kg explosive used for the blast: HT
Hindustan Times tweets, "4 kg explosive used for the blast, crater of 4x4 feet formed at the site: reports"

12: 36 pm: Chidambaram addresses Lok Sabha; 10 dead, 65 injured

Addressing the parliament on the blast, Home Minister P Chidambaram said 10 people have died while 65 are injured. The investigation into the blast will be handled by the NIA. He added, "Delhi is a target during parliament session. Delhi is on high alert. Intelligence pertaining to threats from certain groups was shared in July. Right now it is not possible to identify those behind the attack yet. Despite Delhi Police remaining alert, the tragic incident occurred today. Govt unequivocally condemns today's attack...Condolences to families of those who lost their lives...I appeal to the parliament and the entire nation, we must remain resolute and united..." Read more

AIIMS HELPLINE: 011-26101925

RML HOSPITAL HELPLINE: 011- 2374 4721/ 2336 5525

SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL HELPLINE: 011- 2670 7444

12: 29 pm: Number of injured rises to 50

Special Commissioner Dharmendra Kumar said the number of injured admitted in various hospitals is at 50. Most of them have sustained leg injuries.

12: 07 pm: Opposition parties react to blast

BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad: It is a matter of great distress...Why isn't the government taking any action? How many more deaths? There is no proper security, no intelligence inputs...We condemn the attack.

CPI's D Raja: We condemn the attack in all possible terms...the government should come up with the right probe and share what went wrong... what is going on, what is wrong with our intelligence network? We strongly condemn this attack. Nobody should go scot-free. There is a failure on the government's part.

12: 00 pm: SAFDARJUNG HOSPITAL HELPLINE: 011- 2670 7444

11: 55 am: No intelligence inputs on the blast: MHA

11: 47 am: High intensity bomb used

Lok Sabha condemns the blast, is adjourned till 12:30 pm, reports HT.

11: 45 am: All metros on high alert

11: 35 am: MHA assesses situation

Times Now reports the MHA is in constant touch with investigative teams at the blast sight. The bomb was concealed in briefcase and place outside gate no 5.

11: 27 am: Delhi Blast: There was blood all over, says eyewitness

"It was a powerful blast...there is a lot of blood there," said a shocked woman lawyer, who was just driving up to work at the Delhi High Court when the explosion took place near Gate no 5.

Lawyers said the blast could be heard at the Patiala House two or three kilometers away. Kavita, an eyewitness said she was in a judge's chamber when she heard the blast. "The windows rattled she said." More

11: 17 am: 9 dead, 45 injured: Union Home Secretary

Medium to high intensity bomb used. He added that Delhi is on high alert and that investigations have begun.

11: 15 am: Parliament adjourned, Home Minister to make a statement at 12:30 pm

11: 12 am: NIA to help investigate

Besides the Delhi police and the forensic team, the NIA and NSG are also being rushed to the spot.

11: 09 am: 4 dead, 30 injured: Special home secy

A lawyer tells NDTV, that gate no 5 used to issue passes to litigants. He also said that 10 am is peak hour. Special home secretary tweets that so far four have been confirmed dead and 30 injured.

11: 04 am: Officials confirm four are dead, reports HT

Hindustan Times tweets that officials have confirmed four people have died in today's blast.

11: 00 am: Second blast in 4 months

This is the second blast in the Delhi High Court premises. On May 25, also a Wednesday, there was a low intensity blast.

Powerful blast outside Delhi high court; 9 killed, at least 45 injured

Reference: Times Of India

NEW DELHI: Nine people were killed and at least 45 others injured in a powerful blast outside Delhi high court gate number 5 on Wednesday morning.

Home ministry official UK Bansal told reporters that the explosives appeared to have been kept in a briefcase. The blast took place at around 10.15 am.

The injured have been taken to AIIMS, RML and Safdarjung hospitals. The Delhi Police have cordoned off the area, not far from Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office. Fire tenders have been rushed to the spot.

Top officials of Delhi Police including Special Commissioner (law and order) Dharmendra Kumar and Joint Commissioner of Special Cell RS Krishnaiah have rushed to the spot.

Jt Commissioner (Crime) Sandip Goyal and Special Commissioner PN Aggarwal also joined them.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2pm to allow government collect information and make its statement on bomb blast outside Delhi High Court.

The blast was the second explosion at the high court this year. On May 25, a small explosion that appeared to be a failed car bomb hit the court parking lot.

A high alert in the capital has been sounded and security tighten at public places.

