Photos| HTLS 2019: Nirmala Sitharaman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Capt Amarinder Singh start Day 2

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman began the day in conversation with R Sukumar, Editor-in-chief, Hindustan Times. “The vision of the government translates into several things, like every citizen has a home, every family has a toilet, and every citizen is healthy. The vision is what it means to an ordinary citizen,” said FM Sitharaman. “The govt’s vision is homes, energy and skills,” she said. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

On slowing growth, Sitharaman said her attention is to make sure more is done for greater stimulus. “Tax rate cut is one among the many things we are thinking to boost stimulus,” said FM Sitharaman. She later said that the taxation regime will be simplified, exemption free. “We are moving towards a more simplified and harassment-free taxation regime,” said the finance minister. (Burhaan Kinu / HT PHOTO)

On GST Sitharaman said, “GST is a good law and is required for a large country like India. So, it was only right and timely that we get the GST law.” Assuring a streamlined GST that addresses the issues of assesses, the FM clarified that, “In the last GST collection, the cess fund wasn’t adequate so the states didn’t get the 14% compensation. When we collect the required cess, we will honour the compensation rate.” (Virendra Singh Gosain / HT Photo)

“We are delighted to be back in India. This is a country which is very close to our heart,” said Catherine Zeta-Jones. “I was lucky enough to marry my best friend. The secret of our relationship was to being kind to each other and we are best friends,” she said when the secret to a long married life by Anil Kapoor. ‘Happy wife, happy life,’ was Michael Douglas’ rejoinder to Zeta-Jones. (Arvind Yadav / HT Photo)

“I was a late bloomer… I was in university and didn’t have a major and I decided to take theatre. The first time my father saw me in a play, he said ‘Michael you were terrible’. I was always in his shadow ... But I wanted my own identity. It came to me when I won Oscar for Wall Street and I felt I stepped out of his shadow,” said actor Michael Douglas on nepotism. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

“I had a fearlessness about my ambition. When you grow up, I feel that you lose it as you have more to lose and as a woman it’s difficult. But, I had my ambitions. Noting wrong in being ambitious, specially for a woman,” said Zeta-Jones on being an outsider. “I should have born in India so I could do Bollywood movies where I can dance, sing and act. Om Shanti Om is one of my favourite films,” she said. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

“Judicial proceedings take time. People forget about it by the time judgments come. In Delhi rape murder case, mercy petition is still going on,” said Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel. “There’s no such thing as encounters. When you take action and someone gets killed, they call it an encounter. Do we know whether it was an encounter or just the police saying that. I am against extra-constitutional killings,” was CM of Punjab Amarinder Singh’s view. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Amarinder Singh on pan-India NRC said, “I find that strange. You have subedars, Lt Colonels and they are suddenly finding out that they are not Indians. You can’t just ask people to leave country.” He later added, “Why are we asking our people to go, what is the logic? You can’t say you can’t come home. Bangladesh says they don’t want them, what do you do then. I am not on board.” (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

“Punjab has given the Centre whatever GST collection was made. We haven’t received GST compensation since August. We can’t keep borrowing to pay salaries,” said Amarinder Singh. On criticism that Congress wasn’t opposing GST hard enough, “Manmohan Singh held a press conference, Chidambaram held a press conference, spokespersons have been answering. We are going to protest in Delhi, too, come join us,” said Bhupesh Baghel. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)