SECULARISM IN INDIA - PK VS SATANIC VERSES If tax breaks for profitable PK are OK, why not a subsidy for Satanic Verses? The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, and the ex-Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, have decided that the Aamir Khan blockbuster, PK, which has offended some Hindu outfits, deserves an entertainment tax break. Both Yadav and Kumar, not known to be film buffs earlier, decided to watch the film and decided that everyone needs to watch it. Hence the tax-breaks, when neither state is known for being excessively rich in tax revenues. The poor may not get enough to eat, but they should watch PK. Hear film critic-cum-CM Yadav on it, as quoted in The Times of India: “People had been telling me for many days to watch PK. I downloaded it a few days ago, but only found the time to watch it last night. I liked it immediately and decided to make it tax-free so that more people can watch it.” The question is: how is it right for two state governments to sacrifice state revenues for enhancing private profits? Should political points be made like this? If Chief Ministers (or exes like Nitish Kumar) can arbitrarily decide which film should get tax concessions, how is this any different from crony capitalism? While Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan may not be Akhilesh Yadav’s or Nitish Kumar’s cronies, the net result of this political oneupmanship will enrich them at the cost of the two states’ taxpayers. And how far should political fights be taken at public expense? Should Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses be given a taxpayers’ subsidy since it may be wholesome literature that everyone ought to read? firstpost/bollywood/tax-breaks-pk-ok-subsidy-satanic-verses-2026655.html
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 02:18:41 +0000
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