ECI Extends Ban On Public Election Rallies Till February 11: Economic Survey Tabled And Budget-2022 Tomorrow!
Amid the current chock-a-block politico-financial scenario with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the first major virtual rally for Uttar Pradesh today, campaigning by all political parties hotting up for the first phase of polling, Parliament session starting from today and the Budget-2022 to be presented tomorrow, the ECI took the bold step of extending the ban and its commitment. Of course, with the apparent easing up of Omicron infection scare in most parts of the country the Commission has given some relaxations: open-air physical rallies to be allowed subject to a maximum of 1000 people instead of the earlier 500 limit; a maximum of 500 people to be allowed for indoor rallies; and for door-to-door campaigns the limit of supporters increased to 20 from 5 earlier.
However, it is not clear who will have to accomplish the near-impossible task of counting the people assembled in open-air rallies or roadshows and how to prevent hordes of supporters coming to attend. This syndrome is valid for all political parties, their supporters and their rallies or roadshows. The police cannot possibly set up barricades during the most democratic festival of the country. Further, allowing 500 people for indoor meetings is fraught with more serious danger of the spread of infections in closed environs. The earlier 50% capacity crowd seems to be the most desirable option still. But in totality, the consistent efforts of the ECI are laudable.
The finance minister Sitharaman is going to present the Budget-2022 tomorrow, February 1, in the Parliament amid demands by various financial and industry experts that include strengthening the infrastructure investment, imposition of no unnecessary taxes, efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit, to boost consumption demand in the lower strata of the society, to increase the allocation for the healthcare sector and having a clear divestment or disinvestment policy. There are also expectations that the exemption limit or the standard deduction limit for income tax could be increased and many more sops anticipated for an economy devastated by the three waves of the pandemic. For all that we’ll have to wait till tomorrow.
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