NDA govt cannot erase the ill effects of flawed GST regime and demonetisation from peoples mind

News Network
December 21, 2018

Bengaluru, Dec 21: Saying that flawed implementation of GST regime and ill-effects of demonetisation will remain in the people’s mind for a long period, Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the two processes initiated by the NDA government had severely damaged the Indian economy and they will be major factors influencing the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters here he said, ‘’no one can erase the thought on people’s mind that demonetisation and a flawed GST has damaged India's economy. That perception and and conviction has spread far and wide to every nook and corner of this country. Every citizen knows that the two had destroyed jobs and SMEs, while it derailed India’s economy. Nothing that BJP can do to erase that perception’’.

He said demonetisation had failed to have any effect on the informal economy as over 99 per cent was back into the banks. Traders were affected. People should ask the government to compensate all those who were affected by demonetisation.

Mr Chidambaram said world-over GST standard rate were one rate. IT was standard plus and minus. Congress had been demanding one standard rate not exceeding 18 per cent. ‘’This government called it stupid thought. Now this grand stupid thought is going to be blessed in tomorrow’s GST Council,’’ he lamented.

He said world-over GST standard rate is one rate. Standard plus and minus. Congress has been demanding one standard rate not exceeding 18 per cent. ‘’This government called it stupid thought. Today the grand stupid though is going to be blessed in tomorrow’s GST Council,’’ he added.

On farm loan waiver announced by newly elected Congress governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the Congress leader said farm loan waiver, whether it is good or bad politics is not the issue.

‘’Farm loan waiver today is imperative. In just one district of Maharashtra, in just one last week, 108 farmers committed suicide. There are 5.28 crore small and medium farmers who are indebted out of 10 crore farmer families. The average indebtedness of a small medium farmer family is between Rs 90,000 to RS 1 lakh. How will this farmer family will ever repay this loan,’’ he said.

He said the new Congress governments in the three states have responded to the dire needs of the situation.

On economists criticising the farm loan waiver by various State government saying that it would affect the economy, Mr Chidambaram retorted, ‘’Economists should go to farm land, purchase two acres of land and do farming for at least two years and then comment on farm loan waiver. They must experience what farming is in this country. Whether it is good or bad politics people will decide. Economists or technocrats cannot what is good or bad politics. They can only define the quality of economics. We must understand the plight of farmers today’’.

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News Network
December 6,2025

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With IndiGo flight disruptions impacting thousands of passengers, the airline on Saturday said that it will offer full waiver on all cancellations/reschedule requests for travel bookings between December 5, 2025 and December 15, 2025.

Earlier in the day, the civil aviation ministry had directed the airline to complete the ticket refund process for the cancelled flights by Sunday evening, as well as ensure baggage separated from the travellers are delivered in the next two days.

In a post on X, titled 'No questions asked', IndiGo wrote, "In response to recent events, all refunds for your cancellations will be processed automatically to your original mode of payment."

"We are deeply sorry for the hardships caused," it further added.

Several passengers, however, complained of not getting full refund as promised by the airline.

Netizens have shared screenchots of getting charged for airline cancellation fee and convenience fee.

"Please tell me why u have did this airline cancellation charges when u say full amount will be refunded (sic)," a user wrote sharing a screenshot of the refund page.

"Well, but you have still debited the convenience charges," wrote another.

Passengers have also raised concerns about the "cancel" option being disabled on the IndiGo app. "First enable the 'Cancel' button on your App & offer full refund on tickets cancelled by customers between the said dates," wrote a user.

A day after the country's largest airline, IndiGo, cancelled more than 1,000 flights and caused disruptions for the fifth day on Saturday, the ministry said that any delay or non-compliance in refund processing will invite immediate regulatory action.

The refund process for all cancelled or disrupted flights must be completed by 8 pm on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement.

"Airlines have also been instructed not to levy any rescheduling charges for passengers whose travel plans were affected by cancellations," it said.

On Saturday, more than 400 flights were cancelled at various airports.

IndiGo has also been instructed to set up dedicated passenger support and refund facilitation cells.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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The deletion of over 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has sparked widespread concern and is likely to deepen political tensions in the poll-bound state.

According to the Election Commission, the revision exercise has identified 24 lakh voters as deceased, 19 lakh as relocated, 12 lakh as missing, and 1.3 lakh as duplicate entries. The draft list, published after the completion of the first phase of SIR, aims to remove errors and duplication from the electoral rolls.

However, the scale of deletions has raised fears that a large number of eligible voters may have been wrongly excluded. The Election Commission has said that individuals whose names are missing can file objections and seek corrections. The final voter list is scheduled to be published in February next year, after which the Assembly election announcement is expected. Notably, the last Special Intensive Revision in Bengal was conducted in 2002.

The development has intensified the political row over the SIR process. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress have strongly opposed the exercise, accusing the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to disenfranchise lakhs of voters ahead of the elections.

Addressing a rally in Krishnanagar earlier this month, Banerjee urged people to protest if their names were removed from the voter list, alleging intimidation during elections and warning of serious consequences if voting rights were taken away.

The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the revision and accused the Trinamool Congress of politicising the issue to protect what it claims is an illegal voter base. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the ruling party fears losing power due to the removal of deceased, fake, and illegal voters.

The controversy comes amid earlier allegations by the Trinamool Congress that excessive work pressure during the SIR led to the deaths by suicide of some Booth Level Officers (BLOs), for which the party blamed the Election Commission. With the draft list now out, another round of political confrontation appears imminent.

As objections begin to be filed, the focus will be on whether the correction mechanism is accessible, transparent, and timely—critical factors in ensuring that no eligible voter is denied their democratic right ahead of a crucial election.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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