This is with reference to “No business, as usual, in both houses” (February 7). Needless to say, the words ‘as usual’ literally describe and add emphasis to what has been happening in both Houses these days. The PM’s description of the events as hiccups is far from the truth. It is obvious that the ruckus was deliberately created. Is it not just and fair that the rule ‘No work, no pay’ is also applied to our lawmakers?
CG Kuriakose
Sell what you own
Granted, the government is selling the spectrum (“Why keep paying for spectrum?” by Thomas K Thomas, February 4). But once it is sold, why should the government levy a tax on spectrum usage every year? This is gross injustice. Suppose we sell a house, can we levy a 5 per cent rent on the buyer for the next, say, 20 years? The radio spectrum is a natural, unlimited and inexhaustible resource. The government didn’t create it. It should therefore not sell what it has not created.
TH Chowdary
Hyderabad
Just a ritual
This is with reference to “Science policy sings the same old song” by M Somasekhar (February 5). The science congress has become a ritual. The same coterie of science managers steals the show, leaving new entrants and competing scientists in the shadows. Many silly presentations and lectures are delivered. It is high time the situation changed.
KV Peter
Not for India
Is Islamic banking trustworthy? (“Welcome to the halal economy” by R Srinivasan, February 6). Can this unscientific banking system compete with conventional banking? It would be better if India stayed away from this farce. The so-called sukuk is nothing but a sort of mortgage. In this system, investors won’t get interest for the money they deposit.
Anil
The real colour
Thanks Sibi Arasu for showing us the mirror (“The colour of my skin”, February 1). When it comes to racism, we are second to none, though we ourselves don’t like being subjected to racism whether in Australia or the US. The way our police treat dark-skinned people and even people from poorer neighbouring countries such as Nepal reflects their real colour.
R Singh
Open strategy
Making the disclosure of commissions mandatory across products and making ‘trail’ the only mode of remuneration across products will help curb mis-selling (“Distribution disarray”, February 7). These two measures can bring back the lost trust of investors in financial products and will help financial services.
Chilukuri K
Bangalore
Growth is good
Yes, inequality has grown in India, as elsewhere (“Why do we never talk about inequality?” by Ashoak Upadhyay, February 4).
But the current economic model has lifted more people out of dire poverty. The direct benefits may appear sparse — a few more million manufacturing, IT and services sector jobs.
But the informal benefits of greater spending capacity for any form of labour, the exponential growth of transportation services, and so on have made a difference. And government coffers have grown nearly 20 times making it possible to spend far more in the social sector.
Anand
Bangalore
He has it in him
This is with reference to “Can Rahul Gandhi walk his talk?” by Poornima Joshi (February 3). Rahul wants to change the system. He wants empowerment of the youth and women. He wants India to be made a manufacturing hub like China. He has got progressive ideas but he needs to try really hard to make that happen.
KV Suryanarayanan
Mumbai
The PM hopeful wants to change so many things without knowing how he will do this, forgetting that he has not done anything all these years. And he remembers all these things only at the time of the polls.
Paramasivan
Bangalore