GST Rollback

Much has been said about One Nation, One Tax; which was launched with much fanfare as is the case with our marketing savvy PM on 1 July, 2017. Though GST functions through a complex structure for it was in making for more than a decade. Not to mention, the speed with which Govt. implemented GST, without proper rules, guidance or education about the system, without bringing proper awareness about how to comply with the law.

GST till date has witnessed so many modifications (read Notifications). GST for its structure and size, can be termed Constitution of Indirect Tax. Yet it has surpassed the modifications of Constitution perhaps in 70 years than in 70 months; in fact GST is yet to live half its life of 70 months.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/gst-council-begins-review-of-rates-items-to-raise-revenue/articleshow/72356691.cms

We remember, Late Arun Jaitley beaming to the reporters that we are reducing GST rates on different items as the GST collection numbers have been good. Wasn’t that the reason why GST was introduced that there will be revision or confusion of rates? Now the role reversal is happening, read the above news item.

We are not talking about 180 degree turn the GST has taken for some industries. Why couldn’t Govt. take help of more experts, or perhaps taken more time to understand, how people can bypass the provisions of GST to evade taxes and built a better system to begin with. I mean, Modi had been given clean sheet to work on building a new system as against his Govt. complains that they are still cleaning the mess of 70 years of Congress. Here they got a chance to build a system from scratch and they incorporated all the blunders of Congress of 70 years as their legacy in GST network.

The Govt. official mentions, Govt. is robbed of its revenue. I means, who is robbing whom? Can a Govt. be robbed by its people, the same people who elected the Govt., gave them the power to make laws and rules for them. The word “ROBBED” by Govt. official, signifies the problem that exists in the fundamentals of GST from the time, it was put into practice or perhaps into  planning. Mind you Sir, Govt. is robbing people always, globally in every democracy and irrespective of the colour of the political party.

None of the businesses put into 18% and 28% tax slab of GST, earn as much as money for themselves as the money, they are collecting as taxes from the Govt. It applies in the case of businesses in 5% category as well. Two and a half years, petrol and diesel are still not part of the GST and I guess there is no plan. Taxes on petrol and diesel is the only reason, perhaps why we are able to clock 4.6% GDP, otherwise it may be zero. Not to mention, the State exchequers are in bigger mess and petrol/diesel taxes is the only way, a lot of States are surviving, otherwise they may file bankruptcy.

The issues for which States and Central Govt. are wrangling in GST is another matter, about which the common man is not even aware of. Refunds to exporters is known in India, a lot of exporters have closed shop due to delays from the Central Govt. to get refund on their taxes. Exporters are eligible for 100% credit of GST on proper documentation after confirmation of legitimate exports.

At the time of implementation in 2017, Malaysia had rolled back GST completely out of the system and the question arose, why is India implementing it? India as a country for its size, needs GST. I mean, for Govt.’s defence, Govt. has been quick and always up on its feet to make the changes in the GST. But the changes are so so frequent, at times changes are complete landscape shift from what was planned with the law. 180 degree rotations signifies that the Govt. is not even clear about the objective and the loop holes, which exist ensure, it can never be complied, it will never be complied; neither by people, nor by Govt. How many training sessions, Govt. has to undertake to teach their own officers.

Will rollback of GST take place? I for myself believe certainly, there are no two ways about it. When is the question? While introducing the GST and the blunderous implementation, Govt. had given the expiry date of GST. At the time of implementation, Central Govt. had declared that they will be compensating the States for their loss in revenue for first 5 years.

Now Modiji in his second term as PM has immediately extended the compensation to States from 5 to 8 years, from 2022 to 2025. 2025 is the year, when GST will be rollbacked as the States are already fed up with the delay of compensation from the Central Govt. Moreover 29 States in India, 2900 flip-flops in 29 months of GST rules and compliance. States would want to go to the system, in which they are good at milking the particular industries, the State is able to house.

