All animals are equal, but political animals are more equal than others

So both Congress and BJP can arrive at a consensus and amend the FCRA to cover their violations, but can use the same violations as a stick to beat up NGOs and get them to fall in line? (http://barandbench.com/debriefed-bjp-congress-withdrew-slp…/). Perhaps it is time to let our elected representatives know that they are not above the law. If we cannot bring our representatives to book for making a mockery of the laws to suit their purposes, then we should consider that as a dereliction of our duties under the constitution, and anti-national. Flag waving/anthem singing/jawan saluting notwithstanding.

I request all Indians to stand with me in the true fight against black money and pledge the following:

I urge my area representatives to disclose their party funding

Write an open letter to your area MP and MLA requesting them to disclose ALL sources of funding to their political parties. Tell them that if you as a business or an individual are required to disclose ALL sources of income, so are they. They are not above the law. Don't sign some online petition please. Write the letter, send a registered copy to them and to your favourite newspaper.

I do not buy or sell goods without a bill

Do not buy or sell anything without a receipt. Insist that you would like to pay the tax and you want a bill. Pay the taxes and duties that go towards bulletproof vests and bullets for your soldiers. Not doing so is beneath your dignity.

I will not ask for or pay a cash component for property transactions

Do not underreport the sale proceedings when you buy/sell property. Pay the charges that are meant for improving the infrastructure in your state. Not doing so removes any expectations you have from the state for law and order, roads, power, sanitation, public transport and a myriad other services which our states are severely deficient on, and you appreciate when you travel abroad. You have a right to demand these services from your elected representatives, but before you exercise that right, please perform your duties as well.

I'll finish by repeating something I heard on the radio today: 

मेरा भारत महान

... बनाना पड़ेगा |

जय हिंद

A brush with the iron hand

To all my smart, intelligent, analytical friends who have left no stone unturned to prove just how pointless the demonetization step is in the war against black money. Thanks. I now understand that black money will not end, there might be a brief pause and then it will continue because India is a cash economy. I also get the hardship this will cause millions of people with small savings who don't trust the banking system, who are illiterate, marginalized, saving money from rapacious family members and so on and so forth. I sympathize with the travellers who are stuck with large currency notes that they cannot use, or not enough money on the road to small towns in India where you can't use cards. It could just as easily have been me in your situation. But the reason why middle class, salaried, play-by-rules people like me are enjoying this is so basic, so irrational, and yet so deeply ingrained in human psyche, that no amount of logic is going to help. It's the feeling of the underdog winning something for once. 

Let me try and explain this with an allegory. Amit is a Gurgaon resident who drives his CNG Suzuki Swift to work everyday. He gets a pollution check done every 6 months, regularly maintains his car, does not drive on high beam, and sticks to his lane - real or imaginary. All around him is the madness of Gurgaon traffic. Honking, overspeeding, rash driving. When he stops at a deserted red light he divides his attention between the traffic light and the rear view mirror, keenly aware of the fact that he can be rear ended by a Gurgaonwasi who just can't imagine someone stopped at a red light for no reason. Most drivers zip past him without a care., some slow down to check if there is a policeman watching, since that is the only conceivable reason in their minds to stop at the light.

One day, after being cut off and honked by two impatient drivers who were stuck behind him at a red light - one even on a cellphone, Amit feels he has reached his limit. His frustration is boiling over. He wants to catch up to one of these guys - lets call him Skippy - and give them a piece of his mind. Just at that moment - he sees both of them jump a red light and get caught by a traffic policeman - an honest one. He sees them fined for jumping the light and cellphone driving. As he drives past them, his frustration melts away, and he feels a mixture of vindication and vindictiveness. It takes the rage out of his system, and he is back to his conscientious self. 

It's one of those days - when the system instead of beating down on us play-by-rules types, is actually giving Skippy a hard time. I'm rubbing my hands with glee and cackling with spiteful laughter. I'm enjoying watching these people roast. I'm loving accounts of people losing sleep over cash property deals, over sales done without bill, over consulting fees taken in cash and sitting in bank lockers. It would be really good for the economy if this is followed up with steps that discourage black money like tax reform, financial inclusion and wider acceptance of plastic. But for now, I'm in the grip of a visceral desire to gloat, and that's not going away anytime soon.