Whispers Forum

A disturbing video of Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Vadra family and Dr. Karan Singh, HH The Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir (former), on a visit to China was on a TV channel on 18th June 2020. It was quiet a news! Why did the family visit China along with Dr. Karan Singh? Will Dr. Karan Singh, former His Highness of J&K, please issue a statement immediately to assure the people of India that he did not give any vital information on Aksai Chin (China Occupied Laddakh) to the Chinese government or handover any map to them delineating the borders of J&K and China, or any historical document from the Princely State’s Archives, under duress from the government or the Congress Party, who signed an MOU with the Chinese Government/Communist Party, making another Sharm-al-Sheikh debacle?
As Dr Karan Singh still enjoys good-will of the people of India as an honest leader and has been Chairman/Member of the Ethics Committee, an honest statement is expected from him. People would also like to know if the Bofors gun imports corruption fame Italian businessman Quattrocchi was conducting any business with the Chinese at that time of the visit of Sonia-MMS delegation ?
Remember the well-known tactic of the corrupt in Lutyens Delhi to first make a PSU (Public Sector Unit) sick so that some foreign companies paying commission of 11% or more may be promoted in that core sector of the Indian economy. In power equipment, BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.) was harmed and in electronics two other PSUs, which made the Chinese only too happy. Indian market in power equipment and electronics was handed over to the Chinese without a thought.
Whether Quattrocchi was operating any kind of business with the Chinese on supply of machines/ equipment to India in the same manner as the Westland Helicopter was signed on huge commission basis? Whether the commission the Chinese government companies or private enterprises made was paid in US Dollar account in any foreign country outside China and India? Whether the RBI is in the know of these details?
If the RBI was in the dark, as in the Mehul Choksi & Nirav Modi case, whether banks like the SBI, PNB, BoB or any other bank with branches overseas had handled the commission account? Will the Government of India tell the people of India the facts in its possession including the report of the Officer from the Indian Embassy in China accompanying the delegation to all meetings and visits, including to Churches/temples etc/ other places of worship?
The fervor with which the Congress Party has been attacking the government raise legitimate doubts about some unholy business between vested interests, particularly the fact that the Communists were supporting the Congress Government. Was China helping opposition parties to stall the rise of Narendra Modi? Did the Chinese pump money to influence the General Elections in 2014 and 2019? Was it a China sponsored and funded propaganda to create doubts about the integrity of EVM (Electronic Voting Machines)? Was it a Chinese dirty attempt to interfere in the general election in 2019? Was China looking for supplying EVMs to India which could have been so programmed as to help the Congress and/or the Communist parties?
Communists getting paid is a matter of old public perception. Why is the Congress jittery today? Has China been made promises of more territory in Laddakh or elsewhere (Nepal, Taiwan, Tibet) in the meeting? Should the All India Congress Party have signed any agreement with the Communist Party of China at all? Was it not a betrayal of the people of India who were assured that China would be punished severely for the misadventure of 1962?
The similarity in the rhetoric of these leaders and China’s mouthpiece Global Times echoes the 1962 pro-China campaign run by the communist party in India, which attacked Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress then; it is the prime minister Narendra Modi now and the Congress and the Communists are attacking him as they campaign for China.
M L Gupta
Kind Attention to Lt. Governor, Delhi
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is playing an important role in containment of Covid-19 spread. Property tax is good source of revenue for MCD. But it is shocking and surprising to note that property tax for south Delhi and north Delhi can be filed using new application form and another portal. It is very untimely and ill-conceived decision to adopt new system during corona lock and unlock period and using unproven and incapable software. The new software does not have the capability to fetch the data related to property details, personal details, tax related data etc.from the existing data base and has many technical glitches and problems while submitting the forms. May and June is peak period for collection of taxes and using new form and software is putting property owners in trouble and unable to file return and deposit the due taxes. What was tearing hurry to adopt new methodology in the month of May not waited for June end for the owners to file property return and deposit the taxes. In new system the submission gets stuck in between. It is urged that Lt. Governor should take serious note about adopting untimely new methodology by SDMC and NDMC using unproven and incapable software (not able to fetch data from existing data base about property and personal details etc) during the peak period of tax collection and order SDMC and NDMC to revert to old method/web portal for filing of property tax return and payment of taxes. As old system was working satisfactorily since several years and owners were able to file return and payment of taxes within 10 t0 15 minutes. Old method was good enough as soon as you punch property ID, all data is fetched from database and tax is calculated and payment is made. East Delhi is still working sensibly to follow old method for filing of return and deposit of property taxes. New methodology can be adopted after fixing the technical problems and organising camps in association with RWA when situation becomes normal or adopting new methods from FY 2021-22. It is expected a favourable action for reverting back to old system by SDMC/NDMC allowing owners to file return and deposit taxes with rebate.
Naveen