The decision to push the compensation date to 2025, is to clearly avoid the 2024 election by which Mr Modi will claim his legacy of 10 years as PM as the finest PM of India, at least in his eyes and GST will still be the hallmark for 2024 elections fight. Though most likely, 2024 elections will be for paving the way for Amit Bhai Shah to become next Prime Minister. Of course, it’s a long shot, depending on the optics of 2024 and results of data set at which BJP as party masters the art to analyze such data for elections.

I wonder sometimes, had BJP as political party could gauge its decisions and the form of its implementation like they are able to gauge wind of elections and ensure that the wind blows in their direction is in itself a phenomena, we would have already been 10 steps ahead of PM’s speeches. Rollback of GST would tell us, Modiji was always putting the cart before the horse and by the end of it, much hope of building of New India will be lost.

Though it is still good 5 years before GST rollback, much drama will be played in the downturn on the back of GST. Let’s hope in the meantime, the Govt. ensures laws are made better and implemented better for the hope, that they are squandering away.

Bye Bye 2015 ....... Happy New Year 2016

2015 was the litmus test year of the Modi Govt and Modi style of politics and functioning. Mr Modi promised moon to the people while contesting elections in 2014. In reality, we knew a lot of it is marketing plank or promises before elections. It was to Mr Modi’s that he could sell it and people bought it as well. Achhe din (Better Days) are still a distant dream. But Mr Modi fired his power behind every idea he sold to the people. Whether those ideas culminate into something, only time will tell, we still have three and half years.

DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) seems to be working but long time to make it overall success. When it comes to the politics, Congress showed the same chip to BJP and BJP had performed in the opposition. But a good part came out of it, Mr Modi followed his words of sabka saath, sabka vikas by talking to opposition leaders to allow the House to function. Let’s see how Congress tries to scuttle next time and whether anything good comes out of it or not. But the House will function this year. Rajya Sabha equations are bound to change a little with BJP gaining more voice in the Upper House.

Aamir commenting on intolerance became a laughing reference for social media and the media alike. The issue of intolerance did take a lot of media coverage and perhaps some fear in the minds of the minorities. Certainly this issue will carry forward in 2016. Congress can do such things and nobody will notice but high pitched speeches of hard working PM does get a drubbing for not anything on sensitive issues.

RSS mouthpiece costed heavily on the BJP fate in Bihar elections. With Lalu 2.0 and Nitish’s third term drubbed BJP in the State elections. PM’s sharp jibe and derogatory remarks on Lalu and Nitish were derogatory to his chair even if apt for the leaders of Bihar. Delhi Assembly became AAP’s headquarters with 67 out of 70 seats won by them. AAP’s fights with the Central Govt. continued through most of the year and will continue through 2016 as well. Elections in five states of 2016, that too bigwigs, like UP, WB and TN and small ones, Kerala and Assam will witness less of Modi, as he is PM, he should be PM and not BJP chief campaign voice.

On international diplomacy, Mr Modi held various public meetings and displayed strength of Indian diaspora in USA (East and West Cost), UK, Canada, Australia and so on. India is definitely gaining respect in those high diplomatic circles. He ended the year with a surprise visit to India’s distant brother and arch enemy, Pakistan and hugging Nawaz Sharif wherein Nawaz Sharif broke the protocol to receive Indian PM at the airport. What happens next in Indo-Pak relations is a deep story which only time will reveal?

The need to build healthier planet, India and Mr Modi made waves in the Paris Climate Summit and India won acclaim from developed world for the progress in the solar space. Developed world reflected on toeing India’s line on solar policy. Whether India brings developed finances for carbon credits or not is a long term play.

Oil, a major pain point of Manmohan Singh Govt. had dropped to $40 making economy a cakewalk for the Modi Govt. India’s largest import bill is for oil. With oil cooling, it was respite for the Govt. forex outflow and Govt. kept hiking taxes on the same which ensured they could meet the budget targets alongwith the development. It will continue to slide or lay low for the coming year.

