Consumption expenditure

This refers to the editorial ‘Slow to splurge’ (May 8). It is a wake-up call to the Central government to address the problems facing some of the important sectors of the economy. It is worrisome that high-frequency indicators in the last five months point to private consumption expenditure losing steam.

Raising consumption levels is key to boosting production, especially in the FMCG sector. If consumption spending does not pick up, it might trigger an economic crisis. The government should act quickly.

Coimbatore

That the three-member panel set up to probe the charge of sexual allegations against the Chief Justice of India had given a clean chit to him without having taken any effort to address the grievance of the complainant, that of not being allowed to hire a lawyer to present her case, is disappointing. Wrapping up the inquiry over four days, three of which were devoted to questioning the complainant, and finally presenting an

ex-parte order has raised more questions than answers.

Rather than upholding and strengthening the constitutional morality in this case involving its institutional integrity, the apex court has invited a barrage of criticisms which in any case does not augur well for its grandstanding among the democratic institutions of the country.

Sholavandan, TN

Our economy, driven by the middle-class for over a decade, is clearly getting consumption-neutral. Given the drift in the global economy as also in our domestic policy environs, there is neither an urge for investment nor for savings due to the lack of incentives. Consumption is no longer fuelled by the lower income segment as it is losing its purchase power. Also, the middle-class is keeping away from white goods purchases on uncertainties about the future and the upper strata is waiting for economic tailwinds.

Spending does not create wealth, production does. And that needs a healthy pool of savings. Entrepreneurs then leverage the savings pool to add wealth and jobs. An astute mix in policy approach that channels funds to the lower strata enables and provides calibrated tax incentives for the job-creating capital could be the way ahead. Unless we deal with key factors like education and infrastructure, additional debt-fuelled consumer stimulation will only make things worse.

Navi Mumbai

This refers to ‘ Chowkidar chor hai remark: Rahul Gandhi tenders unconditional apology to Supreme Court’ (May 8). It was nice to learn that the Congress president Rahul Gandhi has finally tendered an unconditional apology in the Supreme Court for wrongfully attributing to the apex court the ‘ chowkidar chor hai ’ remark in the Rafale verdict. This became possible only after the apex court had made its stand clear during the last hearing in the criminal contempt case filed against Rahul by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi.

However, one genuinely wishes that he and his other party leaders also stop raising the ‘ Chowkidar chor hai ’slogan against Prime Minister Modi as the same is highly derogatory and is based on some self-assumed apprehensions that have remained unsubstantiated so far. Moreover, the Supreme Court is already in the process of reviewing its earlier order concerning India’s Rafale fighter-jet deal with the French government. So political probity demands that Rahul Gandhi and his aides desist from raking up such wild accusations till the apex court finally decides this highly emotive matter.

New Delhi

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