According to 2021 estimates, around 5,000โ7,000 Afghans live in Kolkata. They are commonly known as โKhanโ or โKabuliwala.โ They are mostly seen in areas like Chandni Chowk, Madan Street, and Bentinck Street. Many of them are involved in the business of selling dry fruits and lending money at high interest rates. Rabindranath Tagore wrote a famous short story titled Kabuliwala based on these fruit sellers. It is a widely known story and has been adapted into multiple films.
Recently, a man in Kolkata reportedly died after being assaulted by a Kabuliwala. The man had borrowed โน70,000 but was unable to repay the installments. An argument followed, and he was allegedly physically assaulted by the elderly Kabuliwala, which led to his death. If there are legal means to recover unpaid loans, can murder ever be justified?
Initially, many of them earned money by selling dry fruits and attar (perfume). Alongside this, it is alleged that some illegally brought money from Afghanistan, which would amount to money laundering. A few reportedly have lending licenses issued by different regional governments in India, but most do not. They are said to lend money at very high interest rates, around 10โ25%, which is illegal. Moreover, questions arise about the source of the money allegedly brought from Afghanistan. They primarily lend to poor individuals and small business owners at steep interest rates.
If someone is already unable to earn enough, that person is poor. Lending money to them at exorbitant interest rates-what else can it be called but exploitation?
Some argue that the money may have been earned from the narcotics trade and remains unaccounted for. Since many Afghans are no longer primarily engaged in the dry fruit business, doubts are raised about the origins of these funds. Can it be definitively stated that such money is not being used for criminal activities? A significant portion of global drug trade earnings is known to be used for various criminal operations. Before 2022, Afghanistan reportedly produced around 6,200 tons of opium annually. After the Taliban came to power, production decreased substantially, but funds generated before 2022 may still exist.
Extremism and acts of sabotage in India require large amounts of money. After demonetization, is the inflow of funds from outside the country still active in the same way? When thousands of crores of unaccounted money are allegedly already circulating within India through Kabuliwalas, would there even be a need to bring in funds from outside? This money is reportedly used in lending practices that strip poor people of their limited assets. It is also said to be invested in small real estate promotion projects. Can it be confidently believed that the original purpose of this money has not changed?
The government should take note of this issue, put an end to the exploitation of poor people, and bring such funds under proper accounting and taxation. This would ensure that unaccounted money does not become a threat to India.
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