The appellant explained that he is the owner of the 1st floor in a building and an alleged illegal construction has been carried out on top of the 2nd floor, which renders the building unsafe and risky. He filed a complaint and later through an application under the RTI Act, sought the action taken with regards to stop the unauthorized construction report. As he was not satisfied with the reply of the PIO, he filed an appeal and the FAA vide order dated 15.06.2018 directed the PIO to provide a modified reply within 15 days. The PIO complied with the order of the FAA after an inordinate delay of almost 2 years. The appellant submitted that the illegal construction was in the initial stages i.e., only brick-work was started and presently, the unauthorized construction of the alleged illegal building has been completed. The CIC directed the PIO to submit an explanation as to why the order of the FAA was not complied within the stipulated time period. The CIC also directed the PIO to provide an action taken report with regard to the alleged illegal and unauthorized construction after ascertaining the position from SHO.
Comments
Unauthorised construction is rampant throughout the country and this case law shows how a common citizen can use it to his benefit.
Citation: Shri Yogesh Agarwal v. PIO/EE (Bldg.-II), West Zone, SDMC, New Delhi in Second Appeal No. CIC/SDMCW/A/2018/144543, Date of Decision: 12.06.2020
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.com

Two days ago China killed about forty Indian soldiers. It does not offer any solace that the number of deaths on the Chinese side were higher. It was China which provoked India with indiscreet killing of Indian soldiers , a phenomenon that has not been witnessed in the last four decades. Nepal has been instigated by China to redraw its map to include three disputed areas between Nepal and India. The Constitution has been amended in a great hurry without consulting India. It is a question of time that Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipee will slip of the Chinese hands since the US President Donald Trump is bound to carry out these operations before the Presidential polls scheduled for November 2020 .
Is it for this reason China is taking it out on India. If Nepal falls into the trap laid by China then the only Hindu Raj will become a relic of the past. Pasupathi Nath temple will be razed to the ground. It is shocking that the Communist Government in Nepal has submitted itself to the dictates of China that the Mount Everest belongs to China.
China should realize that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are not gullible like Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon who had no business to sign on the dotted line permitting China to annex Tibet.
In case there is a war, India will have to redraw its map that will include the whole of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Tibet and Nepal. The Dragon will not be able to wag its tail near its borders any longer--- be it Arunachal Pradesh, Japan or the South Sea islands of Vietnam.
ßThe game of chess, Wei qi will be over for ever for China.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS ( Retired)
Former Member State Planning Commission &
Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu

The developments in the last one month should be carefully studied against the background of US President Trump's plan to liberate Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipei. China knows very well that Trump will have his way at the United Nations since China has been illegally occupying Tibet since 1951 with the full blessings of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who simply accepted the sovereignty of China over Tibet during the visit of the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai to India in 1954 besides signing the Panch Sheel for peaceful cooperation between India and China.
Dalai Lama who has been living in exile in India since then has been meeting all the leaders in the West. Corona Virus has presented an opportunity to President Trump to free Tibet from the clutches of China and restore the status quo to facilitate Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. Therefore China is now wooing Nepal. Nepal's silence over China's claim the entire area of Mount Everest shows that the Communist Government has accepted the claim of China over the entire region of Mount Everest. While India cannot interfere in bilateral relations between China and Nepal , what India should worry about the new map of Nepal by amending the Nepalese Constitution in a hurry for including areas which lie in Uttarakhand, namely, Kalapani in Pithoragarh district, Lipulekh pass and Limpiyadhura. The hurry with which the Constitution has been amended in a week without any consultations with India makes one suspect the unseen hand of China behind this development. . There is no room for diplomatic talks as the constitutional amendment is just not acceptable to India. In the most likely event of Nepal merging with China , China will say these areas were made part of Nepal through a constitutional amendment t. India should immediately take steps to protect all the three areas from any kind of trespass or encroachment,
Dr. Sitharam Guumurthi IAS TN 72) Retired

