
SC slams cartoonist Hemant Malviya over ‘immature' post targeting PM Modi and RSS
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The Supreme Court on Monday chided Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya for his "immature" cartoon that portrayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS in an "undignified" manner.A bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar termed Malviya's conduct as "inflammatory" and "immature". The development took place during the hearing of an anticipatory bail plea filed by the cartoonist, who moved SC for relief after his plea was dismissed by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 8."Still no maturity in him. It is indeed inflammatory," justice Dhulia verbally remarked. The court posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday.Malviya was booked in May this year over the Facebook post on the complaint of an RSS member. The cartoonist stands accused of offences under sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups), 299 (insulting religion or religious beliefs), 302 (act with intent to wound religious feelings), 352 (insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 353 (mischief) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act.
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Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Women of West Bengal want PM Modi to address their safety ahead of his visit
Durgapur: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit West Bengal on Friday to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over Rs 5,000 crore, the women of the state are expressing a heartfelt plea - they want the Prime Minister to speak about their safety. PM Modi's visit includes addressing a BJP rally in Durgapur, as well as launching projects aimed at boosting infrastructure in the region. But amidst the celebratory mood, concerns over women's security have taken centre stage. 'We are very happy that he is coming here. Seeing him is like seeing God,' said one woman from Durgapur. 'But I want PM Modi to speak on women's issues tomorrow. Women are not safe here. We want him to address our safety,' she told IANS. Another woman echoed similar sentiments, saying, 'PM Modi has done a lot for the country, and I am glad he is coming here. But I want him to speak for us. Women do not feel safe anymore.' West Bengal has been witnessing a worrying rise in reports of violent crimes against women. High-profile cases such as the R.G. Kar Medical College rape and murder case, the Kolkata gang rape incident, and several others have left women across the state anxious and demanding greater security. The Prime Minister's visit to West Bengal comes as part of a larger tour covering Bihar and West Bengal, during which he will launch developmental projects totalling over Rs 12,200 crore. These projects aim to strengthen the infrastructure and connectivity of the two states. After addressing a public gathering in Motihari, Bihar, PM Modi will move to Durgapur, West Bengal, where he will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate several major projects in the oil and gas, power, road, and rail sectors. One of the key projects includes the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project for Bankura and Purulia districts, valued at around Rs 1,950 crore. This project will boost the region's oil and gas infrastructure by providing piped natural gas (PNG) connections to households, commercial establishments, and industries, as well as compressed natural gas (CNG) at retail outlets. PM Modi will also dedicate the 132-kilometre Durgapur to Kolkata section of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline, as well as the Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, both part of the flagship Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project. In the energy sector, the Prime Minister will launch the Retrofitting Pollution Control System-Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) at the Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station of the Damodar Valley Corporation, a project worth over Rs 1,457 crore aimed at reducing pollution. To enhance rail connectivity, the doubling of the Purulia – Kotshila Rail Line (36 km) will be dedicated to the nation. Valued at over Rs 390 crore, this will improve freight movement between major industrial hubs, cutting travel time and improving logistics. Additionally, two road over bridges constructed under the Setu Bharatam Programme, costing over Rs 380 crore, will be inaugurated, easing traffic congestion and improving safety.