The black money monster

The high drama over Baba Ramdev's midnight eviction and action against the peaceful gathering has shifted the focus away from the central is sue raised by the Baba – black money overseas – to the right to protest in a democracy. This being the case, there is danger of an uninformed debate on black money taking over, guided more by emotions and populist talk rather than an understanding of the problem and how it is best tackled.

Black money is money that is un accounted for – in other words, money generated by income that has either not been taxed or through criminal means, be it by drugs or arms running, ransom to kidnappers, bribes taken by politicians and officers, and so on. It is important to understand where different kinds of black money converge and where they diverge.

In the pre-liberalization era, it was common for businessmen to siphon their money abroad. While technically this was illegal, there were very good reasons why most businessmen hardly suffered from any sense of guilt Tax rates in this period were unrealistically high; marginal taxes could go up to as high as 97%! To pay such high taxes and generate the necessary surplus for legitimate business activity was virtually impossible.

Not just income tax, other levies stamp duty, wealth tax, building tax too were unrealistically high. There can't be an argument against necessary taxation needed to create the infrastructure of security, property and law for a well-functioning economy. As The Economist pointed out: "Necessary taxation is not theft. But there are margins at which taxation becomes difficult to distinguish from theft."

Besides lower taxes allow people to enjoy the fruits of their labour. As Edwin A Locke, professor emeritus at the Maryland University adds, "Lowering taxes is to allow the productive keep what they earn rather than forcing them to support the non-productive."

In the pre-liberalisation era, high taxes, how ever, did not diminish the demand for speed money or bribes. Officials demanded and received bribes for clearing import or export licences In the secretariat similar gratification was demanded for industrial approvals while deciding how many scooters a two-wheeler manufacturer or how many tons of cement a company could produce.

Businessmen, therefore, needed to keep unaccounted money to pay off the bribe-seeking babus. Businessmen, seeking to bring the state-of-the-art foreign technology or to find overseas markets, needed to travel abroad. And the permissible limit of foreign exchange was a niggardly $500 – an amount that would be over on a couple of days food and stay, leaving zero for entertainment and networking. Hence there was a clear incentive to keep money overseas.

Two decades into liberalization and easier controls, these norms are virtually forgotten But it's these which forced businessmen whose salaries, too would be determined and capped by the government – to bend the absurd laws. Now, should they be punished in the heat of the moment when all black money is sought to be painted by the same brush?

The approach to black money should be nuanced. (In our accompanying 'Times View' we have suggested a one-time amnesty for the businessman category). Those who have sent out money only to carry out their legitimate business should not be con fused with criminals who have siphoned out money. It is the latter that the government needs to target – the corrupt politician, the bribe-seeking bureaucrat, the drugs dealer, etc.

Laws are much more relaxed now – tax rates are comparable to the lowest in the world. Imports are easy — you can import almost anything as long as it is does not affect the environment or national security. Consequently, more people are paying taxes and smuggling of goods has fall en to negligible levels. This being the case, there is no mitigating reason for even businessmen to evade tax and siphon out their money to overseas tax havens.

However, no one likes to pay taxes. So, despite the fall in rates, importers still under invoice their shipments, while exporters over invoice While under invoicing helps avoid paying taxes, exporters can get additional benefits of export promotion schemes (meant to refund taxes by declaring a higher value of shipments. So, with an easier tax regime there must be stronger enforcement. In the US, for in stance, few take the risk of dodging taxes because the penalty is prohibitively high.

The strongest enforcement should be directed against of course the criminal elements, but also against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. This is be cause unless the hidden cost in the economy – resulting from the need to pay bribes is removed, it would be extremely difficult to root out black money. Because businessmen will then generate unaccounted money to pay off the neta or the babu.

The economy's hidden cost often leads to hidden consequences. There is no reason, for instance, why property in big cities like Delhi or Mumbai should be out of reach of every one barring the super-rich. This is because of black money. Often a house costing Rs 1 crore would be registered for Rs 50 lakh, or less. This kind of market distortion suits those with oodles of unaccounted moolah, not the tax-paying salaried class. Once black money is reduced in the economy price levels in the real estate market will naturally seek lower levels, making property much more affordable.

So, the battle against black money is a noble one, so long it's not allowed to become a witch-hunt against businessmen. After correcting the consequence of past distortions, India should reach international pacts with countries like Switzerland, Mauritius Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man to keep a close tab on money being il legally routed there. And at home there should be proper financial intelligence to minimize tax evasion.