Tax the super rich in India to raise resources to fight COVID-19: Nobel laureate Joseph Stigliz
Kolkata: American economist and Nobel laureate Joseph E Stigliz on Monday advocated taxing the super rich class in India to raise resources for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, if the government fails to pool in the required funds.
He also said the Indian government should not shy away from spending to control the pandemic and help the vulnerable sections.
"Funds should be targeted at high-impact areas rather than low-impact ones, and if you can't get resources, raise taxes as you (India) have a lot of billionaires," Stigliz said at a FICCI-organised interactive session.
There have been recent debates on levying COVID tax on the super rich in India.
On the Centre's call for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self- reliant India), the noted economist said too much self reliance will lower the standard of living as a lot of products, including vaccines, are imported.
"This gives nativism but is not realistic, as the pandemic and climate change have shown the need for greater collaboration," he said.
Stigliz also said India and the US did not handle the COVID-19 situation well. Allowing the movement of migrant workers exacerbated the spread of the virus and defeated the purpose of lockdown, he said.
Stigliz criticised the US for widening the divide of racism and income, and "similar divisive politics in India" that will undermine the society and economy.
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Israel officials, media reports claim Khamenei killed in airstrike
Tel Aviv/Tehran: Conflicting claims have emerged over the status of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following recent US-Israeli strikes.
The developments come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of “growing signs” that Iran’s supreme leader may be “gone.” His remarks triggered a wave of unverified reports suggesting that Khamenei had been killed in the strikes.
Several Israeli media outlets, including News 12 and The Times of Israel, cited officials claiming that the Iranian leader had died.
Israeli media reports also quoted officials adding that the dead body of the Iran's Supreme Leader was found. It also stated that the photo of Khamenei's dead body was shown to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Iranian media and officials have rejected these claims. According to reports from Tehran, authorities said Khamenei is “safe and sound” and dismissed the reports as false.
There has been no independent confirmation of either claim so far.