News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Kanker: Witnessing Transformation In An Aspirational & LWE-Affected District
Last Updated: Kanker serves as a live laboratory of this transition—a testament to the impact of focused governance, community engagement, and persistent delivery Last fortnight, I visited Kanker in Chhattisgarh—one of the districts historically affected by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), along with Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur. Notably, Bastar and Kondagaon have recently been removed from the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of LWE-affected areas. Kanker is also among the 112 districts selected under the Government of India's Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP). These two aspects—LWE legacy and aspirational district status—motivated my visit, particularly in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent assertion that several aspirational districts are now doing better than their respective state averages. While searching for the local MLA, I came across a government-organised workshop attended by over 300 people at a local school. This was no ordinary event—it was a well-coordinated awareness and registration drive under the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on 15 June to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary year of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, revered as Dharti Aaba. Just two days later, on 17 June, this full-fledged programme was already underway in Kanker's remote tribal belts—a reflection of the speed and seriousness of the government's efforts. The campaign is grounded in a benefit saturation model, aiming to ensure that every tribal household not yet covered under any central welfare scheme is identified and brought into the fold. The workshop embodied the whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach—various departments had set up stalls for on-the-spot registration under flagship schemes. I was informed that officials would also visit villages to conduct door-to-door outreach, further ensuring last-mile delivery. An important partner at the state level is the Development Evaluation Society of India, tasked with identifying excluded tribal beneficiaries. At the Amoda village panchayat office, I met two of their field investigators—Parmeshwar Kashyap and Radhika Nayak—who are among 150 personnel currently collecting and forwarding data on tribal households not availing benefits under 36 key centrally-sponsored schemes. Their field reports suggest high outreach and coverage in schemes like PM Awas Yojana, Kisan Samman Nidhi, Ujjwala Yojana, pensions, and Swachh Bharat toilets. However, they highlighted certain delivery gaps, especially in the Har Ghar Jal (tap water) initiative. My village visits—to Amoda, Anjani, Bans Patthar, and Thega—revealed similar trends. In these areas, residents reported availing benefits from multiple schemes, including MGNREGA, PM Anna Kalyan Yojana, and others. Most villages had achieved ODF (Open Defecation Free) status, with toilets in every household. One recurring concern, however, was poor mobile connectivity, which sometimes hampers delivery of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)-linked schemes. Villagers requested improved mobile infrastructure to mitigate these issues. A local social activist pointed out an interesting sociopolitical observation: Scheduled Castes in the state have become more adept at leveraging welfare schemes due to increased political awareness, whereas Scheduled Tribes often remain underserved despite being the focus of targeted initiatives. This makes outreach efforts like the Dharti Aaba campaign even more critical. At the helm of these efforts is District Magistrate Nilesh Kumar Kshirsagar, whose proactive governance style stood out. He has repurposed an old building into a central library, which now serves as a vibrant knowledge hub for the youth especially who are preparing for the competitive exams. His emphasis on innovation and saturation delivery is yielding visible results. He confidently asserted that many schemes in Kanker are performing better than non-aspirational districts, validating the strategic intent behind the ADP framework. Rise of Neo-Middle Class What I witnessed in Kanker aligns with broader national narratives. The World Bank recently reported that 270 million Indians have moved out of extreme poverty in the past decade. Additionally, the International Labour Organisation claims that 64 per cent of India's population (approx. 94 crore people) now falls under some form of social security net, up from just 24 per cent in 2019. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent the rise of a neo-middle class in India: a segment that may not be wealthy but is no longer poor, and is filled with aspiration. Kanker serves as a live laboratory of this transition—a testament to the impact of focused governance, community engagement, and persistent delivery. The author teaches Political Science at Satyawati College, University of Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. First Published: June 30, 2025, 15:49 IST


News18
35 minutes ago
- News18
Make Income Taxpayers' Honesty A Badge of Honour
