The sights and sounds, consequent to the demonetisation of the 1,000 and 500 rupee notes are interesting. Just goes to prove as to how people tide over difficult situations but each incident has a local touch ans without much ado, let me take you through a few:-
(a) Increased taxes in Tamilnadu, decrease in Kerala.
Kerala has been lamenting a loss in revenue, in the form of taxes, thanks to the demonetisation
drive of the union government. The CPM led LDF, naturally, has to be critical of the drive as it's
anti-Modi and the BJP. But see how wisely, its neighbour had converted the situation to its
advantage! Most of the corporations, including that of Madras, have seen a steep rise in their
earnings simply because they'd issued a circular that the public could use the 'old' notes to pay
their taxes and bills - property, water and electricity bills! And what has Kerala done? Issued an
order saying that this month's owing would be collected next month without penalty! What a
difference in attitudes?
(b) Sacks full of 1,000 and 500 rupee notes being discarded.
It has been reported from some parts of the country that sacks full of the demonetised notes
have been dumped in the open and the local police have picked a few of these from waste
disposal centers! Dinajpur, a northern district of Bengal, is one such case. Interestingly, Mamta
Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal has been quick off the blocks, calling all opposition
parties to unite(?) against the demonetisation drive.
(c) Agents for the exchange of currency.
We, Indians, are ingenuous. Middlemen had suddenly sprouted to help the general public to
exchange their currency holdings and all they sought was a 10% commission! And mind you,
the guys were at it at the RBI office on the Rajajisalai, in Madras. Thankfully, their activities
were captured on the cctvs and the police did nab them soon after.
(d) Bombay, too, notches higher taxes into its kitty.
Compared to previous collections, there has been a 27.3% increase in revenue earnings in
the form of service taxes!
(e) Counterfeit Rs.2,000!
At Chirayankizhu, in Thiruvananthapuram district, the xeroxed version of the new currency
was in circulation, albeit, for a short period before the culprit was nabbed.
Tailpiece.
1. PM Modi has rubbed a lot many powerful forces the wrong way by calling for the demonetisation of the high value denominations. The 'war chests' of the political parties consisted of these very notes and in one master stroke, he has converted them into useless wads of paper. The forthcoming Assembly elections in UP and Punjab are poised to be interesting!
2. The 'over-two-months' agitation and stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir has suddenly petered down because the biggest blow by the demonetisation drive has been inflicted on terror funding. The counterfeit from Pakistan used to find its way into the hands of the Kashmiri separatists like Geelani and others, who used to pay the youth on a daily basis for pelting stones at the security forces and creating unrest.
3. There are many quarters - within the country - from where people are waiting to take advantage of the common man's woes while standing in serpentine queues! Small time traders, are also finding difficulty to convert their stock of the demonetised currency. The prime minister and his team needs to take stock of the situation and provide succour, prevent rumours!
(a) Increased taxes in Tamilnadu, decrease in Kerala.
Kerala has been lamenting a loss in revenue, in the form of taxes, thanks to the demonetisation
drive of the union government. The CPM led LDF, naturally, has to be critical of the drive as it's
anti-Modi and the BJP. But see how wisely, its neighbour had converted the situation to its
advantage! Most of the corporations, including that of Madras, have seen a steep rise in their
earnings simply because they'd issued a circular that the public could use the 'old' notes to pay
their taxes and bills - property, water and electricity bills! And what has Kerala done? Issued an
order saying that this month's owing would be collected next month without penalty! What a
difference in attitudes?
(b) Sacks full of 1,000 and 500 rupee notes being discarded.
It has been reported from some parts of the country that sacks full of the demonetised notes
have been dumped in the open and the local police have picked a few of these from waste
disposal centers! Dinajpur, a northern district of Bengal, is one such case. Interestingly, Mamta
Banerjee, the chief minister of Bengal has been quick off the blocks, calling all opposition
parties to unite(?) against the demonetisation drive.
(c) Agents for the exchange of currency.
We, Indians, are ingenuous. Middlemen had suddenly sprouted to help the general public to
exchange their currency holdings and all they sought was a 10% commission! And mind you,
the guys were at it at the RBI office on the Rajajisalai, in Madras. Thankfully, their activities
were captured on the cctvs and the police did nab them soon after.
(d) Bombay, too, notches higher taxes into its kitty.
Compared to previous collections, there has been a 27.3% increase in revenue earnings in
the form of service taxes!
(e) Counterfeit Rs.2,000!
At Chirayankizhu, in Thiruvananthapuram district, the xeroxed version of the new currency
was in circulation, albeit, for a short period before the culprit was nabbed.
Tailpiece.
1. PM Modi has rubbed a lot many powerful forces the wrong way by calling for the demonetisation of the high value denominations. The 'war chests' of the political parties consisted of these very notes and in one master stroke, he has converted them into useless wads of paper. The forthcoming Assembly elections in UP and Punjab are poised to be interesting!
2. The 'over-two-months' agitation and stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir has suddenly petered down because the biggest blow by the demonetisation drive has been inflicted on terror funding. The counterfeit from Pakistan used to find its way into the hands of the Kashmiri separatists like Geelani and others, who used to pay the youth on a daily basis for pelting stones at the security forces and creating unrest.
3. There are many quarters - within the country - from where people are waiting to take advantage of the common man's woes while standing in serpentine queues! Small time traders, are also finding difficulty to convert their stock of the demonetised currency. The prime minister and his team needs to take stock of the situation and provide succour, prevent rumours!
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