Analysing the Note Ban Saga

My issue with the whole thing is why was the RBI flooding the ATMs and banks with 500 & 1000 INR currency notes when they had already planned to withdraw these notes six months ago. Was it to harass the public? All bank counters and ATMs were dishing out only 1000 and 500 Rupee notes in these past six months. Senior citizens and the poor will be deeply affected by this move. Let s forget the black money folks for a while. And, we re not sure what can happen to the economy at this stage? Choppy waters for the stock and currency markets for sure! And why are there no measures to curb black money in the stock market through participatory notes and the inflow of tainted funds to political parties? Why are political parties still allowed to accept black money? They have good intentions but poor implementation - the time window should have been at least 3 months. And, how will it help if the present currency notes were once used by terrorists and changed hands twenty times. Will they slap charges of terrorism on the poor, ignorant, innocent accountholder who accepted money in good faith and went to deposit it in his bank account? That would be ridiculous!

About a Ban on Participatory Notes:

Still wondering why Modi did not ban participatory notes as they are possibly more dangerous than the defunct high value currency notes when it comes to black money hoarding, round tipping, money laundering, corruption, terror funding and benami deals. What are your views on the miniscule action taken on participatory notes when they pose a much bigger threat? Is n t it like locking your front door tightly when leaving your home but leaving your back door wide open for thieves?

Why don t you speak out against Indian Politicians? Most of them are far worse than Trump: An Open Letter to Priyanka Chopra

Dear Priyanka,

We are truly proud of your achievements as an actor, singer and model. We are prouder of your outburst against Donald Trump, the controversial US Presidential candidate who could very well 'Make America Hate Again'! You were spot on when you said: "I just think you can't put a ban on anyone; Generalising a type of people is really primitive." Insightful words Indeed!

As a matter of fact, I too have been a staunch critic of Trump and his politics of hate. However, at this point I must dare point out that this phenomenon of bigotry is not confined to the American shores alone. All across the globe, terrorists and fascists have sprung to power and formed governments just by selling Hate to the local populace. We have seen it happen in Egypt, Turkey, Gaza, Russia, Syria, Afghanistan and even in some European countries! Social media and the collaborative conventional media (or bazaaru media) rather than curtailing this menace, have contributed to its proliferation in every nook and corner of our beautiful planet. Yes, hate is selling everywhere. 

But the stark reality is that India is no exception. Yes, you read it right. India is no exception. The winds of bigotry and prejudice blow unhindered and with great intensity across our great land too. Horrific deeds are perpetrated in the name of religion, caste, ethnicity and regional affiliation. And many of these atrocities have been orchestrated by leading Indian politicians for cheap political gains.

And this is where I question your partiality. Why do you choose to remain silent when our politicians spew venom and incite violence against our own countrymen? Wasn't your silence deafening when a man was butchered at Dadri by a mob that was driven by false rumours spread by local politicians of a national party. Why are you silent on riots engineered by politicians which have killed thousands of our citizens in the past few decades, especially the 1984 and 2002 riots. Aren't these murders, rapes and other physical attacks far worse than whatever Mr. Trump proposes?

But if you are looking out for someone who spreads vitriolic communal and ethnic hatred a la Trump, then look no further than our own Rajya Sabha. Just a few days ago, Modi has appointed the Xenophobic Subramaniam Swamy as the BJP representative in the upper house of the Indian parliament despite being fully aware of his ugly diatribes against the minorities of our nation. Mr Swamy wants Christians and Muslims to be driven out of our nation unless they acknowledge their Hindu ancestry.  

Now even the government buttering Bollywood stars, who often click selfies with our Prime Minister, must agree that what Modi has done is terribly wrong. Swamy is far worse than Trump. While the US Presidential Candidate wants to prevent Muslims from coming to America, Swamy wants to kick out Muslims and Christians from India, although most of them are loyal citizens of this country. And your beloved PM could find only this despicable character to lead his party in parliament! 

Will you now speak out against our xenophobic politicians and their vile deeds or will you continue to bury your head in the sand like an ostrich and pretend that all of us live in a hunky dory world in which the Trumps are just aberrations? Could you compose and sing verses that bring out the ugliness of Indian politics, or would you just be content to dance to the tunes of a sadistic establishment? The ball is in your court, Priyanka. Do remember the wisest words ever written: "The hottest seats in Hell are reserved for those who remain neutral in a moral crisis." Speaking out against the arrogant US Presidential candidate is a step in the right direction, but do show the same amount of concern when there are fires raging in your own backyard!