In the age of digital governance and transparent taxation, it's time to nurture a 'Pride of Paying' mindset Recent data from the Income Tax Department starkly reveals that a mere 8,600 individuals report annual incomes exceeding Rs 5 crore. India, with a population exceeding 140 crore, boasts only about 1.5 crore active income taxpayers. The salaried middle class disproportionately shoulders the tax burden, while professionals, businesses, and high-income groups frequently exploit loopholes to minimise or evade their responsibilities. It is time to recognise that salaried employees—the ones whose taxes are automatically deducted—serve as the backbone of our national revenues. This group deserves acknowledgment and respect, instead of being subjected to a flawed tax system. The Reality of India's Tax Base Recent data from the Income Tax Department starkly reveals that a mere 8,600 individuals report annual incomes exceeding Rs 5 crore. Only around 42,800 declare incomes above Rs 1 crore, and a disappointing 2,200 professionals—doctors, lawyers, and chartered accountants—acknowledge earnings of Rs 1 crore or more. In stark contrast, 4 lakh individuals earning above Rs 20 lakh contribute to 63 per cent of all personal income tax collections. This is unacceptable in a nation where less than 1 per cent of the population actually pays income tax. The reality is that 99 per cent of India's tax-paying individuals feel compelled to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs), typically paying only a minimal amount of tax for various reasons. The salaried class is the primary contributor because they cannot hide from their obligations; taxes are deducted at source (TDS). Meanwhile, large agribusinesses and political parties evade their responsibilities entirely. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself pointed out in February 2020 in a summit that only 1.46 crore individuals are liable to pay income tax, representing a shocking less than 1 per cent of the total population. For the fiscal year 2023-24, total gross tax revenue collection was Rs 34.65 lakh crore, with income tax contribution being Rs 10.45 lakh crore or 30.16 per cent of total revenue receipts. Additional contributions include corporate tax at Rs 9.11 lakh crore (26.30 per cent), GST at Rs 9.57 lakh crore (27.62 per cent), union excise duties at Rs 3.09 lakh crore (8.92 per cent), customs duties at Rs 2.33 lakh crore (6.73 per cent), and service tax at Rs 420 crore (0.0121 per cent). This lopsided contribution is the result of systemic injustices. Salaried employees have no escape routes; taxes are deducted automatically, while non-salaried individuals exploit deductions for travel, rent, and various expenses. Wealthy farmers and political parties remain entirely outside the tax system. Despite their crucial role in sustaining government revenues, honest taxpayers—especially those in salaried positions—are unjustly overlooked, leading to disillusionment and decreasing compliance. Recognise and Reward India has long struggled with low voluntary tax compliance. While the nation has made great strides in digitising tax systems and cracking down on evasion, there's still one crucial aspect missing in our public policy approach—a culture of respect and honour for the honest taxpayer. The current tax ecosystem in India is perceived as coercive and unjust. Honest taxpayers feel undervalued while evaders escape unscathed. It's time for a dramatic course correction. We must reform not only our tax policies but also the way we perceive taxation. By recognizing honest top taxpayers as civic champions and rethinking our tax structure, we can establish a system anchored in fairness, aspiration, and transparency. Over 8.2 crore individuals filed income tax returns, roughly 5.5 lakh individuals declared incomes above Rs 10 lakh. Clearly, a tiny fraction of Indians is shouldering a large part of the nation's tax burden. This means a reliance that underscores the need to incentivise honest and consistent taxpayers not just with rebates, but with public recognition and social honour. India can take a cue from Japan, where the National Tax Agency hosts annual ceremonies recognising 'Exemplary Taxpayers" with mayors and governors attending. In South Korea, outstanding taxpayers are publicly honoured on National Taxpayers' Day with government medals, and even automatic immigration clearance privileges at airports. India must establish a multi-tiered, transparent system to publicly honour its top taxpayers. Recognition should be given annually at the ward, city, district, state, and national levels, across four categories such as: Highest taxpayer-Salaried Individual, Entrepreneur/Business Owner, Professional and Consistent higher taxpayer over a five years. The higher taxpayers' names and their concise profile should be published in annual bulletins of the Income Tax Department situated in the states and central level and honoured during national events like Independence Day, Republic Day or Taxation Day. They could be given distinction certificates and badges designating them as 'Proud Taxpayer of ward/city/state/country, PAN or Aadhaar-linked verification tags could be permitted to place on their vehicles. Priority access to civic utilities and public services as a courtesy measure, not entitlement. Such recognitions won't cost the exchequer much, but the psychological and cultural returns will be enormous. When society begins to see tax compliance as a badge of honour, it will shift public sentiment from cynicism to pride. This can be particularly influential among younger professionals and first-generation entrepreneurs, who often equate taxes with red tape or inefficiency. Public honour can transform compliance into an aspiration. Further, honest taxpayers should be nominated to local governance forums and reform committees, not as rewards, but as trusted stakeholders in the nation's development process. After all, they fund the very systems they seek to reform. We have blood donors, organ donors, and martyrs of national service. Why not celebrate those who contribute quietly but significantly to the financial lifeblood of the country? In the age of digital governance and transparent taxation, it's time to nurture a 'Pride of Paying" mindset. Let the Income Tax Department not just be a collector, but a conductor of civic celebration, spotlighting the citizens who are the most silent yet consistent enablers of India's growth. Honest taxpayers don't ask for exemption. They deserve acknowledgement. The writer is a co-founder and MD of Orane International, a training partner with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), and a network member of India International Skill Centres (IISCs), an initiative of GoI. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.