Onions made everybody cry this year followed by tomatoes for a while and then we had new price index for pulses. A common food’s cheap of rice and dal is suddenly expensive. It will be interesting to watch whether Govt. will try to bring correction. Highly unlikely, these are the new levels and we may see few more points hike in the same.

Yakub Menon was hanged to death and the week before his hanging, like his life was wavering from hope and despair and so was country heavily and deeply through those days. The marauder of Priya Singh, who said, ghusa usme or the only survivor of the rape convicts raised brouhaha and protests because of his early release as juvenile detainee. A change in law was required and has been brought in.

Indian economy is holding put against all the odds and the global turmoil that is happening especially the great commodity crash. The stock markets lost 26% during the year with some of the big heavyweights taking the lead. Economy may perform with some of the major projects undertaken by the Govt. which will keep it floating. The markets are expected to recover due to great fall but with the US crisis looming, it is hoping against hope but it will hold fort.

Banking crisis which was a mess earlier is now a pile of rubble. In addition of the already deteriorating bank finances and the core sector companies not performing, cement, steel, coal, power, etc aluminium and copper are also joining the league. Hopefully Govt. does the cleaning act quickly which is the requirement of the day.

Technology space will break new barriers as we already record investments in the space with Flipkart, Ola, Amazon and Uber becoming part of everybody’s life and space. More consumer related apps will be successful and function in the market. Plus Google, Microsoft and Facebook will be offering free internet services in rural India through balloons, jets flying in the stratosphere or perhaps a signal from the moon.

And the year ended with the last laugh by Shah Rukh Khan, as the campaign started to boycott his film, Dilwale, due to his intolerant statement, remarks or whatever it was. He made the most horrible movie of his career that even protestors were put to shame.

Its certainly not about Cricket

Lalit Modi has proved that he is the best player in the cricketing world post the success of IPL-2 in South Africa. But the IPL-3 made us realize is that it is the most dangerous sports/business to be in and how shady the character of Lalit Modi is. Comparisons are being drawn between Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor. There cannot be any comparisons between the two. Shashi Tharoor has been clean bowled or perhaps retired hurt by Lalit Modi, when he was just supporting a spectator. Lalit Modi was also not found on the field. So you know Lalu Parekh (Lalit Modi’s name in the book, The GameChangers by Fake IBL Player) decides even who can support which team.

Personally I am in awe of Lalit Modi, he can hit sixes at any ball or clean bowl any batsman as and when he wants. Last year, he was in virtual fist fight with our Hon’ble Home Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaran. Jaipur ground could not host its fair share of matches as Modi was not appointed on Rajasthan cricket board. One of the friends wrote on his facebook status, “Conveniently, Low intensity blasts outside Bangalore cricket grounds to shift the venue to Mumbai”, inspite of Lalubhai claiming water tight security measures for the tourney. Now he has clean-bowled Shashi Tharoor. It’s difficult to manage bollywood stars, cricketers (the most spoilt breed of humans in India), not only from India but across the nations and last but not the least, the politicians (of course, Mr. Pawar would have helped him in taking care of this aspect).

Everybody is talking about money Modi’s is making. I believe he is getting peanuts for his job and the money which changes hands during the tourney. A rough palpable figure may be close to a $ 1 billion every year without taking into account the money involved in match fixing and betting. In India, you are never paid for your job. You have to make your own ways to make money. I know, it sounds illegal.

Most of the sports/casino (gambling related) businesses are run through Cayman Islands, Bahamas. In India, Mauritius is famous as majority of the times Mauritius is the first place for cash outflows and last place for cash inflows and from there on, it travels to other tax havens. Nobody can get the identity of the persons owning the businesses in these tax havens.