1. Nikki Haley, the Indian American Republican and former US Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of North Carolina has been a harsh critic of China, its manipulative tactics in particular.. She holds the Communist China fully accountable for lying about the Corona virus pandemic and has launched "Stop China "signature campaign where 40,000 people have already signed while her aim is to reach a figure of .1,00,000 . She has been urging the United States to stop relying on China for its medical supplies
2. This reminds one of India's experience with ChiOn April 1 1950 China and India established diplomatic relations. In 1954 the Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai i visited India when he signed the Panch Sheel or Five Principles for peaceful cooperation with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru . he slogan of the day was Indo China bhai bhai. Nehru believed China completely and never doubted its sincerity and focused his attention on infrastructure development what he used to call "Temples of Modern India".To put it rather bluntly Nehru into the trap laid by China and allowed China to walk away with Tibet by acknowledging its sovereignty over Tibet. . The Chinese aggression of 1962 dealt a severe blow which Nehru could hardly bear. Nehru's heath started declining steadily after the 1962 war with China. Nehru who used o practise yoga could have easily lived up to 90 years but the Chinese betrayal of faith took away his life at the age of 75.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi, IAS Retired
More to the GST Quiz
Happy that someone has taken the trouble to open the riddle of GST, (WIC 15/6/20) which can spin the head of the coolest. Here is some addition to it: Higher education in India suffers a levy of 28% GST. Like private healthcare facilities, education in the private hands is excellent commerce to the owners as well as the M/o Finance. Tuition fee for a professional course range from 40,00,000 (forty Lakh) to 1Crore for one year’s programme. So, the cost of acquiring higher knowledge, qualifications and skills is very high. COVID-19 has forced many institutions to abandon the programmes. Those practising Fair Business have decided to refund the tuition fee but not the GST. Is it Fair Taxation not to refund the GST? It comes to Rs. 28,00,000 on 1 Crore. What can a citizen do: pay a middleman, engage a CA, file a case in the Consumer Forum?
M L Gupta
Heartiest Congratulations
Heartiest Congratulations to Raveesh Kumar IFS for new assignment.
Vikram Jain

