The Evening Wrap: Bilkis Bano’s family surprised on release of 11 men convicted in case

The husband of Bilkis Bano on August 16 said they were surprised after coming to know from the media about the release of all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for her gang rape and murder of seven members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots. Bilkis Bano’s husband Yakub Rasul told PTI that he does not intend to comment on the latest development in the case on Monday. Rasul said he, his wife and five sons, the eldest now aged 20, continue to live without a fixed address, more than 20 years after the incident. The 11 convicts on August 15 walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat Government allowed their release under its remission policy. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court. Rasul said he came to know about their release from the media. “We had no knowledge about when they [convicts] processed their application and which judgement the State Government took into consideration. We never received any kind of notice and were not told about this. There was no way we could have known about this in advance,” he said. Asked about his reaction to the government’s decision, Rasul said he does not know what to say. “We don’t intend to say anything on this. I can talk only after getting the details. All we want to do is pray for peace of the souls of our near and dear ones who lost their lives in the riots. Everyday we remember those who were killed in the incident, including our daughter,” he said. Rasul said the Gujarat Government paid the family a compensation of ₹50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court. “But the government has not yet made any arrangements for a job or house as directed by the Supreme Court,” he said. The family continues to live virtually in hiding without a fixed address, he said. “We have no fixed address yet, we can’t yet talk about where we live, it is quite difficult for us to do so,” he said. The compensation money, he said, was being used for the education of his sons. The 11 convicts who were granted premature release are Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radheshyam Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana. Radheshyam Shah, the convict whose plea for premature release paved the way for all the 11 life sentence convicts to walk out of jail, said he feels happy to be released. “The Gujarat Government has released us as per the order of the Supreme Court. I feel glad to be out as I will be able to meet my family members and begin a new life,” he said. “We were convicted and lodged in jail. When I was not released after completing 14 years in jail, I approached the Supreme Court for remission. The apex court directed the Gujarat Government to take a decision, after which we were released,” he said. The convicts were released on Monday under the Gujarat Government’s remission policy after they completed more than 15 years in jail. On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district during the post-Godhra riots. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed. The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed the Gujarat Government to give ₹50 lakh compensation, a job and accommodation to Bilkis. The 11 convicts who walked out of the jail were convicted for gang rape of a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under sections of the Indian Penal Code. While convicting them, the special court had acquitted seven accused citing lack of evidence. In a related development, Hyderabad Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in Gujarat for releasing, under its remission policy, 11 people who were convicted in the Bilkis Bano case. He said, “We condemn this. The country is watching how the BJP gives only lip service to women’s empowerment and respect for women. But when it comes to Muslim women, they forget them.” Owaisi sought to know from the PM whether the release of these convicts is an example of women’s empowerment, a subject the latter touched upon. He also charged the BJP with being biased and said that the party takes decisions that “benefit one community”. “If that is the case, then release those who are in jail for Godhra, Rubina Memon who has been in jail for 17 years, despite the vehicle not being in her name. Those who are in jail for the Vadodra serial blasts. But you (BJP) are biased toward only one community. This is the reality of the BJP,” he said. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president said that the convicts, who were her neighbours, had raped Bano who was pregnant at the time and had also raped and killed four of her relatives. Owaisi said the Supreme Court had directed the State Government to decide, based on merit, applications for release. However, he pointed out that the apex court had not ordered their release. He said that if legality permits, the remission should be cancelled. Bihar Cabinet expansion: 31 Ministers take oath; Nitish keeps home, Tejashwi gets health, roads As many as 31 Ministers, including five Muslim and three women legislators, took oath as Ministers of the new ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand-alliance) government in Bihar led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Most of the JD(U) Ministers were retained in the Cabinet while leaders close to RJD leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav were inducted into the Cabinet. Among those who took oath, 16 were from RJD, 11 from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), two