Lalit Modi is a very illustrious and powerful person. He has a very healthy, wealthy and colourful lifestyle. I ask, why it shouldn’t be? He belongs to the Modi family, one of the most influential business families in post independent era of India. He had his share of college masti and was arrested for possession of cocaine and assaulting charges. The difference between criminal and non-criminal is a criminal is caught with his wrong doings. Modi seems to be suffering from his old college days. He has again been caught. Proving the theories will be little difficult. Personally, we shoudn’t, that’s his personal choice. Allegedly he has married his mum’s friend. He (age 47) is already a grandfather. I don’t know whether you should call it step or not. His wife’s child from first marriage has a daughter. His issues with Mr. Tharoor started due to Gabreilla. Gabreilla is seen at IPL parties. Lalubhai was soon to be immortalized by the cricket fraternity.

Mr. Shashi Tharoor was once contesting for the top post of Secretary General, UN. He is widely acclaimed for his works and thoughts across the world. For years, he had been representing India at the UN. He was the voice and the image of India. His recent designation was an understatement of his accolades and achievements. With all his knowledge and wisdom, how he got involved is a mystery? The New Age Politician, the unofficial ambassador of Twitter or to some extent of the digital medium is spending less time digitizing and more time for apologizing for his love for the digital world. Had he or not, perhaps or maybe he may now get closer to Sunanda Pushkar.

Mr. Tharoor has lost his job. Lalit Modi is pipped to lose his job.
What is the whole issue about?
Who is responsible for how much?
Had Rendezvous given sweat equity to Salman Khan instead of Sunanda Pushkar, would have been better?
Is it relationship of Shashi Tharoor with Sunanda Pushkar?
Is it about betting?
Is it about money laundering?
Is it about Lalit Modi having stake in three different IPL teams?
Is it some other power strife among our Hon’ble Congress men?
Is it about cricket?

I believed sports are a peace and good will maker. But this IPL is nothing about cricket/sports. It is not even about the game. It’s all about the controversies. Who grabs the maximum headlines or photo-ops? We are witnessing a test match in T20 format.

BCCI is mum over the whole issue. They want to take over ICC and be the authority of cricket globally. It’s like Americans bombing Iraq for no reason or plan.
So many questions, yet there are no answers. Except for the fact, it is certainly not about CRICKET.

Where have all the good guys gone?

Pritish Nandy Blog write in Times of India

I was born into a world without villains. The British had left India. We were a free nation. There were many heroes: Gandhi, Subhash Bose, Sri Aurobindo, Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, Ambedkar. Remarkable guys who fought, each in his own way to bring us freedom. A spanking new nation was about to be built. Everyone was excited. It was heady times; it felt great to be an Indian. All our other identities were subsumed.

Yes, there was a bloody Partition. Many had lost their homes and families. Some people were angry, very angry, but that anger was specific. It was directed at those responsible for the bloodshed. It was not free floating rage. No one in those days was stupid enough to confuse Pakistanis with Muslims or the British with Christians. Everyone was anxious to put the past behind and get on with the task of building a new India. Since I grew up in Kolkata I met many people, Hindus and Muslims, who had fled what was then East Pakistan. They were trying hard to rebuild their lives. The locals did not see them as unwelcome immigrants. Instead, they went out of their way to help them. I remember my mother giving her blouses to a refugee woman to embroider even though she could barely afford it on her meagre school teacher’s salary.

There was magic in the air, the magic of nation building. There were dreams that everyone dreamt, of creating a new India where we would all be Indians first. In our living room hung pictures of Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi, Subhash Bose. My father would proudly tell me stories of the freedom struggle and politicians were then our biggest heroes. No, I never heard of a film star or a cricketer then. We spoke only about politicians and how they would change India. We believed in them. We admired them.

By the time I was in high school things had changed. People were burning buses and trams to protest against a one paisa ticket price rise. It wasn’t actually the price rise. It was free floating rage against being let down by the political class. When I joined college, the best students of my class vanished one day only to surface in Naxalbari fighting for what they saw as a just cause, the rights of the rural poor. I may not have agreed with them but like all young men of the time I believed in the good fight. Student politics in Europe was hotting up. Tariq Ali in England, Daniel Cohn-Bendit in Paris, Rudi Dutschke in Germany inspired the May uprising in Europe. Governments began to feel threatened by youth power. Che was the new idol and young people swore by his vision of a new world. But no, it didn’t take long for disenchantment to set in. Marxism became the God that failed.