In an earlier post I had highlighted the fact that recently China has claimed the whole of Mount Everest as its territory while the established position has been that Mount Everest lies in Nepal and the back side of Mount Everest lies in the China (illegally) controlled Tibet. region. It is rather surprising that there has not been any sign of even feeble protest from Nepal to the new position taken by China while Nepal is busy protesting against the road laid by India to Lipu Lekh which lies well within the Indian territory. Earlier I posted about how China is in the habit of claiming land which does not belong to it---- be it India, Nepal, Japan or Vietnam (South Sea islands).
While India has no such extra territorial ambitions, I think that India should claim the Mount Kailash and its surrounding areas which is sacred to the Hindus as the Mount Kailash is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
• US President Trump is determined to liberate Tibet, Hong Kong and Taipee from the hold of China which is quite likely before November 2020 elections. Once that happens India should request the US to restore, repeat restore, Mount Kailash to India as the Tibet has been under the illegal occupation of China since 1951.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)
‘Declare War; Retaliate against China, Pakistan’
Two soldiers and the commanding officer of Colonel rank of Indian army were killed by China at Galwan valley on the night of June 15, 2020. Chinese troops were wearing gloves fitted with nails. The matter is extremely serious. According to Global Times, China has lost 5 PLA soldiers and 11 injured.
India' appeasement policy towards expansionist China must be re-visited. China has insatiable appetite for land.It is increasing its maritime presence in Indian ocean. After Dhoklam stand-off, China started military exercises in POK followed by Ladhak face-off. It has incited Nepal against India to revive border issues. No wonder, Nepal could embarrass India by agitating its boundary dispute before the UN dominated by China as permanent member of UNSC. China is operationalising its String of Pearls policy against India.
What steps ?
(a) India must retaliate against both China’s latest misadventure and Pakistan’s proxy war.
(b) We must declare two- China policy by promoting cultural, commercial ties with Taiwan by according diplomatic recognition.
(c) Strengthen trade ties with Mongolia which has troubled relationship with China. India must take steps by having 2-front policy taking on Pak &China. India will have to contain Pakistan and China together by taking aggressive stand.
(d) A full-scale war against India’s hostile neighbours with the active support of US and its allies. China is building more artificial islands in south- china sea for locating additional military bases?
(e) A collective offensive by the US along with India,France, UK, Japan,Australia, Vietnam, the Philippines and other allies,is the only option to stop the expansionist China. It could ignite potential flash points especially in south-China sea region.
(f) Pro- active steps must be taken before the rogue countries could launch pre-emptive chemical attacks or release another virus deadlier than Corona Virus,targeting India.
(g) Imagine , what would happen if China, Pakistan, and Nepal attack India at the same time? For ‘India ,the foremost threat could be from China whose sole objective is to capture Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) so that Indian hinterland could be cut off from its North-eastern States.
(h) Why ignore India’s internal saboteurs : the Congis, Commies, maoists , urban naxals and pseudo intellectuals , whose sole aim is to de-stabilise India. Some could be in touch with India’s adversaries.
(i) No more de-escalation talks with China. Enough is enough.
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The WION TV (World is One) has brought to light how China has been trying to woo the American Press, big and small. With the advertisements released to various print media for US $19 million, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) earned $ 6 million while the Washington Post earned $ 4.5 million. China has released advertisements to several other US papers like the New York Times, Boston Globe, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. Many of these newspapers have international editions in Mandarin. The Washington Post's sharp criticism of the US President Donald Trump should be seen in this light.
The 2500 year old Chinese game called Wei Qi, something akin to the game of chess, literally means "surrounding pieces". The game symbolises China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh in India, its attempts to encroach part of the Ladakh, while China's desperate attempts to control the South Sea belonging to Vietnam and its claims over some of the islands near Japan should all be seen as part of the Chinese game Wei Qi. China has recently claimed the entire territory of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world as its own by highlighting the Tibetan side of Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest located in the Chinese Tibet autonomous region, thus downplaying the more popular peak located in Nepal .
China did win the war against India in 1962 making initial gains by crossing the Mc Mohan Line but was compelled to make a hasty retreat after it realised the US, UK and USSR stood in readiness to support India.
It should not come as a surprise that China has been extensively lobbying to ban the WION TV.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (Retired)

Pl tell the GST rate for transportation of goods :
1. By road
2. By train
2 container cargo by train
4. By airlines on domestic journey
5 By airlines on international journey
6. By sea (separately as cif and fob) further bifurcated if vessel hired by exporter v importer
7 By pipelines
8 By multimodal transportation
9. Agency services of transportation of goods by road
10 Courier
11. Time charters
12. Voyage charters
Your answer should inform both the tax rate and eligibility for tax credits.
If the entire north block can give the answers I’m prepared to take sanyas.
VKG
Civil Services Interviews by UPSC
Corona Virus is carnivorous, likely to reach the peak next month. Let us hope, the UPSC successfully starts the personality tests for CS-2019 on July 20 and complete the job as per schedule.
Sample some questions.
Will the aspirants be asked to appear before PT Boards with masks?
Will the medical examinations including Corona tests, be conducted before PTs or thereafter, as in the past?
Is the idea of holding " Virtual Interviews " for candidates coming from outside Delhi, being mulled in UPSC ?
A K Saxena (A former civil servant)