from Congress, one from ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and one Independent. The 31 new Ministers also included five Muslims and three women legislators in the new government in Bihar. The number of Muslims in the new cabinet is five, up from only one in the previous NDA government that fell last week after Kumar severed ties with the BJP. The RJD has, predictably, given a significant number of seven berths to Yadavs, including Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of party president Lalu Prasad. Tej Pratap Yadav will be the new Environment Minister of the State. It, however, also gave representation to the upper castes in keeping with the wider social outreach by deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. Among those from the RJD quota were Kartikeya Singh, a Bhumihar MLC, and Sudhakar Singh, a Rajput, whose father Jagadanand Singh is currently the State president. The JD(U) has retained its ministers from the previous dispensation. The Congress is represented by a Dalit and a Muslim. Prima facie talaq-e-hasan is ‘not so improper’ says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, prima facie observed that the Muslim personal law practice of talaq-e-hasan is “not so improper”. Talaq-e-hasan is a form of divorce by which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq once every month over a three-month period. A Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said a Muslim woman has the option to divorce by the process of khula by returning the dower (mahr) or something else that she received from her husband or without returning anything, as agreed by the spouses or Qadi’s (court) decree depending on the circumstances. “Prima facie this (talaq-e-hasan) is not so improper. Women also have an option. Khula is there. Prima facie I do not agree with the petitioner. I do not want this to become an agenda for any other reason,” Justice Kaul remarked orally. The court’s prima facie remarks came while hearing a petition filed by journalist Benazeer Heena, represented by senior advocate Pinky Anand and advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey. The petitioner argued that talaq-e-hasan and “other forms of unilateral extra judicial talaq is an evil plague similar to sati”. “Talaq-e-hasan is arbitrary, irrational and contrary to Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 and international conventions on civil rights and human rights,” the petition submitted. It said there should be a “gender neutral, religion neutral, uniform grounds of divorce and uniform procedure of divorce for all citizens”. The petitioner argued that the practice in question was “neither harmonious with the modern principles of human rights and gender equality nor an integral part of Islamic faith”. Anand said the apex court, while striking down triple talaq in the Shayara Bano case, did not address the issue of talaq-e-hasan. She said the practice discriminated against Muslim women as they cannot resort to it against their husbands. Anand said the unilateral practice of divorce was “abominable”. The Bench, however, said the court has granted couples who cannot live with each other divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. It asked whether the petitioner was willing to explore this option if the issue of mehar was taken care of. The court said the issue under question was not instantaneous triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat. It repeated that the petitioner could opt for divorce through the khula procedure. “Would the petitioner be willing for a settlement on amounts being paid over and above mehar being fixed?” the court asked the petitioner side. Anand sought time to get instructions. The court adjourned the case to August 29. Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 reaches Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port China’s satellite tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 on August 16 arrived at Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota Port, despite India and the U.S. voicing concern with Colombo over the military ship’s visit. Hours after the vessel reached the Sri Lankan port, China said the “marine scientific research” activities of the vessel were “consistent with international law” and did not impact “any other country’s security interests”. According to Colombo-based official sources, both India and the U.S. had conveyed their apprehensions to the Sri Lankan Government at the highest level, citing the vessel’s “military capabilities” while in the Indian Ocean Region. Apparently addressing the concerns, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on August 16 said, “I want to stress again that the marine scientific research activities of the Yuan Wang 5 ship are consistent with international law and international common practice. They do not affect the security and the economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party.” China earlier slammed New Delhi’s apprehensions as “unjustified” and “morally irresponsible”, and “urged” New Delhi to “not disturb normal exchanges” between the two countries. New Delhi “rejected insinuations” that Sri Lanka was pressured. Although the vessel’s arrival was deferred by a few days subsequent to Colombo’s request, the ship will be docked at Hambantota for a week as was earlier planned. “It will take some time for the Yuan Wang 5 research ship to complete the replenishment of necessary supplies,” Wang said at the daily briefing in Beijing. China, he said, is ready to work with