It wasn’t only Marxism. Politics failed India. Pictures of politicians in the living rooms disappeared. We read about bloody clashes between political parties, religious groups, castes, communities. Regional issues reared their head. New conflicts emerged. We began to hear of crimes we had never heard before. Suddenly there were villains all around. People we began to hate, who were among us but not one of us. Politics became murky; we began to seek our heroes elsewhere. Actors became stars. So did writers, singers, journalists, sports people. Doctors, teachers, social workers were still respected. Some of them migrated to politics, won elections. But our world without villains had changed forever.

Today we live in a world where villains are everywhere. Politics has more than its share and even though everyone wants to be in politics, the reasons are different. Politics hardly offers nation building opportunities. It offers money, power, pelf. So do some other professions as well but politics is the shortest cut. That’s because at the heart of it lies all pervasive corruption. An honest politician today is as rare as the mountain quail that ornithologist Salim Ali spent his whole life searching for. When I began my life as a journalist, it was possible to expose a corrupt neta and see him sacked or punished. Today, if you expose a corrupt neta, you are more likely to get sacked yourself.

Then there are the other villains around us. Terrorists, extortionists, underworld syndicates, Maoists (often confused with the Naxalites of yore), the khaps who love to murder their own, suicide bombers fighting for lost causes, bigots who beat up young girls for drinking or wearing short dresses, fundamentalists constantly in search of new victims, regional groups who see other Indians as the enemy, book burners, art vandals, hackers, poachers who are wiping out entire animal species, corrupt Government officers, rogue policemen, environmental predators, fake drug manufacturers, the land mafia encroaching on public land in connivance with those who are supposed to protect it. The villains are everywhere, growing by the day. Where have the heroes gone? I often wonder. Where’s the India we once dreamt of?

Law and Justice

Justice truly changes the social fabric the way we live, trade, societal, marital status. Law and Justice, make a nation. Otherwise we are just a piece of mark on paper like Iraq. Gone are the days when the rich and powerful twisted the law with their hand fists. Now India is an emerging economy. Besides economy the rules and forces governing the traditional rules of money lending, social strata are transforming and shedding its archaic practices.

Last week, there were different Judgements taking about family, business and politics. One talks about the change in banking system, the second questions talks about identity after divorce and the third one, SC seeks advice to define and categorize the political activities.

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Giving a body blow to banks, Banks cannot prosecute borrowers under the stringent anti-cheque bouncing laws if blank post-dated cheques issued by them as collateral security are dishonoured.

“Law-makers must not have intended or imagined that money lenders or banks would obtain blank or post-dated cheques while sanctioning/disbursing loans as securities and would use them to make debtors/borrowers repay the loan under threat of prosecution and punishment (under the cheque-bouncing law),” added the judge.

It is a very significant right granted to a consumer. I have worked in financial services industry. The personnel in the industry are extremely hard working and design some of the most intelligent products in the market (amongst all the other consumer goods, products and services) and possess the expertise to sell them but not in servicing or redressing the monsters they themselves produce. Account holders at times, are themselves not aware for what they are paying and how much they are getting.

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Name is the identity of the human being and at times, it testifies as a symbol, process, era, dynasty, profession, discovery, evolution, theory, science, knowledge. But we are talking about the case of normal human beings, whose only identity is the name and not some mumbo-jumbo besides the name. A human being is named by his parents, relatives or siblings and the surname, which describes the broader essentials of our surroundings, the place where we belong to, our history, our caste (more importantly in India), our food, our habits, maybe even our desires or the broader characteristics of a human being.

We transform or undergo, maybe once, none or several times in our lifetime. A woman suffixes another surname to her name after marriage. I somehow feel it’s parochial to change the name. We may get over this practice till next generation evolves or by the turn of this century, who knows. The past forty years have been witness, when the whole World has undergone transformation in such a tremendous way. We have broken all the practices, rituals, customs, traditions, myths and dogmas created in our society.

Mumbai High Court has hinted something in that context, which may break our present rules of the societal fabric. A female cannot her husband’s name after divorce.

“By using the ex-husband's name or surname, there is always a possibility of people being misled that she is still the wife, when in fact she is not,”' said Vachha (the Judge). The HC upheld the family court order and said it need not be interfered with but should be given effect to “for all purposes”.

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Once I declared in my school class, that I want to become politician. Next day, my parents were summoned by the school to discuss the serious trouble with this child, when everybody is talking about becoming doctor, lawyer, scientist, architect, etc. Why? My teacher reasoned, politician is not a profession, neither a job nor a business. It is taken by the powerful and ruffians. I reasoned it is a profession, except its rules are still to be penned into a book. A job to create more jobs and a business to give and take more out of other businesses. Guess what? She felt this child has ruined all she had taught and may carry few more in that ditch with him.

Mayawati, the trademark owner of an elephant. The princess, rajkumari, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, a saviour, a politican, a dacoit, a diety, didi, behanji, whatever you may call her, there will be millions in UP worshiping or look upto her in every form. It is not a small thing. It only takes the brave and the intelligent to become politician. She was ready to auction Taj Mahal’s surroundings and hell one can just imagine what she can possibly do, perhaps she herself is not aware about. I just wish, if she can undertake few positive things.

SC also felt something like this, its not good to banter a seasoned and dynamic politician like her esp. after reprimanding the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, not one but several times, it hardly serves the purpose, but to seek opinion and rather build consensus from different Govt. authorities for her unscrupulous and nation destroying activities.

Mayawati is trying to immortalizing herself, the elephant and Ambedkar. Even if elephant becomes extinct like we are talking about tigers, we know we can give our children a life size replica of the animal at any Ambedkar Bhawan, any Mayawati Park, or some BSP related name in UP.

Perhaps, we can only hope that the apex Court is able to teach some lesson to the likes of Mayawati.

New Businesses, New Concepts, New Sports……. Why not a new SECURITY FORCE?

A invests Rs. 1,00,000 in a new yet to be tried and tested business concept. A invests on the notion of its attractiveness but believes it to be a high risk business. One year down the line, B wishes to enter the same business as A, but there are entry/regulatory barriers or no licenses available for starting the same business. B talks to A and invests Rs. 20,000 for 10% stake in A’s business. One year after B invests in A, B’s holding value increases to Rs. 40,000.

Do we know about any other businesses better than the one mentioned above?

Such business is known as Indian Premier League (IPL) or IPL can also be termed as “Industrialists & Performers (Players) Lounge” (Cricketers are also performers, more so in 20-20 Cricket).

The case used above is that of Rajasthan Royals team owned by consortium of Emerging Media and Mr. Rupert Murdoch’s son, wherein they bought the team rights for $67 million in 2008 and sold 12% stake for $ 16.8 million to Shilpa Shetty and her beau Raj Kundra.

The entry barriers are high, esp. due to the regulatory barriers and licenses, in addition to the limited availability of seats/shops/slots. To acquire one license, we need to possess political clout, money at all times is important for any business plus the profile of the person who will run the business. Your employees are your brand managers, who possess more attitude than the owner and carry the status of demi-God. In addition you are always in media limelight, questioned on your business for which you possess little knowledge or perhaps have little control. There’s only a season or less than two months to harvest and sell and recover/make money. Yet there are so many contenders for two more licenses. Nobody imagined there would be such a fight for starting a business in liberalized era of Indian economy.

