Going by your coverage of the budget (Sunshine in a Briefcase, July 19), it would seem that Chidambaram is some magician who with his numbers and policies has rustled up some perfect magic. There is no critical evaluation, no mention of the fact that the middle class is getting increasingly frustrated and that a large number of those who voted for the Congress are feeling a buyer’s remorse. You don’t even talk about the fact that no country in the world has ever prospered by growing bottom up. Russia tried it, China tried it, heck, even we tried it for 40 years, and failed. The only way a country can grow is by trickledown effect. Not all men are created equal; the rich get richer because they’re (usually) smarter. If you penalise the rich, they simply move away, as they can make money anywhere in the world. All they leave behind is an economic wasteland—the allegedly Hindu rate of growth.
Vikas Chowdhury, on e-mail
I think it was a near-perfect budget, a fine blend of populism and pragmatism. It’s not easy to please all the people all the time, and PC has done a decent enough job. Why should there be a euphoria before the budget anyway, it’s not like a blockbuster is being released. The budget is an annual exercise, continuing from and building upon the edifice of previous policies. It should not be an occasion or an opportunity for creating a ripple every time. Over the years people have become unsure of whether what has been done this year will hold good the next year. This is particularly true of the tax structure. It keeps changing every year, which is not conducive to savings or investment.
Col R.D. Singh, Ambala Cantt
Has the transaction tax turned out to be a great sting operation? One, it’s exposed how 80 per cent volume at the stock exchange is from arbitrators, speculators and manipulators; two, it’s shown how each such operator is earning Rs 30,000-60,000 a month without paying tax on it.
Bankim Shah, on e-mail
This year, Chidambaram has announced a new scheme for senior citizens with an interest rate of 9 per cent. Many senior citizens have renewed their bank deposits with nationalised banks offering 6-7 per cent interest with added half per cent incentive for senior citizens and these deposits will be lying unmatured with the banks for another one or two years. Why can’t the government introduce this scheme through some specified nationalised banks also exclusively for senior citizens instead of through the post-office alone so that senior citizens can avail of this benefit as also of the existing FDs which will mature within the next year and can be converted by these banks to this new scheme without any loss to the deposit holders. Also, many senior citizens who have made deposits under the nss 1987 and 1992 are not in a position to withdraw the deposits and interests for fear of tds deduction. The FM can stipulate that deposits up to Rs 10,000 with cumulative interest not withdrawn so far may now be withdrawn sans tds deduction.
A.S. Gopala Krishnan, Tuticorin
India’s defence budget has been hiked by a whopping 23 per cent to Rs 77,000 crore as against the revised estimate of Rs 63 crore. India is only third to the US and China in spending the highest amount for defence. In the context of the poverty and underdevelopment in India, where the basic needs of food, health, education and shelter are denied to a large section of our people, is it prudent to allot such huge amounts for armament? Why can’t we improve relations with our neighbours?
Dr A. K. Tharien, Oddanchhatram
Budget 2004 has promised a lot on the agricultural front. But more than sops what rural India needs is a second Green Revolution, emphasising quality more than quantity, better and efficient utilisation of farm produce and agro-products. At the same time, the world’s largest agricultural country needs to hold better at the wto, so as not to lose out in the redefined rules and practices of world trade.
Dr Jinu Matthew, on e-mail
Ah, so PC has presented a capitalist’s tool of terror with hard punches and soft blows.
Nitin G. Panchal, Mumbai
So, now we know the reason behind St Shourie’s missionary zeal to disinvest our psus (A Hotel’s Dirty Linen, July 19). We can’t wait for the next instalment of commandments-cum-gospel from the reverend on the subject. However, to infer (as you do) that St Shourie himself was above board is maybe presuming too much. Don’t rush to offer him anticipatory bail. It’s a simple case of the preacher selling the scaffolding to the thieves at night. The balco sale too likewise should be reviewed. Who knows what skeletons might tumble out of that cupboard.
Anoop Wakade, Margao
And I thought Shourie was an honest politician! But given the fact that it has been more than a week since the article has been published and we are yet to see a reaction from him, he seems to have run out of lame excuses even.
Anand Jadahi, Chicago
Mr Shourie, what about the fate of hundreds of employees whose services are being dispensed with on flimsy grounds and whose dues are denied by Tulip’s ‘hospitality’?
Basudeb Bhattacharya, Calcutta
Outlook’s exposé acquaints us with the shady deals of innocent-looking ‘saviours’ of India, like Arun Shourie. The way things move in our country, it will take decades to find out the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the indecent haste his ministry showed. Even then, the question is, who will punish who?
