'The Maharashtra government's diktat is another meddling example in an industry where politics or language has no role to play.''Cinema has a universal language. Filmmakers are divided across regions, but united in their passion for films,' says director Suparn Verma. Sunny Leone in the soon-to-be-released Ek Paheli Leela. In 2000, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister, his government conferred the title of 'industry' on the filmmaking business. In 2001, a tax holiday was announced for converting single screen real estate hoarding theatres into multiplexes. This was extended again in 2011. Since then, the government has been taxing the industry at bizarre levels. In Maharashtra, for example, this is the tax system -- entertainment tax is levied at 45 per cent for tickets under Rs 250, at 49.5 per cent for tickets priced between Rs 251 and Rs 350, at 51.75 per cent for tickets costing between Rs 351 and Rs 500 and at 54 per cent for anything beyond that. The service tax stands at … [Read more...] about Don’t kill Bollywood!
Atal bihari vajpayee
PM Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh share stage at Venkaiah Naidu’s book-launch
New Delhi: At the book launch of vice president Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were seen sharing a stage, sitting next to each-other. PM Modi launched Naidu’s book titled ‘Moving On… Moving Forward: A Year in Office’, in New Delhi on Sunday. Former PM Singh said about Naidu on the occasion: “He brings to office of Vice President , political and administrative experience and that is amply reflected in his one year in office. But best is yet to come.” Reciting lines from a poem he said: “Sitaron ke aage jahan aur bhi hain, abhi ishq ke imtehaan aur bhi hain." Lauding Naidu’s dedication towards farmers Modi said that late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted to give him a ministry, but he wanted to be the minister for rural development. As quoted by ANI, Modi said: “He is a farmer at heart. He is dedicated towards the welfare of farmers and agriculture.” Naidu , on the … [Read more...] about PM Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh share stage at Venkaiah Naidu’s book-launch
Sachin Pilot addresses students at London School of Economics
JAIPUR: Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot addressed the young students at a dialogue programme organized at the London School of Economics on Thursday. Pilot while addressing the students and expressed his views on the present global economy and political scenario. He expressed his views on the participation of youth in politics also delve on the policy, ideology, principles the Congress to foster the unity of the country. Pilot said that globally the youth should increase political activism and contribute to positive changes in the systems. Pilot will share the dais with state BJP president Satish Poonia at a special programme in the United Kingdom on Thursday night. The two will be together in the 'Pravasi Rajasthani Congress' being organised in the UK by the Global India Initiative (GII) and Association of Rajasthan, confirmed official sources. In the last decade, the chiefs of the two parties were never seen together said party officials of the BJP and Congress. The only occasion … [Read more...] about Sachin Pilot addresses students at London School of Economics
Why did Modi meet Karunanidhi?
'The prime minister's advisers may have told him that going along with this AIADMK government will damage his image.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi meets DMK chief M Karunanidhi and the party's working president M K Stalin in Chennai, November 6, 2017. Photograph: PTI Photo Central governments using the economic offences wings under it, like the income-tax department or the enforcement directorate, to rattle political opponents is not a new phenomenon. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party government seems to have fine-tuned this into an art form, going by the way it has been alternatively using the carrot and stick policy especially in Tamil Nadu, a state which has steadfastly aloof to the BJP. An example was the simultaneous multi-city tax raids on 187 premises linked to deposed AIADMK leaders V K Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dinarakan in Tamil Nadu last week even as the BJP government makes warm overtures to the ruling faction of the political party. "The party ruling at the … [Read more...] about Why did Modi meet Karunanidhi?
Political families besides Nehru-Gandhi clan which have been integral part of Indian polity
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections got underway with the first round of polling in 91 constituencies across 18 states and 2 Union Territories on Monday. The 17th general elections shall witness candidates from national as well as regional parties battle it out hard against each other in 543 parliamentary constituencies with the 90 crore plus electorate deciding their fate by exercising their adult franchise. Indian political landscape has always been dominated by families who have played an important role in Indian polity and governance. This elections shall also witness some members of the Gandhi, Yadav, Abdullah and Mufti clan contesting elections from their historically strong bastions. Besides the Nehru-Gandhi family which has often hogged the limelight for staying relevant for over seven decades in Indian politics, there have been families which take centre stage Here are some of the notable families which have played a major role in shaping the political destiny of the … [Read more...] about Political families besides Nehru-Gandhi clan which have been integral part of Indian polity