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India’s changing role in the World | Interaction at the Chatham House Rahul Gandhi 3/7/2023 #rahulgandhi   https://youtu.be/Vtt_uJG1qPw?t=130

Proactive civil society vital for healthy democracy Neera  Chandhoke https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/proactive-civil-society-vital-for-healthy-democracy-485565/
G20 looks after an unequal monetary system that serves the interests of the global capital and political elite. It represents powerful interests, but disdains standing up for the powerless. Civil societies flourish in nations that cherish constitutional democracy. Even democratic govts have a tendency to augment power at the expense of people’s rights. This propensity has to be controlled by civil society.

Given that the state is a condensate of power, it is even more important that civil society protects the Constitution. In this context, the statement issued by people’s movements, trade unions and social associations on the eve of the meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in New Delhi is laudable. The statement points out that G20, which includes some of the most powerful governments in the world, fails to note the extent of poverty, ill-health and want in the Global South.

The Indian government, instead of banishing the poor and their hovels from public view to beautify cities, should use the forum to raise issues of injustice done to the disadvantaged people of the Global South.

There was a time when India led the Global South to challenge the agenda of powerful nations. Today, we are overexcited by the fact that it is India’s turn to take over a rotational presidency. The cost of the show that is planned to impress representatives of other countries is borne by those who, already wracked by want, have been deprived of shelter.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/how-mumbai-is-left-at-the-mercy-of-adanis/cid/1920609?s=08 6.02.23 Extracts from the article..   The risks arise from the fierce collateral terms attached to the $1-billion Senior Secured Notes that Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML) floated in February 2020 — just 18 months after the Adani group gained control of beleaguered tycoon Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd...The terms of the loan covenant are not widely known because AEML is an unlisted company — and that means the city of Mumbai, its financial regulators, financial institutions, banks and market authorities are possibly unaware of the powder keg they might be sitting on.

The private sector was allowed to enter the power transmission business only in 1991 even though a few players like CESC and Tata Power had been involved in generation and distribution for several decades.

Section 17(3) of the Electricity Act, 2003, says: “No licensee shall at any time assign his licence, or transfer his utility, or any part thereof, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise without the prior approval of the Appropriate Commission.” .. It is hard to believe that the authorities could have envisaged a situation where the licence could be assigned to a bunch of creditors. The Adanis are probably the first power utility to assign their licence in the manner that they have done.

Comment: on Whatsapp.. For the last two months Bombay has been lit like a Christmas tree. First for one meeting of g20, then inauguration of one small segment of the metro by PM, and republic day.. new government etc... Wonder who is footing the bill to whom!!!!

There is more: the investors in the Notes also hold the rights to AEML’s transmission and distribution licences, issued by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC)