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THE HIMALAYAN MAIL Q FRIDAY Q JULY 23, 2021 6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE DIVIDENDS OF PEACE fter a long time, the Indian Indian black money in western white banks and Pakistani troops on the Prashant Tewari There is another side to this story. It is already filed a complaint with the Secu- veloped countries. that many in the present Indian Govern- rities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) At the moment, the UK is a member of Aborder and the line of con- Despite its traumatic past, India is the ment and several Indian banks seeking to to intervene and probe the controversial the Organisation for Economic Coopera- trol exchanged Eid gifts as divi- only country in the East that rejoices in bring back the looters and prosecute them activities in the Hinduja Group of Com- tion and Development (OECD) which having a “special relationship” with may be chasing a mirage because of the panies. Still, the British government con- routinely publishes the list of countries dends of peace. The last time these Britain. But the British have never ade- complexities in the UK legal system. The tinues to prefer to accord them preferen- considered a “danger to the international normal exchanges happened on quately responded to the gesture. UK Government trumpets its human tial status. financial system” as well as a “high risk” British governments continue to trau- rights laws, but how fair is the British jus- The case of India’s biggest financial where money laundering is concerned. the occasion of festivals was before matize India by offering a safe haven to tice system? What about human rights debtor, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group, is The UK, the US, and Switzerland have the latter’s economic offenders. These and fair justice for Julian Assange? Why is not much different. The entire business never been blacklisted. Instead, the usual the Pulwama attack happened. fugitives have looted huge public money he not out on bail and why does he not has collapsed and the hard-earned tax- pariahs of the west-Cuba, North Korea, The troops of two neighbouring from Indian banks, siphoned off the have the right legal team to represent his payer’s money has scandalously evapo- Iran, and so on, regularly appear on that funds to overseas destinations, and when case against his extradition to the USA? rated into thin air. A few months ago, Anil list along with small states such as An- countries wishing each other and the law enforcement agencies nailed them The UK has over the years become the Ambani deposed before a UK court, in tigua, St Kitts, and Nevis. exchanging sweets on festivals that to get back the ill-begotten money, they most preferred tax haven destination for connection with a case filed by a Chinese These smaller countries are powerless to ended up going to Britain to safely enjoy economic offenders like Vijay Mallya, Ni- banking consortium, that he has no fight their inclusion on the blacklist. The are common to both instil so much their looted wealth. rav Modi, Lalit Modi, murder-accused In- money left. The UK Court had earlier Caribbean nations have, in the meantime, confidence among the people liv- Fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallya of dian music director Nadeem, Sanjay asked Anil Ambani to pay $770 million to lost ties with many international banks. Kingfisher Airlines fame is a glaring in- Bhandari, the Rana Kapoor family, the some Chinese banks for non-payment of We prefer to think that the financial ing on the border. Right now the stance. He remains on bail in Britain until Sandesara family, just to name a few. loans. It is learned that after the London standing of the City of London owes its and unless UK Home Secretary Priti Patel The Hinduja Brothers, one of India's court's order, Anil Ambani has limited his success to the skills of market wizards villagers on either side of the line orders his extradition to India to face richest families and their Hinduja Group foreign travels fearing Chinese banks honed at the ancient British universities of control in Jammu and Kashmir charges of fraud and money laundering. of Companies remain the most preferred might seek the help of Interpol to issue and not the banking brains of nouveau Mallya has applied to Secretary Patel for Indian family in the UK, aided and pro- red alerts for him in foreign airports. riche criminals. are really enjoying a spell of peace. considering “another route” to be able to moted by various British governments in The UK is often cited as “the money The politicisation of the blacklisted They often become the casualty in stay in the UK. This has raised wide- the past. The Hindujas are right now fac- laundering capital of the world,” with an small islands has enabled London to be- spread speculation that Mallya plans to ing major legal problems in Switzerland estimated £100billion claimed to be laun- come the global centre of money launder- the exchange of fire between the seek asylum in that country. in connection with a charge of forging a dered through the City of London every ing. Clever British lawyers and corrupt two armies. How one wished the Priti Patel has, however, done some- document at a bank. The Swiss authori- year, according to figures from the UK’s bankers twist the truth to save criminals thing big for India: She has approved the ties believed that there were enough National Crime Agency. London has not across the globe. peace prevails and both the coun- extradition of Nirav Modi, the billionaire grounds to proceed with their prosecu- become the “global capital of money laun- The British offshore banking tax eva- diamantaire accused of bank fraud in In- tion. The names of the three Hinduja dering” by accident. Money launderers sion is negating the infrastructural tries are one day able to sit across dia. Modi is being investigated by India’s brothers originally cropped up in the Bo- and those financing terrorist activities growth and prosperity of the countries in the table to thrash out their differ- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and fors scam as the main middlemen but have two main requirements. The first, in the East by facilitating the flight of illegal the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for they managed to get British citizenship in a city crowded with financial transactions capital from East to West. Today, India is ences. However, for that Pakistan laundering money in the region of $2 bil- the nick of time. It became a scandal in their wheelingdealings will easily go unno- an emerging global superpower while the needs to embrace changes, espe- lion and involving loans from public sector the UK at that time and a senior British ticed. United Kingdom is a glorious story of the Punjab National Bank (PNB). On Febru- minister had to resign over rumours he The second, it’s a country where the an- past. cially ending support to terrorist ary 25, Westminster Magistrates’ Court helped one of the brothers, Srichand Hin- tecedents of businessmen offering to in- The Narendra Modi government must groups. said there was prima facie evidence duja, acquire British citizenship. vest by setting up businesses and open- tell its British counterpart in clear terms against Modi, and that there was no rea- Back in India, Aikant Bhatti, a minor- ing bank accounts are blissfully ignored. that the human rights cover over finan- son to suggest that the jeweller would not ity shareholder in the Chennai-based Maintaining the secrecy of the ownership cial deception will not be tolerated by In- get justice in India if he was extradited. Ashok Leyland company and in Hinduja of beneficial companies is the main crite- dia and shelter offered to fugitives who Bonanza for Ladakh The judge said there were links between Global Solutions, where Ashok P Hinduja rion of money laundering. Contrary to have looted billions of Indian taxpayer Modi and others conspirators, including is the Chairman Emeritus, claims that bil- what one might think, it is many times money will have serious consequences for he union cabinet approving PNB officials and top ruling elites in In- lions of rupees in company funds were harder to obtain an untraceable shell bilateral relations between the two the setting up of a multi- dia. used to benefit the promoters. Bhatti has company in tax havens than in rich, de- friendly countries. Tpurpose Corporation for the Union Territory of Ladakh is a great development that was await- Coming out of the shadows ed eagerly by the people of the UT. SURAVI SHARMA KUMAR abuse to escape the also the time for an integrated mental This corporation is based on the wrath of stressed- healthcare policy covering all aspects of Emerging from the waves of Covid- out adults. Growing helping a sick mind. recommendation of an empow- 19,more than ever, we must prioritize the cyber dependency is We also need to enhance mental health ered committee. In fact, such an mental health of children and adoles- alarmingly on the awareness and stigma-busting programs cents. Their well-being should be at the rise. in local dialects or languages through institution with a focus on forefront of the preparations for dealing With increasing government and private sector initiatives. Ladakh’s special developmental with future pandemic waves. stress comes an in- We should expand social-emotional Generation Z is quietly perceiving the creased risk of devel- learning programs to help build resilience needs was required long back. The layers of changes in people’s lives since oping mental health in the growing minds.

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