Selective liberalism
Apropos ‘Bell tolls for liberal America’ (November 16), liberals like the writer look the other side when France is vandalised by North African immigrants, Twin Towers are destroyed killing thousands, Indian Parliament, Akshardham Temple are attacked, Indian rail passengers are bombed. But they are quick to react if American, Europeans and Indians have become a little less liberal. Both Modi and Trump were elected comfortably because of ‘Muslim liberalism’ and not because Indians or Americans have changed, or wanted to.
MK Pande, by email
MSP carrot
Refer to the news ‘Wheat MSP up Rs 100’ (November 16), it is merely an election bonus to farmers. Perhaps the authority concerned does not know that wheat procurement by the government and its agencies for the year 2016-17 had already concluded in April-May 2016. Where and how this increase of Rs 100 will the farmer claim? This is a political drama to mislead the poor farmer.
PREM NATH GUPTA, SANGRUR
Honest man happy
The strong demonetisation action by the government is a brilliant move. It was long due. Real estate was thriving on cash transactions, and so was the unorganised sector. Government officials earning less than Rs 40,000 a month, owned luxury cars and mansions. An honest man had been isolated. Corruption and black money had become so rampant that a man’s status and authority was viewed from the money and muscle power he wielded. The government must now implement Modi’s economical surgical strike ruthlessly. Let the economy grow and ensure financial inclusion to all. It would also give a blow to terrorist funding. The honest man is smiling today. It is a positive step towards a new India — economically sound, clean and healthy.
Col RD Singh (Retd), Ambala Cantt
Good job, banks
The general public is facing some problem in getting new currency or exchange of notes. But we must appreciate the bank employees who are making every effort to help the public. Let us bear some pain in removing black money and helping to realise Modi’s dream of ending corruption. The government is not sitting idle and daily some notification is revised in view of public welfare which must be appreciated.
OP Garg, Patiala
What black money?
Demonetisation was badly planned and executed. The intention may have been good but whose black money are we talking about? Was any minister, MP, MLA, celebrity or business honcho seen in queues outside banks and ATMs? People who are standing for hours are the taxpayers or daily wage earners. It was in bad taste to show the PM’s mother exchanging notes, just to gain public sympathy. There are millions of senior citizens who can’t walk or stand straight, but are standing in queues for cash exchange or making deposits. The government should have ensured that the size of the new notes was the same as before so the same slots could be used in ATMs for stocking and dispensing the new notes. And if the government thinks that it has choked anti-national elements, it may be true, but this is a temporary phenomenon. They will bounce back. What was needed was choking the sources of counterfeit currency and not the circulation before the exercise was launched. What to talk of the rich who disposed of and parked their black money well in advance!
COL BOBBY GAREWAL (RETD), MOHALI
Keep at it
Apropos the editorial ‘A currency battle ahead’ (November 16), the demonetisation exercise has created a tsunami in political and business circles, with corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen busy finding ways to convert their ill-gotten money into white by exchanging at discounted rates, deposting in accounts of friends and relatives and even destroying currency. The common man is silently bearing the pain in the hope of good days promised by the PM to rid society of corruption, fake currency and drug trafficking. But unless steps are taken to unearth black money held in the form of bullion, landholdings and foreign bank accounts, the entire exercise will be of little value. The government should carry forward the process by declaration and digitisation of landholdings/houses/shops, declaration of individual holdings of bullion beyond certain limit, expediting the process to bring back black money stashed abroad, limiting the use of cash in sales transaction and stringent punishment for corruption. Demonetisation is just a beginning; it may take over a year to bear fruitful results. It is heartening that the President, the Supreme Court, the media and the public are supporting this cause.
MANGA RAM, Faridabad
Humanity first
It is a tragedy for the two sister-states of Punjab and Haryana that they are becoming bitter over the SYL issue. When the two natural resources, the Satluj and Yamuna, have no objection to be linked for the service of humanity, why are the political leaders at daggers drawn? They should not give in to their selfish motives of vote bank and dirty politics. They should think how can they can benefit those areas that suffer from acute shortage of water. This issue can be solved constructively through peaceful high-level meetings of intellectuals from both states. It should not be made a prestige issue. Politicians and people should keep in mind that humanity comes first.
Pooja Tiwari, Kaithal
Show wisdom
Though the stand taken by the SAD and Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress on the SYL issue is unjustified, it has not reached this low suddenly. Whenever decisions of equitable distribution is delayed deliberately, it is bound to complicate matters. The Punjab Government brought a law against the SYL award in 2004. The SC should have called all stakeholders in Punjab to press for an undertaking to resume work on SYL at the earliest. The political leadership in Haryana too must restrain itself from making inflammatory statements on the issue. People of Punjab must understand that natural resources are not the sole property of a state but belong to the entire nation. An honest analysis must be undertaken about the status of availability of water that Punjab could share with the adjoining states and should do it gladly in a spirit of collective wisdom and cooperation.
Jai Prakash Gupta, Ambala Cantt
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