I know that adjectives like “milestone”, “game changer” and “watershed” are frequently used after polls that throw up contrarian, unexpected results. But even adjusting for this caveat, I would call the October 2019 mini national elections a “juggernaut stopper”. Tune in to this podcast for my six takeaways from the recent state elections.

<div>I know that adjectives like “milestone”, “game changer” and “watershed” are frequently used after polls that throw up contrarian, unexpected results. But even adjusting for this caveat, I would call the October 2019 mini national elections a “juggernaut stopper”. Tune in to this podcast for my six takeaways from the recent state elections.</div>

The Quint’s editor-in-chief Raghav Bahl speaks on business, politics and policies.

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Why I Call Maha, Haryana Polls ‘Juggernaut-Stoppers’: 6 Takeaways

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the November elections in a uniquely spectacular manner. The fact that it was a COVID-induced ‘virtual event’ was perhaps the least of it.

But the parade of Republican heavyweights at a Democratic convention was unprecedented, from Colin Powell, John Kasich to Cindy McCain. I shudder to think what legal convolutions would have gotten triggered if India’s moth-ridden anti-defection law was applied to these worthies!


Tune in to the podcast!

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

<div>The Democratic National Convention (DNC) nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the November elections in a uniquely spectacular manner. The fact that it was a COVID-induced ‘virtual event’ was perhaps the least of it.<br>
<br>

</div>
<div>But the parade of <em>Republican</em> heavyweights at a Democratic convention was unprecedented, from Colin Powell, John Kasich to Cindy McCain. I shudder to think what legal convolutions would have gotten triggered if India’s moth-ridden anti-defection law was applied to these worthies!<br>
<br>
Tune in to the podcast!<br>
<br>
<strong>Music:</strong> Big Bang Fuzz</div>

Will India Do Better Or Worse Under ‘Centrists’ Biden & Harris?

India taxes ESOPs, ie employees stock options, harshly, very harshly. Let me give you a quick history lesson.
When I founded TV18 in the early 90s, we had given generous stock options to our critical team members. In that sense, we belonged to a clutch of ESOP pioneers in India. And since we were leaders in business news, we also drilled hard into issues around entrepreneurship, taxation and union budgets.


Tune in to Raghav's Take!

<div>India taxes ESOPs, ie employees stock options, harshly, very harshly. Let me give you a quick history lesson.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>When I founded TV18 in the early 90s, we had given generous stock options to our critical team members. In that sense, we belonged to a clutch of ESOP pioneers in India. And since we were leaders in business news, we also drilled hard into issues around entrepreneurship, taxation and union budgets.<br>
<br>
Tune in to Raghav's Take!</div>

Budget 2020: Despite ‘Fixing’, ESOP Remains A Much-Abused Acronym

It’s a familiar cacophony. Cut taxes. Invert the inverted duty structure. Control the fiscal deficit. Be honest about your arithmetic. Abolish equity taxes. Step up government expenditure, the fisc be damned. Bring back investment allowance. Slap inheritance taxes... And on it goes, a laundry list of standard policy tactics which could revive India’s economy.



Frankly, the time for budget quick-fixes is over. If PM Modi genuinely wants to rejuvenate, he’s got to create ‘TRUST’ for India’s private enterprise which accounts for 90% of the economy.


India’s bureaucracy has always been deeply suspicious of well-regulated markets. Which is why they love to micro-manage outcomes. But this time, their quest has become maniacal. If you create truly competitive markets, ‘super profits’ will vanish on their own — when will our policy-makers understand that?


We should have learned from Ben Bernanke, who authored TARP (Troubled Assets Reconstruction Program) and saved America’s economy in 2008.


The ‘criminalisation’ of business has now become quite outrageous. 

Therefore, it has also had the most harmful impact on India’s economy.

Host: Raghav Bahl

Editor: Mohammad Ibrahim

Producer: Sonal Gupta


Read the story on The Quint

<div>It’s a familiar cacophony. Cut taxes. Invert the inverted duty structure. Control the fiscal deficit. Be honest about your arithmetic. Abolish equity taxes. Step up government expenditure, the fisc be damned. Bring back investment allowance. Slap inheritance taxes... And on it goes, a laundry list of standard policy tactics which could revive India’s economy.<br>
<br>
<br>
Frankly, the time for budget quick-fixes is over. If PM Modi genuinely wants to rejuvenate, he’s got to create ‘TRUST’ for India’s private enterprise which accounts for 90% of the economy.<br>
<br>
India’s bureaucracy has always been deeply suspicious of well-regulated markets. Which is why they love to micro-manage outcomes. But this time, their quest has become maniacal. If you create truly competitive markets, ‘super profits’ will vanish on their own — when will our policy-makers understand that?<br>
<br>
We should have learned from Ben Bernanke, who authored TARP (Troubled Assets Reconstruction Program) and saved America’s economy in 2008.<br>
<br>
The ‘criminalisation’ of business has now become quite outrageous. <br>
Therefore, it has also had the most harmful impact on India’s economy.<br>
<br>
<strong>Host: Raghav Bahl<br>
Editor: Mohammad Ibrahim<br>
Producer: Sonal Gupta<br>
<br>
Read the story on </strong><a href="https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/raghav-bahl-budget-2020-nirmala-sitharaman-trust-economic-policies-tax-fiscal-cuts"><strong>The Quint</strong></a><strong> </strong>
</div>

Why I Call Maha, Haryana Polls ‘Juggernaut-Stoppers’: 6 Takeaways

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