Tuesday, September 08, 2015

Senseless Politics! Interpretation of Abhishek Manu Singhvi's Interpretation of Jizya

The political and commercial morals of the United States are not merely food for laughter, they are an entire banquet.
- Autobiographical dictation, 30 June 1907. Published in Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2 (University of California Press, 2013) Source: http://www.twainquotes.com/Politics.html
Starting this blog, I am occasionally going to try and blog my interpretation of daily senselessness in our lives. It's getting too often, and chronicling that is a good way to channelise thoughts. 

The Journalist of Courage today reported Abhishek Manu Singhvi calling service tax on chopper rides to Vasihno Devi jizya. Here's what I made of it:
  1. Jizya was imposed by Aurangzeb, a Moghul ruler on Hindus.  BJP-RSS now according to Mr. Singhvi therefore has muslim leanings. Makes sense! (sic!)
  2. Chopper rides are pilgrimages, not a service and therefore should not be under the purview of service tax. Makes sense! (sic!)
  3. Railways is a utility but still has service tax applicable, but choppers to Vaishno Devi should be counted as a pilgrimage and therefore should not be under the purview of service tax. Makes sense! (sic!).
Thank you, Mr. Singhvi, I had a nice morning today reading this article.

p.s. Neither this article, nor I have any specific political leaning towards any party in power or in opposition.