We have a wonderful business built over here, with ‘n’ number of brands and ‘n3’ number of human brands in the contest. The marketing and the buzz created around the event leaves everyone touched. The organizer leaves no stone unturned to hype the event with good news and all the controversies. Lifestyle, business and Sports section of the media are all busy covering the event. If the owner hugs or shakes hand with a participant (player) or makes a statement, it serves at least two sections of the media. Politics somehow happens and stays in the backyard. Politics can indeed break the space for all the other three.

Yet the most teething issue is the security.

Lalit Modi clearly know his work, I know he will pull it off. But for our country, are we better than this or much worse than this?

Australians have already been threatened by Bala Saheb due to the racial incidents on Indians in Australia. Its sad, ironical and satirical, that a political party, not in power, holds the rights to threaten foreigners visiting India for goodwill mission (I strongly believe sports is indeed a goodwill gesture) when they are targeting, bullying and killing North Indians living in Western part of India.

Now some pseudo terror Outfit or a specialist arm of Al-Qaeda is threatening to disrupt the ongoing Hockey World Cup and the hyped, glitzy and most glamorous event of cricketing world of 20-20, the IPL. The scare or threat is taken seriously in wake of the Pune blasts. Especially when America is pushing India to name Al-Qaeda behind the terror outfits operating in India for Pakistan purposes.

PC, our Hon’ble Home Minister is trying his best to convince the participants, that India is a safe country. Ricky Ponting is thinking, Shane Warne is ready to skip the event in lieu of the terrorist threats. America and Terror are the only two destructive elements left in this world. Terror, the word itself is enough, we need not define who, why, what, when and where?

IPL organizers are talking about base price of $225 million for obtaining Team Rights. Sharing of revenue from match collections, broadcasters and other ‘n’ number of modes of income. They perhaps need to create a terror pool for security, by reducing a small amount of proportion of sharing of the teams. Team owners are little jittery about providing security to their employees (players). Pakistan players are missing due to security reasons. SRK can tell better as even Pakistani players were appealing at the end of the day, it’s fine if we don’t play but stop bullying SRK.

Indian Govt. lost last year’s revenues from IPL due to security reasons. Providing security to useless politicians over players due to Elections. We had little forces available for promoting the event. I was saddened not because IPL was shifted or politicians were provided security over the event. But why our country was projected as such a vulnerable nation, which is unable to handle terror and envelop us with a blanket of security, even if it may not be by action but by words. A wise said, “If you cannot find peace at home, then peace does not exist for you and you cannot find it anywhere”.

Now the IPL, Home Ministry are trying and running to move every police personnel to protect the players. Perhaps that also seems to be pretty big a price for promoting sports or the event. We witnessed a sample at Jaipur match, there were hundreds of police personnel on ground for protection of 13 players on field at the end of the match. By the sheer number, we could comprehend how many were deputed at the stadium, hotel, airport; those places must have been enveloped by police security like fortresses. We manage to evade the terrorists of any attempts, but does it serve the purpose.

India has around two dozen Central Police and Central Paramilitary Forces besides Police and Army, Navy and Air Forces employing around 2.5 million. Each of them was created for a purpose over a period of time as demanded by the requirements of the country like Railway Protection Force (RPF) for Railways, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for protection of PSU’s. Delhi Metro stations under surveillance by CISF. Now the question arises whether the time has come for creation of another Police/Paramilitary Force for sports.

Last year bore the testament the current forces are not sufficient for protecting our nation. A Nation as the idea behind India is under attack. It’s not about cricket or IPL.

Lalit Modi may walk out of the event on March 10th 2010, if he so chooses.

But IPL has created something which makes India stand out and say to the world. After all, Pakistan always frowns upon all the statements India makes/states. A match between India and Pakistan is seen as a day in war. When Indian team visits Pakistan or vice-versa, it’s bigger than the heads of the State entering into a dialogue. But still Pakistani players snub their differences with India and don the hat of Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders or any other franchise of IPL for the love of the game as they say.