The Appellant sought information regarding the copy of the Rule under which two conditions were imposed on the Defence Assistant which led to the withdrawal of his Defence Assistant from his case along with other information claiming that they related to allegation of corruption and human rights violation. He submitted that the information was wrongly and malafidely denied by the Cabinet Secretariat on the pretext of the Organization being exempted under Section 24(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. He further submitted that the copies of his APAR were also not provided to him violating his basic fundamental rights. The CIC observed that there is complete negligence and laxity in the public authority in dealing with the RTI applications. The CIC directed the FAA to re-examine the queries of the RTI application and furnish a clear, cogent, precise reply along with the copy of his own APAR to the Appellant within a period of 30 days. The CIC also instructed the Cabinet Secretariat to convene periodic conferences/seminars to sensitize, familiarize and educate the concerned officials about the relevant provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 for effective discharge of its duties and responsibilities.
Comments
It is sometimes seen that RTI applications are being ignored and set aside without application of mind which reflects disrespect towards the RTI Act, 2005 itself. On many occasions the CIC has expressed its displeasure on the casual and callous approach adopted by the Public Authorities in responding to the RTI application which is against the spirit of the RTI Act.
Citation: Mr. Dev Raj Singh v. Cabinet Secretariat in Second Appeal No.:- CIC/CABST/A/2018/162403-BJDate of Decision : 12.06.2020
Dr. Anuradha Verma (dranuradhaverma@yahoo.co.in) is an expert on RTI matters and has co-authored the books RIGHT TO INFORMATION - LAW AND PRACTICE and PIO’s guide to RTI. Apart from her weekly article here, her other articles can be read at the website of RTI Foundation of India at the link: www.rtifoundationofindia.co

MNREGA and MPLADS/MLA LADS deserve a dispassionate and deep evaluation by high grade economists, social and constitutional experts. It pains to see the beneficiaries, in particular women, carrying soil on their heads in this 21st Century. Can they be expected to sanitize their hands every time they touch anything? What about Cleanliness programme (Swachhta Abhiyan)? Is two India going to be a reality for another century: one belonging to the 5 trillion economy and the other to MNREGA? Does it remind of the manual scavenging? Do the politicians taking pride in starting the scheme realize how demeaning it is? Besides, even such degrading employment comes for about 100 days in a year (365 days!) for some only. The way the scheme has so far been implemented has only spread the virus of corruption at the community level. The poor, who did not know what “corruption” was, saw it being practiced in the villages by petty politicians. The result: Loss of power and decline from approximate 444 to just 44. Added to it was the MPLAD Scheme which gave funds for development but ended up building pucca boundary walls at the farms of politicians. The scheme was born when Harshad Mehta displayed on TV a suitcase filled with 1 Crore rupees which he had paid to XYZ as bribe. The noise created by such a scandal was silenced by launching the MPLAD Scheme and each MP was given Rs. 2 Crores to be spent under the scheme for local area development. May be, many new bridges/roads have been built with these funds! Mahatma Gandhi did not visualize rural employment as the scheme does, but gave a solid workable perpetual skill based and market led scheme of Khadi and Village Industries. Nobody has explored the huge scope for high skill development, induction of modern technology at village industry level, immense gainful employment opportunities in the area of khadi as well as village industry. As an illustration the shoe/chappal/juti industry can be taken. The freedom leaders wore chappals made locally. We all know Kohlapuri chappals. What technological improvement we have introduced in making these daily use mass consumption goods? They are as rough as 73 years ago! Does technology stop using the same raw material for these chappals which is used for sports shoes, snow shoes or desert shoes? Developed countries take pride in handmade shoes/handbags, but we promote machine made goods! An assured market of 130 Crore consumers is great economic opportunity. The 6 feet plus body weighing between 75 to 125 kg has strong feet that require chappals made so well as to provide comfort to the user and serve long (like international brands Puma/Adidas etc.) Who discourages growth ? The same lobbies that make windfall profits by discouraging use of cotton clothes in the tropical climate of India. The entire village industry sector and small scale industry sector is the “core” consumer products sector with turnover in trillions. Unfortunately, this sector has been denied technological improvement/ modernization opportunities. Unfortunately, the welfare mindsets ruling the country discourage self-reliance. But employment is every Indian’s birth right. Those who thrive on borrowed ideas alone may laugh at innovative ideas but can’t fault the potential for economic growth germane to the typically Indian ethos, environment and wholesome development. What does a big industry give? It is germane to large industry to create pollution, garbage and effluents without proper disposal. Large industry need not replace village industry but must only supplement and compliment the economic needs of the nation. Populism is one thing and nation building another. MNREGA & MPLADS serve the political purpose of publicity for votes.
M L Gupta

