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NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya resigns

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NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015 to head the revamped version of the Planning Commission, Panagariya wants to return to academia, take up his teaching assignment at Columbia University in New York

In what would come as a major personal setback to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a time when the Indian economy isn’t showing any great signs of resurgence, Arvind Panagariya has resigned from his role as vice-chairman of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. An economist of repute, Panagariya will serve in the NITI Aayog till August 31, before returning to his previous teaching role at Columbia University in New York.

In January 2015 when the six decade old Planning Commission was scrapped by the Union government and replaced with the NITI Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had handpicked Panagariya for the post of its vice-chairman. The revamped think tank, although with powers that were far more curtailed than the ones enjoyed by the Planning Commission, was to act as a policy think tank for the Modi administration and guide it on key reforms in sectors like the economy, agriculture, federal responsibilities, et al.

However, at a time when the government continues to face tough questions on its two main reform measures – demonetisation and the GST regime – Panagariya’s exit could come as a personal setback for Modi.

Going by the convention followed by the erstwhile Planning Commission, the term of the NITI Aayog vice-chairman was to be co-terminus with that of the Prime Minister, who is the Chairperson of the body.

What triggered Panagariya to actually put in his papers is not known. The official reason being stated is his desire to return to academia but that does not seem entirely believable. “My leave in Columbia University is coming to an end on September 5 and I decided to join back,” was all that Panagariya said about his resignation on Tuesday.

Going by Panagariya’s record in office, he seemed perfectly in-sync with the Modi government’s actions on the economy and general policy legislation – something that previous heads of the Planning Commission didn’t always seem to care about while speaking on the initiatives of respective governments of their time.

Sources say Panagariya, despite the unwavering support of the Prime Minister, had several detractors within the Union government, and perhaps more importantly, in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His advice to the government to revamp labour laws and take an aggressive step on elimination of subsidies of all kinds was something that the RSS and some members of the BJP and its government did not find palatable.

At NITI Aayog, Panagariya oversaw several critical reforms that the Modi wanted to bring about, including the merger of the railway and general budgets, change of financial year from April-March to January-December and the elimination of the 5-year plan system of policy making.

Panagariya, a PhD from Princeton University, is a protégé of internationally renowned economist Jagdish Bhagwati and was Professor of Economics and of Indian Political Economy at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University before he was persuaded by Modi to return to India and head the NITI Aayog.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Tax terrorism has to stop, says Congress after Income Tax Department issues fresh Rs 1,700 crore notice

The Congress has accused the BJP of squeezing it financially and of using tax authorities against it ahead of Lok Sabha elections beginning April 19.

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Ahead of the Lok Sabha election, the Congress’ financial woes worsened once again with the Income Tax Department issuing a fresh Rs 1,700 crore notice. The tax department issued the notice due to discrepancies in tax returns. 

The fresh notice is for assessment years 2017-18 to 2020-21 and includes penalty and interest. This comes a day after the Delhi High Court dismissed the party’s petition challenging the tax notices. 

The opposition party is already facing a funds crunch after Income Tax authorities imposed a penalty of Rs 200 crore and froze its funds. Furthermore, the party has not received any relief from the High Court in the case and is likely to approach the Supreme Court. The Congress has accused the BJP of squeezing it financially and of using tax authorities against it ahead of Lok Sabha elections beginning April 19.

Addressing a press conference, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that the notices are being sent to cripple the party financially. Calling the action as tax terrorism, Jairam Ramesh said that this attack on Congress has to stop.

Earlier in February, the Income Tax department had found fault in the party’s tax returns and demanded Rs 200 crore. Subsequently, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) had asked the party to pay the dues and froze their accounts. The Congress stated the tax tribunal’s order freezing its funds was an attack on democracy as the order came just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal stated that this is a deliberate attempt by the Narendra Modi-led to bankrupt the Congress ahead of elections. He mentioned that the timing of the penalty notice, following the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of Congress petitions challenging tax reassessment proceedings, reeks of political vendetta.

He underlined that while political parties are typically exempt from taxes, this penalty is allegedly due to delayed filing of returns. He asserted that it is a blatant move by the Modi government to cripple the Congress financially, especially during the elections. He further asserted that in response to the notice, the Congress plans to stage a nationwide protest, condemning BJP’s exploitation of central agencies to target opposition parties. 

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Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Tejashwi Yadav mourns demise of Mukhtar Ansari, demand probe

Akhilesh Yadav mentioned that such doubtful cases should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge.

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Mukhtar Ansari, gangster turned politician, who has been in jail since 2005, died due to cardiac arrest on Thursday. After Ansari’s death, his family alleged that the politician had been poisoned in the jail.  

Expressing sorrow, several opposition leaders demanded a probe into the death of Mukhtar Ansari. Notably, the gangster turned politician submitted an application in Barabanki court, alleging he was given some poisonous substance along with his food. He claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started paining after he consumed the food.

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav wrote on X that a few days ago Mukhtar Ansari complained that he had been poisoned in jail, yet it was not taken seriously. He added that prima facie the move does not seem justifiable and humane. He stated that constitutional institutions should take suo motu cognizance of such strange cases and incidents.

Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Samajwadi Party Chief, Akhilesh Yadav said that the state is going through the worst phase of government anarchy. He added that it is the responsibility and duty of the government to protect someone’s life in every situation and at every place. 

The former Chief Minister added that the death of a hostage or prisoner while being confined in the police station, in a fight inside the jail, on falling ill inside the prison, while being taken to court, while being taken to hospital or during treatment in hospital will erode public confidence in the judicial process. He mentioned that such doubtful cases should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. He claimed that the way the government bypasses the judicial process and adopts other methods is completely illegal. 

Taking to social media platform X, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati said that the persistent apprehensions and serious allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari’s family regarding his death in jail require a high-level investigation so that the facts in his death can be revealed. 

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said that the people of Ghazipur lost their favourite son and brother. He added that Mukhtar Ansari had made serious allegations against the administration that he was poisoned, but the government did not pay any attention to his treatment.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput stated that custodial deaths and firing in jail has become very common in Uttar Pradesh. He added that high level investigation should be conducted.

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Uttar Pradesh on high alert after gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari death, probe ordered on poisoned in jail charge

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state.

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Several towns in Uttar Pradesh are on high alert and security has been strengthened after jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of cardiac arrest. His family alleged that the gangster, who has been in jail since 2005, was poisoned. 

The jailed gangster was hurried to a hospital after he fell unconscious at district jail on Thursday night. After a few hours, he was declared dead by the doctors at the Rani Durgavati Medical College. 

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar said that as a precautionary measure, Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed across the state. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also been called in to assist the police. Reportedly, the CRPF units have already been deployed in Banda, Mau, Ghazipur, and Varanasi.

Additionally, the social media cell of the Uttar Pradesh Police is also on high alert to track unlawful elements that may try to spark a riot. Furthermore, a magisterial investigation into the death of Mukhtar Ansari will be carried out by a three member team, reports said.

A former five-time MLA from Mau Sadar seat Muktar Ansari, had 60 criminal cases pending against him. The gangster turned politician was sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by different courts of Uttar Pradesh and was lodged in the Banda jail.

Earlier, the former five-time MLA from Mau submitted an application in Barabanki court, alleging he was given some poisonous substance along with his food. He claimed that on March 19, his nerves and limbs started paining after he consumed the food.

Muktar Ansari was born into a family with deep roots in the independence struggle. His grandfather served as the Indian National Congress president in 1927. He was initially affiliated with the Bahujan Samaj Party before forming the Quami Ekta Dal (QED) after being expelled.

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