English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest Politics News

Moo-ing on with demonetisation, Priyanka Chopra’s dress and peacock tears

Published

9 years ago

on

Moo-ing on with demonetisation, Priyanka Chopra’s dress and peacock tears - APNLive

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Jawaharlal Nehru gets blamed for IT sector job losses

Ranjona Banerji

Which of the following are the biggest issues affecting India today:

1) A just-retired judge of the Rajasthan High Court informing us that peacocks are celibate and peahens conceive by drinking peacock tears?

2) Actress Priyanka Chopra wearing a knee-revealing dress when she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi?

3) Farmers in Maharashtra on an indefinite strike over loan waivers and their various largely ignored problems?

4) India’s growth rate for the fourth quarter of 2016-2017 falls to 6.1 per cent, because of November 2016’s demonetisation exercise?

Let’s leave the usual bull out of the reckoning for now and move on. Let’s forget those really bad puns also, please.

The Rajasthan judge certainly took Twitter by storm because, well, it’s obvious. Such a breathtaking grasp of biology and ornithology, and even evolution, is most uncommon and must be admired and applauded. These are our judges who keep our judiciary’s standards high; long may we prosper.

Actress Priyanka Chopra, if you go by our most loyal fans of the PM and upholders of the best of Indian culture on social media, has committed a disastrous act of moral repugnance. To show someone, and that too a prime minister, her knees? It is possible that Indian culture may never recover from this.

How about the farmers? Farmers largely exist in India to be ignored and to suffer quietly by themselves. Lip service is paid to their efforts in slogans now and then, usually the same slogan which has been in use for 50 years. The rest of the time, city folk, corporatewallahs and economists discuss how India has to move beyond agriculture (while voting for the cow people, of course. Sorry, I couldn’t resist that dig).

That leaves the Indian economy. The most taboo subject of all. I heard on TV the other day that the Indian economy has never been better and demonetisation has been a success. Of course, this was outright pandering to the ruling party by the news anchor. But still. Despite all evidence to the contrary, fanboys and fangirls of the government have been applauding demonetisation since the results of the Uttar Pradesh elections were announced.

We have all heard the Union finance minister telling us that everything is fine and on track. Various corporate heads, analysts, former corporate honchos and economists have also assured us that India is the fastest growing economy that has never done better. Yes some have admitted perhaps jobs have not increased that much but the fiscal deficit is down, yaay! Others have played down the loss of jobs in information technology because well, these things happen, and Jawaharlal Nehru definitely has to share some of the blame.

Now, despite all these fantastic PR efforts to shore up our confidence in our able political masters, what do we find? That figures released by the government show us that India’s GDP growth has fallen from 7 per cent in the third quarter to 6.1 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016-2017. Various experts are clear that the demonetisation exercise carried out at the end of 2016 is responsible for this.

I’m not an economist and I don’t even pretend to be one. Nor am I a corporate honcho or a former corporate honcho or a TV expert on just about everything. But like anyone else who lives in India, and is not an economist, I am aware of the effects of demonetisation, of the collapse of various industries, of the loss of jobs, of the panic and despair felt by the economically underprivileged.

Given all this, it is hardly surprising that we have become obsessed with cattle and the fact that peacocks are celibate creatures that excrete sperm as they cry.

Frankly, what else can one do but cry?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Those who want to leave can go: Mamata Banerjee after Trinamool’s poll setback

Mamata Banerjee has told Trinamool Congress leaders that those who wish to leave the party are free to do so after its electoral defeat, as she pushes for organisational rebuilding.

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 16, 2026

By

mamta banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent a strong message to party members amid internal unrest following the Trinamool Congress’ electoral defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections, saying those who wish to leave the party are free to do so.

The remarks come as the TMC grapples with its worst electoral performance in years and growing dissatisfaction within its ranks.

‘Will not stop anyone from leaving’

At a recent internal review meeting with party candidates, Banerjee reportedly told leaders that she would not attempt to hold back anyone planning to exit the party. She emphasised that the organisation would move forward with those who remain committed.

According to party sources, she said she would focus on rebuilding the organisation from the ground up, including restoring party offices and strengthening grassroots-level structures.

Push for rebuilding the organisation

Banerjee also called for detailed, area-wise reports from party workers and directed them to hold meetings at block and town levels to assess the reasons behind the defeat.

She further indicated that the party would undergo internal restructuring, with efforts aimed at reviving organisational strength at the local level.

Fact-finding teams and internal review

As part of the post-poll exercise, the Trinamool Congress has also set up multiple fact-finding teams to examine alleged irregularities in key districts.

These developments highlight growing internal churn within the party as it attempts to recover from its electoral setback and rebuild its support base.

Continue Reading

India News

Abhishek Banerjee charged over alleged provocative speeches during Bengal polls

Abhishek Banerjee has been charged after a complaint alleged he made provocative remarks during the West Bengal election campaign.

Published

15 hours ago

on

May 16, 2026

By

Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee has been charged following allegations that he delivered provocative speeches during the West Bengal Assembly election campaign.

According to reports, the complaint was filed by a social worker identified as Rajiv Sarkar on May 5. The complaint alleged that the Diamond Harbour MP made inflammatory remarks at multiple campaign events held between April 27 and May 3.

The allegations also claimed that remarks made by Banerjee included threats directed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the heated election campaign in West Bengal.

Reports said the case was registered at the Bidhannagar North Cyber Crime Police Station. The development comes amid continuing political tensions in the state after the recently concluded Assembly elections.

The Trinamool Congress and the BJP have been engaged in sharp exchanges following the election results and subsequent allegations linked to violence and political targeting in different parts of the state.

Continue Reading

India News

Congress ends Kerala suspense, VD Satheesan to be CM

Congress has named V D Satheesan as the next chief minister of Kerala, concluding its internal deliberations over the state leadership.

Published

2 days ago

on

May 14, 2026

By

VD Satheesan

The Congress party has announced that V D Satheesan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala, ending days of speculation over the leadership choice following the United Democratic Front’s (UDF) recent electoral victory.

The decision was taken by the party leadership after internal discussions and comes amid intense lobbying among senior leaders for the top post.

Leadership decision after prolonged suspense

According to reports, the announcement was made after a series of meetings within the Congress high command, which had been deliberating between multiple contenders for the chief minister’s post.

Satheesan, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, emerged as the final choice after discussions involving senior party leadership in Delhi.

Who is V D Satheesan

V D Satheesan is a senior Congress leader from Kerala and has been one of the party’s most prominent faces in the state. He has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly since 2021 and has represented the Paravur constituency multiple times.

He is widely seen as a key strategist within the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

Internal competition within Congress

The selection process had reportedly seen competition among several senior leaders, including K C Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala, before the party finalized Satheesan’s name.

The delay in announcing the chief minister had led to speculation and political debate within Kerala’s political circles.

UDF returns to power in Kerala

The announcement follows the United Democratic Front’s electoral victory in the state, which ended the Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) tenure in Kerala politics.

The new government formation is expected to take place soon after the formal swearing-in process is completed.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com