I have one and only 1 test of the worth and credibility of any economist / adviser who pontificates on India.
"Did you support #Demonetisation or did you call it out for what it was?"
That separates darbari economists who serve themselves from honest advisers who serve India.
Here, in 3 pictures is one who fails my test.
Here's another who ground reasons not to call it out for what it was, an assault on the poor with no discernible benefits. "teething troubles" are when your teeth are erupting naturally not when your teeth are brutally knocked out.
The noisy battle of words over VD Savarkar is a distraction to cover up news that the Government does not like - news about the #Notebandi hearing in Supreme Court, #MorbiBridgeCollapse, the popularity of #BharatJodoYatra, the rising popularity for @RahulGandhi.
Indians are fast realising that they have been fooled since 2014, duped by false promises, taken in by massive Govt-organised scams, legislation that enslaves rather then liberates them.
#WhatsApp forwards don't fill empty bellies and stories of past #Vishwaguru glories do not make up for joblessness or loss of earnings. The people are waking up the fact that they have been divided and told to hate each other. #BharatJodoYatra threatens this cosy conspiracy
I predict the Supreme Court hearing on #DeMonetisation will go the usual way. The petitioners will present evidece of wrong doing. The Govt will state on oath that it acted lawfully and consulted everybody - @RBI, @FinMinIndia experts, No one can prove they didnt.
The Court will find for the Govt. "The petitioners failed to prove their case or disprove the Govt's claims. The Govt acted in good faith. The petitioners are habitual trouble makers who suffered loss due to #NoteBandi and are now seeking recompense. Case dismissed"
The best outcome the pertitioners can expect would be is their case was dismissed without costs being awarded against them or with a call for their arrest and persecution.
A 🧵on the role of @RBI in the lead up to #DeMonetisation of Nov 8, 2016
based on publicly available information. I am neither a sleuth nor an investigative journalist. All I can do is apply common sense to available information.
The Government submitted an affidavit to SC.
A 5 judge bench was hearing a batch of apeals against the Govt's act of invalidation the country's currency on 8 Niv 2016.
See for details this report in @ndtv
I have not seen the full affidavit. An affidavit BTW is sworn testimony. ndtv.com/india-news/dem…
We don't know who signed this affidavit. That's important. because if any part of it is untrue then he who signed it has committed perjury.
Anyway acc to news reports, the Govt had held "extensive consultation" with @RBI and "advance preparations" were made before #NoteBandi.
#G20 Presidency. It's a mugs game.
The presidency of the G20 rotates annually among its members. The presidency leads a three-member management group of previous, current and future chairs, referred to as the Troika.
The purpose of the troika is to ensure transparency, fairness, and continuity from one presidency to another. The G20 does NOT have a secretariat of its own. A temporary secretariat is set up by the country that holds the presidency for the term of chairmanship.
Apart from the Leaders’ Summit which crowns the presidency, the ongoing work is divided into two tracks: the Sherpas’ Track and the Finance Track, which continue throughout the year. The third G20Summit in Pittsburg, 2009 settled this format and acknowledged its efficiency.
While Indian news media and all the usual right wing handles are acting as if becoming #G20 President for a year is some kind of honour or recognition, the fact is it is a case of Buggins Turn. Every country tries hard to avoid having to do it.
As #G20 President the only power you have is to invite a country of your choice to attend the meeting of world leaders you have to organise. This year Indonesia invited Spain. Otherwise its a pain in the arse. All that security headache. @POTUS comes with his own Secret Service
Every leader thinks he is more important than anyone else. There's the usual round of bon-homie, drinks, food, press conference. Its not even a showcasing of your country to the worlds media as staging the Olympics might be.
This view point (see pic) is widespread among the Hindutva right wing. That Minorities are pampered and that they can set up schools and faith centres without regulation by Govt.
Is there a basis in fact for this view? Even if it is true that minority communities have the right to run their own educational and religious institutions; Do they get support from the State? is this an empty freedom that means that the State has no further responsibility.
Is this the 'freedom' of the kind that slaves one in America, only to be left to fend for themselves, as Martin Luther King says in this 2 minute video?