Sri Lanka to “consolidate political mutual trust, deepen win-win cooperation and promote sound and steady development of bilateral relations”. Sri Lanka has maintained strong ties with China over the years. Colombo recently said it firmly backs the ‘One China Policy’, and asked countries to “refrain from provocations”, just after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan. Further, the Sri Lankan Government is counting on China to help in the island’s efforts to restructure its external debt, to be eligible for crucial IMF support amid an agonising economic downturn. Chinese loans account for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt. China extended about $2.8 billion to Sri Lanka soon after the pandemic hit but has not stepped in much this year, even as the island’s economy collapsed rapidly. Beijing, which announced a $74 million grant in May, is yet to respond to Colombo’s request for bridge financing, reportedly totally $4 billion. India has extended about $3.8 billion this year to help Sri Lanka cope with its economic crisis. Congress questions government over corporate tax cut resulting in negative revenue impact of ₹1.84 lakh crore The Congress on Tuesday questioned the BJP government over corporate tax cuts leading to a revenue loss of ₹1.84 lakh crore and asked why the middle class was charged at peak tax rate of 30% against 22% for corporates. Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told reporters that the Government had claimed that the cut would help increase corporate tax collection but the parliamentary Committee on Estimates said in its report on August 8 that corporate tax cut of 2019 had resulted in a negative “revenue impact” of ₹1.84 lakh crore. Vallabh said on September 20, 2019, the Government announced the corporate tax cut from a base rate of 30% to 22% for existing firms without exemptions/incentives and from 18% to 15% for new manufacturing units. “What is more important for the Government during a pandemic -- taking a negative revenue impact of ₹1.84 lakh crore in two years due to a corporate tax cut (Average ₹92,000 crore per annum) or increasing the MGNREGA Budget to 2.26 times of the current allocation (Budget Estimate for FY23 in MGNREGA is ₹73,000 crore),” he asked. “Why are such rate cuts limited to corporates, why the middle class is taxed at a peak income tax rate of 30% (that too without setting off the expenses) and corporates at 15% or 22%,” he also asked. The Congress leader said after the corporate tax cut a new record was also made when corporate tax collection in 2020-21 was ₹4,57,719 rore and fell below income tax collection of ₹4,87,144 crore. For 2021-22, the corporate tax cuts may give a revenue loss of more than ₹1 lakh crore, sufficient for transferring ₹20,000 per annum per family to the bottom 20% of families, Vallabh claimed, asking, “What is more important”. Tax cuts given to middle and lower-income groups increase consumption and, as a result, employment, he said. “Why is the same not explored? Why does ‘suit-boot sarkaar’ hate the middle and lower-income class,” he asked. He said this announcement was made exactly two days before the ‘Howdy Modi’ event organised on September 22, 2019 in Houston, U.S. and at a time when the Finance Minister had told States at Goa’s GST Council meeting that the Centre had no money to pay GST compensation anymore. “Why was this corporate tax cut decision taken just before (2 days before) PM’s ‘Howdy Modi’ event? Was it a mandatory condition for going to the U.S.,” Vallabh asked. He cited the revenue loss of ₹87,835.75 crore in 2019-20 and ₹96,399.74 crore in 2020-21 and claimed that the estimated loss during 2021-22 on this account could well be over ₹1 lakh crore. FIFA suspends India, Centre seeks urgent hearing in AIFF case, SC to hear on August 17 The Centre on Tuesday made an urgent request in the Supreme Court for an early hearing even as reports emerged that FIFA has suspended the All India Football Federation(AIFF), leaving the prospects of India hosting the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October bleak. “There have been some developments,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. Mehta said FIFA has sent a communication but did not reveal the contents of the letter, which he said was already in the public domain. Justice Chandrachud, after checking with the court staff, said the AIFF case was anyway listed as the first item on the court’s board on August 17. The judge assured that it would be taken up and heard. Mehta said he would, in the meanwhile, share the FIFA letter with the court. FIFA, in a statement, has cited “undue influence from third parties” as the reason for AIFF’s suspension. In Brief Wholesale Price Inflation moderated to a five-month low of 13.93% in July from 15.18% in June, driven by a lower pace of price rise for primary products, food items, and manufactured products, even though fuel and power inflation resurged from 40.38% in June to 43.75% in July. This is the 16th month in a row that wholesale inflation has been over 10% in India. The Commerce and Industry Ministry also revised May’s inflation rate upward to a fresh high of 16.63% from the earlier estimated record inflation rate of 15.88%. Evening Wrap will return tomorrow [logo] The Evening Wrap 16 AUGUST 2022 [The Hindu logo] Welcome to the Evening Wrap newsletter, your guide to the day’s biggest stories with concise analysis from The Hindu. [[Arrow]Open in browser]( [[Mail icon]More newsletters]( Bilkis Bano’s family surprised on release of 11 men convicted in case