It should. ISRO is a monopolistic organisation filled with sub par scientists. None from IITs wants to join them. It’s a den of nepotism. High time it’s given to outside purview. Their Controllers they manipulate or make them run away by harassment.
Rohit
Commutation leave to govt employees
In view of grave situation prevailing in Delhi, DoPT may like to issue instructions for availing commutation leave to govt employees who are above 55 years of age and who have comorbidities, without any permission from doctors.
Sanjay
Despite months of lockdown, country not ready to deal with Covid 19
The irony of the situation - despite months of lockdown, the country is not ready to deal with the Covid 19 situation. The worst is that no one is willing to take a responsibility and say that they messed up with the situation. The RTI at least shows the basic flaws in the manner the country is handling the situation. Real Bad situation for which everyone is responsible. God help the country.
G V Shivkumar

Employment generation has been a key decisive factor in the Presidential elections in the United States from the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) who dented the Great Depression of the 1930s by his massive employment generation programmes like laying of highways connecting and construction of huge reservoirs e parks and and development of large parks and play grounds of inspired and guided by Lord John Maynared Keyenes , Cambridge University UK and his Treasury Secretary Daxter White a student of Lord Keynes. In February 2019 I published two articles, Donald Trump; the Economic Czar in the Business Standard ( February 9)and Jobs and the Wall i(February 20 2019 Hindu Business Line. In these articles I had shown how the Dow Jones which was hovering in the region of 12,000 during Obama's tenure at the White House, jumped to 20,000 within ten days of Donald Trump assuming charge as the President of the United States and Trump was committed to create 25 million jobs during the next five years and construction of a wall across the Mexicn border would create 25,000 jobs. President Trump whose attention was drawn to these two articles by two Republican Senators had quipped "What does the Chennai guy think of my prospects for a second term ?"
My article Will Trump get a Second Term ? published in the Business Standard on March 4 2019, was the answer to Trump's question. I pointed out that the performance of the US economy in the first two years had been spectacular. as shown by employment data. While Hillary Clinton took the "Rust Belt" area for granted and never cared to visit those old industrial towns like Pittsburgh, Donald Trump did. Apart from economic indicators in favour of Trump, I had held that the absence of a credible and strong opponent had made things made relatively easy for Trump to win his Second Term besides the fact Joe Biden was not in tune with the current Democratic Party. Now Joe Biden seems to have spoiled his copy boo by his racist remark: "If you have a problem in figuring out whether to vote for me or Trump, then you aren't black'' suggesting that the Democrats have always been taking the Black votes for granted.
While the corona virus had practically ruined the chances of Trump for a second term, the employment data released on June 5 seem to have brightened the prospects of Trump. The unemployment has registered a decline accounted for by large numbers getting jobs in the construction industry.. If, however, the corona virus is not contained by October it will be a tough ride for Trump and Joe Biden might just walk into the White House. The match will not be over till the last ball is bowled.
Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi IAS (TN: 72) Retired
Yes, this years' I-Day celebrations should be simple
I fully agree with AK Saxena, this years' Independence Day celebrations should be simplest Flag Hoisting Ceremony. Diplomatic Corpse can be sent a regret letter that it is going to be simple this time in view of CoronaVirus crisis. Hope GoI will think it over on these lines.
Harish Kumar