E.P. Menon, on e-mail
We have heard of the US outsourcing business process but now it seems to be outsourcing its legal process too, this time to a kangaroo court in Baghdad to proceed against Saddam Hussein (That Muted Roar, July 19). A makeshift court constituted by an interim puppet government has no jurisdiction whatsoever to try the head of state of a sovereign nation. Saddam is right in saying, "I’m Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq" and refusing to sign the charges drummed up against him by the US.
K.P. Rajan, Mumbai
However insensitive it might sound, it’s a bad idea to give monetary compensation to a farmer’s family after his suicide (A Long, Hard Haul, July 19). It forces the farmer not to face up to his hardship but abandon his family, little realising that a couple of lakhs cannot take care of his kin forever. The government should instead think up a suitable farm insurance policy to secure the farmer’s livelihood.
Sunil N. Rangaiah, Nanjangud
If anyone is to be blamed for what the triple talaq has become, it’s the aimplb (Amend! Amend! Amend!, July 19). The practice, as it was originally conceived, required that after a first talaq is given, the couple has one month for reconciliation. Failing that, the second talaq is pronounced in the second month, with the couple given one more shot at dispute resolution. Only in the last instance is a third talaq given and the couple separate. This is a sophisticated form of divorce as it gives couples two chances for reconciliation and also safeguards against talaq being given in anger or intoxication. The problem arose when this practice was distorted to pronouncing three talaqs at one go. With no sanction from the Quran or the Prophet, the practice is un-Islamic; ‘instant triple talaq’ is illegal in many Islamic countries. But the
aimplb first endorsed the distortion, and once it has become entrenched in the society, is now trying to undo it. But it won’t be easy, as the society’s lack of literacy makes them ignorant of their own religion and therefore suspicious of the ban on the practice.
Ahmad Faraz, Jaipur
Your catalogue of the dark points of Kerala was painfully factual (The Hoax of God’s Own Country, July 12). I have one bone to pick, though. On the many senile women, especially widows, who contribute silently to the social quagmire. Men generally die earlier here. Take my personal experience. When I was born near Mannarghat in 1936, our tharawad had 35 men and 30 women. Today, only four of the men are alive, while 24 women aged over 75 are still around! These senile, matrilineal, narcissistic widows are, typically, chronic malcontents. Our women are as neurotic, frustrated, criminal-minded, secretive, jobless and narcissistic as the men—adept at emotional (if not physical) torture, and as unduly preoccupied with sex and money.
Dr M.P.S. Menon, Delhi
"The subway that gapes foolishly at the elegant terminus (Victoria’s Open Secret, July 19) was a gem of an image. It perfectly captured the poor ugly subway’s plight and articulated it for those who, like me, have always despised it vaguely but never thought of verbalising our distaste.
Reshma Trenchil, Boston
India will forgive Laloo a thousand fodder scams if he can somehow implement kulhar and khadi in the railways. Posterity will bless him for his environment-friendliness which all his ‘illustrious’ predecessors failed to institute.
Subhash Nahata, Calcutta
Enjoyed Rajinder Puri’s piece on Marlon Brando (The Wild Ones, July 19). Having studied in India, I could just picture the sort of impact he might have had on young Indians.
Azad, Durban
Your story Backseat View (July 5) on the National Advisory Council describes me as "...of the Tilonia experiment fame". I do not work with swrc Tilonia but rather with the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan which is a totally distinct and independent mass-based people’s organisation.
Aruna Roy, on e-mail
What is your point? That Arun Shourie should have left the loss-making Juhu Centaur alone (A Hotel’s Dirty Linen, July 19)? You say Tulip was the only bidder, but was anyone else unfairly barred? No. Fact is, no one wanted this loss-making behemoth and the government had to get rid of it. You sound like an Opposition party—all noise and no facts. Who are your highly-placed sources? What if Ajit Kerkar now wants to sell the hotel and make a profit? Do you seriously think he bought the hotel to make a loss? If that were the case, maybe you should have bid yourself. You have thrown mud at Shourie. There are few honest crusaders in India with public good on their mind. Hardly any of them deliver the goods when given a chance. Shourie has. So spare him.
Srini Jasti, San Jose
I’m sure Mr Ex-Disinvestment, the Clean Man in the party with a difference, will have to come up with really ambiguous words to confuse the masses on this one.
Arif Jameel, Dubai