of her gang rape and kin murder; Owaisi criticises Modi [The husband of Bilkis Bano on August 16 said they were surprised after coming to know from the media about the release of all 11 convicts]( sentenced to life imprisonment for her gang rape and murder of seven members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots. [Bilkis Bano’s husband Yakub Rasul told PTI that he does not intend to comment on the latest development]( in the case on Monday. Rasul said he, his wife and five sons, the eldest now aged 20, continue to live without a fixed address, more than 20 years after the incident. The 11 convicts on August 15 walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat Government allowed their release under its remission policy. A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court. Rasul said he came to know about their release from the media. “We had no knowledge about when they [convicts] processed their application and which judgement the State Government took into consideration. We never received any kind of notice and were not told about this. There was no way we could have known about this in advance,” he said. Asked about his reaction to the government’s decision, Rasul said he does not know what to say. “We don’t intend to say anything on this. I can talk only after getting the details. All we want to do is pray for peace of the souls of our near and dear ones who lost their lives in the riots. Everyday we remember those who were killed in the incident, including our daughter,” he said. Rasul said the Gujarat Government paid the family a compensation of ₹50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court. “But the government has not yet made any arrangements for a job or house as directed by the Supreme Court,” he said. The family continues to live virtually in hiding without a fixed address, he said. “We have no fixed address yet, we can’t yet talk about where we live, it is quite difficult for us to do so,” he said. The compensation money, he said, was being used for the education of his sons. The 11 convicts who were granted premature release are Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radheshyam Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana. Radheshyam Shah, the convict whose plea for premature release paved the way for all the 11 life sentence convicts to walk out of jail, said he feels happy to be released. “The Gujarat Government has released us as per the order of the Supreme Court. I feel glad to be out as I will be able to meet my family members and begin a new life,” he said. “We were convicted and lodged in jail. When I was not released after completing 14 years in jail, I approached the Supreme Court for remission. The apex court directed the Gujarat Government to take a decision, after which we were released,” he said. The [convicts were released on Monday under the Gujarat Government’s remission polic]( after they completed more than 15 years in jail. On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district during the post-Godhra riots. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed. The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed the Gujarat Government to give ₹50 lakh compensation, a job and accommodation to Bilkis. The 11 convicts who walked out of the jail were convicted for gang rape of a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under sections of the Indian Penal Code. While convicting them, the special court had acquitted seven accused citing lack of evidence. In a related development, [Hyderabad Parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi]( and the BJP in Gujarat for releasing, under its remission policy, 11 people who were convicted in the Bilkis Bano case. He said, “We condemn this. The country is watching how the BJP gives only lip service to women’s empowerment and respect for women. But when it comes to Muslim women, they forget them.” Owaisi sought to know from the PM whether the release of these convicts is an example of women’s empowerment, a subject the latter touched upon. He also charged the BJP with being biased and said that the party takes decisions that “benefit one community”. “If that is the case, then release those who are in jail for Godhra, Rubina Memon who has been in jail for 17 years, despite the vehicle not being in her name. Those who are in jail for the Vadodra serial blasts. But you (BJP) are biased toward only one community. This is the reality of the BJP,” he said. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president said that the convicts, who were her neighbours, had raped Bano who was pregnant at the time and had also raped and killed four of her relatives. Owaisi said the Supreme Court had directed the State Government to decide, based on merit, applications for release. However, he pointed out that the apex court had not ordered their release. He said that if legality permits, the remission should be cancelled. Bihar Cabinet expansion: 31 Ministers take oath; Nitish keeps home, Tejashwi gets health, roads [As many as 31 Ministers, including five Muslim and three women legislators, took oath as Ministers of the new ‘mahagathbandhan’]( (grand-alliance) government in Bihar led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Most of the JD(U) Ministers were retained in the Cabinet while leaders close to RJD leader and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav were inducted into the Cabinet. Among those who took oath, 16 were from RJD, 11 from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), two from Congress, one from ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and one Independent. [Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan administers the oath of office to new Ministers, in Patna on August 16, 2022.] The 31 new Ministers also included five Muslims and three women legislators in the new government in Bihar. The number of Muslims in the new cabinet is five, up from only one in the previous NDA government that fell last week after Kumar severed ties with the BJP. The RJD has, predictably, given a significant number of seven berths to Yadavs, including Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of party president Lalu Prasad. Tej Pratap Yadav will be the new Environment Minister of the State. It, however, also gave representation to the upper castes in keeping with the wider social outreach by deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. Among those from the RJD quota were Kartikeya Singh, a Bhumihar MLC, and Sudhakar Singh, a Rajput, whose father Jagadanand Singh is currently the State president. The JD(U) has retained its ministers from the previous dispensation. The Congress is represented by a Dalit and a Muslim. Prima facie talaq-e-hasan is ‘not so improper’ says Supreme Court [The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, prima facie observed that the Muslim personal law practice of talaq-e-hasan]( is “not so improper”. Talaq-e-hasan is a form of divorce by which a Muslim man can divorce his wife by pronouncing talaq once every month over a three-month period. A Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said a Muslim woman has the option to divorce by the process of khula by returning the dower (mahr) or something else that she received from her husband or without returning anything, as agreed by the spouses or Qadi’s (court) decree depending on the circumstances. “Prima facie this (talaq-e-hasan) is not so improper. Women also have an option. Khula is there. Prima facie I do not agree with the petitioner. I do not want this to become an agenda for any other reason,” Justice Kaul remarked orally. The court’s prima facie remarks came while hearing a petition filed by journalist Benazeer Heena, represented by senior advocate Pinky Anand and advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey. The petitioner argued that talaq-e-hasan and “other forms of unilateral extra judicial talaq is an evil plague similar to sati”. “Talaq-e-hasan is arbitrary, irrational and contrary to Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 and international conventions on civil rights and human rights,” the petition submitted. It said there should be a “gender neutral, religion neutral, uniform grounds of divorce and uniform procedure of divorce for all citizens”. The petitioner argued that the practice in question was “neither harmonious with the modern principles of human rights and gender equality nor an integral part of Islamic faith”. Anand said the apex court, while striking down triple talaq in the Shayara Bano case, did not address the issue of talaq-e-hasan. She said the practice discriminated against Muslim women as they cannot resort to it against their husbands. Anand said the unilateral practice of divorce was “abominable”. The Bench, however, said the court has granted couples who cannot live with each other divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage. It asked whether the petitioner was willing to explore this option if the issue of mehar was taken care of. The court said the issue under question was not instantaneous triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat. It repeated that the petitioner could opt for divorce through the khula procedure. “Would the petitioner be willing for a settlement on amounts being paid over and above mehar being fixed?” the court asked the petitioner side. Anand sought time to get instructions. The court adjourned the case to August 29. Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 reaches Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port [China’s satellite tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 on August 16 arrived at Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota Port]( despite India and the U.S. voicing concern with Colombo over the military ship’s visit. Hours after the vessel reached the Sri Lankan port, China said the “marine scientific research” activities of the vessel were “consistent with international law” and did not impact “any other country’s security interests”. According to Colombo-based official sources, both India and the U.S. had conveyed their apprehensions to the Sri Lankan Government at the highest level, citing the vessel’s “military capabilities” while in the Indian Ocean Region. Apparently addressing the concerns, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on August 16 said, “I want to stress again that the marine scientific research activities of the Yuan Wang 5 ship are consistent with international law and international common practice. They do not affect the security and the economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party.” [Crew members onboard China’s research and survey vessel, the Yuan Wang 5, look out from the ship upon arrival at Hambantota port on August 16, 2022. ] China earlier slammed New Delhi’s apprehensions as “unjustified” and “morally irresponsible”, and “urged” New Delhi to “not disturb normal exchanges” between the two countries. New Delhi “rejected insinuations” that Sri Lanka was pressured. Although the vessel’s arrival was deferred by a few days subsequent to Colombo’s request, the ship will be docked at Hambantota for a week as was earlier planned. “It will take some time for the Yuan Wang 5 research ship to complete the replenishment of necessary supplies,” Wang said at the daily briefing in Beijing. China, he said, is ready to work with Sri Lanka to “consolidate political mutual trust, deepen win-win cooperation and promote sound and steady development of bilateral relations”. Sri Lanka has maintained strong ties with China over the years. Colombo recently said it firmly backs the ‘One China Policy’, and asked countries to “refrain from provocations”, just after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan. Further, the Sri Lankan Government is counting on China to help in the island’s efforts to restructure its external debt, to be eligible for crucial IMF support amid an agonising economic downturn. Chinese loans account for about 10% of Sri Lanka’s total foreign debt. China extended about $2.8 billion to Sri Lanka soon after the pandemic hit but has not stepped in much this year, even as the island’s economy collapsed rapidly. Beijing, which announced a $74 million grant in May, is yet to respond to Colombo’s request for bridge financing, reportedly totally $4 billion. India has extended about $3.8 billion this year to help Sri Lanka cope with its economic crisis. Congress questions government over corporate tax cut resulting in negative revenue impact of ₹1.84 lakh crore The [Congress on Tuesday questioned the BJP government over corporate tax cuts leading to a revenue loss of ₹1.84 lakh crore]( and asked why the middle class was charged at peak tax rate of 30% against 22% for corporates. Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh told reporters that the Government had claimed that the cut would help increase corporate tax collection but the parliamentary Committee on Estimates said in its report on August 8 that corporate tax cut of 2019 had resulted in a negative “revenue impact” of ₹1.84 lakh crore. Vallabh said on September 20, 2019, the Government announced the corporate tax cut from a base rate of 30% to 22% for existing firms without exemptions/incentives and from 18% to 15% for new manufacturing units. “What is more important for the Government during a pandemic -- taking a negative revenue impact of ₹1.84 lakh crore in two years due to a corporate tax cut (Average ₹92,000 crore per annum) or increasing the MGNREGA Budget to 2.26 times of the current allocation (Budget Estimate for FY23 in MGNREGA is ₹73,000 crore),” he asked. “Why are such rate cuts limited to corporates, why the middle class is taxed at a peak income tax rate of 30% (that too without setting off the expenses) and corporates at 15% or 22%,” he also asked. The Congress leader said after the corporate tax cut a new record was also made when corporate tax collection in 2020-21 was ₹4,57,719 rore and fell below income tax collection of ₹4,87,144 crore. For 2021-22, the corporate tax cuts may give a revenue loss of more than ₹1 lakh crore, sufficient for transferring ₹20,000 per annum per family to the bottom 20% of families, Vallabh claimed, asking, “What is more important”. Tax cuts given to middle and lower-income groups increase consumption and, as a result, employment, he said. “Why is the same not explored? Why does ‘suit-boot sarkaar’ hate the middle and lower-income class,” he asked. He said this announcement was made exactly two days before the ‘Howdy Modi’ event organised on September 22, 2019 in Houston, U.S. and at a time when the Finance Minister had told States at Goa’s GST Council meeting that the Centre had no money to pay GST compensation anymore. “Why was this corporate tax cut decision taken just before (2 days before) PM’s ‘Howdy Modi’ event? Was it a mandatory condition for going to the U.S.,” Vallabh asked. He cited the revenue loss of ₹87,835.75 crore in 2019-20 and ₹96,399.74 crore in 2020-21 and claimed that the estimated loss during 2021-22 on this account could well be over ₹1 lakh crore. FIFA suspends India, Centre seeks urgent hearing in AIFF case, SC to hear on August 17 [The Centre on Tuesday made an urgent request in the Supreme Court for an early hearing even as reports emerged that FIFA has suspended]( the All India Football Federation(AIFF), leaving the prospects of India hosting the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October bleak. “There have been some developments,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. Mehta said FIFA has sent a communication but did not reveal the contents of the letter, which he said was already in the public domain. Justice Chandrachud, after checking with the court staff, said the AIFF case was anyway listed as the first item on the court’s board on August 17. The judge assured that it would be taken up and heard. Mehta said he would, in the meanwhile, share the FIFA letter with the court. [FIFA, in a statement]( has cited “undue influence from third parties” as the reason for AIFF’s suspension. In Brief [Wholesale Price Inflation moderated to a five-month low of 13.93% in July from 15.18% in June]( driven by a lower pace of price rise for primary products, food items, and manufactured products, even though fuel and power inflation resurged from 40.38% in June to 43.75% in July. This is the 16th month in a row that wholesale inflation has been over 10% in India. The Commerce and Industry Ministry also revised May’s inflation rate upward to a fresh high of 16.63% from the earlier estimated record inflation rate of 15.88%. 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