1. Budget Session 2018: Taxpayers Increased 50% After GST, Says Chief Economic Advisor
The pre-budget meet commenced today with PM Modi appealing for Triple Talaq bill to be passed and President Kovind hinting at simultaneous polling. While all eyes are set on the budget session scheduled for 1 February, the opposition has accused the government of deliberately shortening the session to get bills passed somehow and rush to election campaigning.
Chief Economic advisor Arvind Subramanian said that the number of taxpayers have increased by 50 % after GST. For continuous updates on the budget and an analysis of what to expect, log on to The Quint where our editor Raghav Bahl explains it all.
Read the full story here.
2. Gauri Lankesh’s Brother to Demand CBI Probe, Sister Disagrees
The politics around the assassination of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh has taken a new turn on her 56th birth anniversary. The younger brother of Gauri, Indrajit Lankesh, on Monday announced that he would approach the Karnataka High Court demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into Gauri’s murder.
While talking at the burial ground in Chamrajpet, Indrajit alleged that the investigation authorised by the Siddaramaiah government is taking a political shade and that he was not satisfied with the investigation.
Hours after the announcement, Gauri’s sister Kavita Lankesh announced that it was not the family’s decision to go for an CBI enquiry and added that they want the SIT to continue the probe. “This is not the family’s decision, but his own, and our family is not patriarchal, where the son gets to make the decision on behalf of the family. He has not been in touch with the investigating officers and he is unaware of the progress the SIT has made so far,” said Kavita.
Read the full story here.
4. Bypolls in Rajasthan and West Bengal
Bypolls for Lok Sabha seats of Ajmer and Alwar and the Assembly seat of Mandalgarh in Rajasthan took place today with a face-off between BJP and Congress. There are over 39 lakh voters and 41 candidates in these three constituencies.
Bypolls also took place in West Bengal's Uluberia and Noapara with a strong fight between CPI (M), TMC and BJP. Uluberia has been the TMC's stronghold since 2009.
Get all updates of the bypolls here.
4. Jaipur Literature Festival Ends
The Jaipur Literature festival has come to an end. We saw a strong line up of influential writers and speakers like Shashi Tharoor, Nayanthara Sahgal, Mallika Dua, Rupi Kaur and Soha Ali Khan, among many others.
Ranging from feminism and #MeToo to Hinduism, the five-day festival touched all the topical issues.
Listen to speakers like Rupi Kaur, Homi Bhabha, Soha Ali Khan here.
5. Fed Up of Feminists Questioning Padmavati’s ‘Jauhar’? Pammi Tells You How To Deal With Them
The Anarkali of Aarah actor Swara Bhaskar penned a bold and scathing letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘the man of the moment’, whose directorial magnum opus starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh saw the light of day after months of being embroiled in controversy.
The film is still engulfed in the flames of regressive mindsets and violence at the hands of fringe groups. Padmaavat’s glorious depiction of the antiquated practice of ‘jauhar’ has come under fire.
Swara’s letter and the response of the writers have triggered a debate by feminists questioning the patriarchal mindset of the society.
The Quint's Rj stutee lets her alter ego Pammi Kaur take over as she writes a letter to men. Yes, the men who have crawled out of the woodwork recently, after the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. Men who are fed up of all these "feminist type" slogans and discussions. She comes up with 4 quick tips that will help the men live in peace and tackle the feminist brigade.
Watch the full video here.
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