Our lot are the most intelligent.

The G8 summit of those who consider themselves to be the greatest concluded in Northern Ireland yesterday. There were 2 main topics for discussion - tax avoidance and Syria. In recent weeks we have been entertained as chiefs of multinational giants like Apple, Google, Starbucks and Amazon have admitted to lawmakers in the US and UK that they pay almost no tax on their earnings of billions of dollars. Apple transferred its intellectual properties to its branch in Ireland so that no tax accrued in the US but because its research division was in the US where these properties originated it had to pay no tax in Ireland either. With economies of the US, UK and Europe in serious difficulties and governments having to cut social welfare this is causing major outrage among people. But as the chairman of one company said, they play by the rules made by the lawmakers. Prime Minister, David Cameron said that companies will now have to declare their incomes in each country. There will be greater transparency on " beneficial ownership " so that companies will not be able to operate out of " shell companies " in tax havens. African countries are losing twice as much in tax evasion as they receive in foreign aid. Bleeding hearts! It was western countries which foisted grossly unfair trade conditions on African countries in the Uruguay round of trade talks under GATT and are blocking any progress on the Doha round of talks under the WTO. However, all this is quite irrelevant to us in India. One year ago our government received 2 CDs from the Czech Republic and France with names of Indians who conducted high value transactions in banks. TOI 17 June. So far India has received information on suspicious banking transactions from Germany, France, the US, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Czech Republic and Finland but the information has been hidden. Only Tuvalu and Somalia remain. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have published the names of 498 Indians with accounts in British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Cook Islands. Should we expect the crooks to go to jail for may years? No. We should be sympathetic. Where will the poor fellows store their cash from the telecom scam, Coalgate scam, Adarsh scam, CWG scam and so on. On Syria the G8 agreed a " transitional government " that can command the " mutual consent " of its people. The statement said that " public services " including the " military forces and security services " will be preserved. This is the old divide and rule hoping someone will kill Assad. How will they stop a settling of scores when Alawis and Christians will be slaughtered? They should be like our lot. Forget about tomorrow, fill your pockets today.