War of words between RSS affiliate's co-convenor, BJP Leader on twitter over retrospective taxation
New Delhi, Aug 6: A war of words erupted between Ashwani Mahajan, co-convenor of RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), and BJP leader Vijay Chauthaiwale on Twitter on Friday over the government's move to scrap retrospective taxation.
It began after Mahajan tweeted his comments on the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, along with pictures of news articles published in this connection.
"It is true that under pressure from international arbitration, government had no other option, but the title should be Relief to thieves -- Thousands of Crores of Rupees Loss to Government and Public. A great example of disadvantages of foreign investment," he wrote on the microblogging website.
It is true that under pressure from international arbitration, government had no other option, but the title should be Relief to thieves – Thousands of Crores of Rupees Loss to Government and Public. A great example of disadvantages of foreign investment. pic.twitter.com/wzaKdiK33D
— ASHWANI MAHAJAN (@ashwani_mahajan) August 6, 2021
Reacting to Mahajan's tweet, Chauthaiwale, who is in charge of the ruling BJP's foreign affairs department, wrote on Twitter: "Dear Shri @ashwani_mahajan, so are you demanding total ban on FDI?"
Dear Shri @ashwani_mahajan , so are you demanding total ban on FDI? https://t.co/Qln9SvOCLz
— Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale (@vijai63) August 6, 2021
Responding to the BJP leader's tweet, Mahajan asked if it was a crime to talk about advantages and disadvantages of a policy.
"Sir ji, read the tweet. Is it a crime to talk about advantages and disadvantages of a policy?" the SJM co-convenor tweeted.
Sir ji, read the tweet. Is it a crime to talk about advantages and disadvantages of a policy? https://t.co/UeibCj3xeP
— ASHWANI MAHAJAN (@ashwani_mahajan) August 6, 2021
Chauthaiwale hit back, tweeting, "Everything that is not criminal may not be in larger national interest, a point you repeatedly fail to acknowledge."
Everything that is not criminal may not be in larger national interest, a point you repeatedly fail to acknowledge. https://t.co/aJuGzdaa4B
— Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale (@vijai63) August 6, 2021
Mahajan asked him to come for a debate on the issue.
Shri @vijai63 why don’t you come for a debate about your ‘great’ beliefs? https://t.co/Lup1gUIzKi
— ASHWANI MAHAJAN (@ashwani_mahajan) August 6, 2021
"Shri @vijai63 why don't you come for a debate about your 'great' beliefs," he said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 on Friday amid continuous protests by opposition parties over the Pegasus snooping row and other issues.
Everything that is not criminal may not be in larger national interest, a point you repeatedly fail to acknowledge. https://t.co/aJuGzdaa4B
— Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale (@vijai63) August 6, 2021
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC seeks ED's response on journalist's bail plea in money laundering case
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its response within three days on a bail plea of journalist Mahesh Langa in a money laundering case linked to an alleged financial fraud.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the jailed journalist, to file rejoinder, if needed, to the ED's response within two days of it being filed.
The top court fixed the case for further hearing on December 15.
During the brief hearing on Monday, Sibal said a journalist has been facing as many as six cases.
"The journalist is accused of extortion," the counsel for the ED said and sought a short adjournment on the ground that Solicitor General Tuhar Mehta was unavailable at the moment.
The top court on September 8 sought responses from the Gujarat government and the ED on Langa's bail plea.
While issuing the notices on Langa's bail plea, the bench asked, "What kind of a journalist is he?"
"With due respect, there are some very genuine journalists. But there are also people who on their scooter say we are 'patrakar' (journalists) and what they actually do everybody knows," the bench told Sibal.
Sibal replied that these are all allegations.
"In one FIR, he gets anticipatory bail, then a second FIR is lodged and again anticipatory bail is granted but now he is booked under a third FIR for income tax evasion. There are other things also against him," Sibal submitted.
He added that there is a background to the case also.
On July 31, the Gujarat High Court rejected Langa's bail plea in the money laundering case on the grounds that if released on bail, prejudice would be caused to the prosecution case.
On February 25, the ED said it arrested Langa in a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged financial fraud.
He was first arrested in October 2024 in a GST fraud case.
The money laundering case against Langa stems from two FIRs filed by Ahmedabad police on charges of fraud, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating and causing wrongful loss of lakhs of rupees to certain people.
