The last laugh

Refer to ‘A razaiwalla and Mr Mahesh Shah’ by Harish Khare (Statecraft, December 9), it is ironic that the very people who are taking sadistic pleasure at the economic misfortunes of black-money holders, ushered by notebandi, will be the real sufferers in the short, medium and long term. Interestingly, the perceived black-money holders are not corrupt bureaucrats, politicians or criminals, but the neighbourhood successful businessman, doctor or merchant whose only fault is that he did not pay income tax on a portion of his money. In the absence of any institution like the Lokpal, the real black-money holders and generators will go scotfree, or be emboldened. Already, they have found it easy to launder their money amid all the hubbub. A free economy always rewards the hardworking, skilled and indispensable people and shuns others. The latter earn a living if they are of some help to the former. The already poor are more likely to belong to the latter category. They don’t stand a chance if their patrons are in trouble. 

Advertisement

Jaspreet Singh, Jalandhar

Black dragon

‘A razaiwalla and Mr Mahesh Shah’ (Statecraft, December 9) brings to the fore the government’s measures to control black money. The PM’s invocation of jan shakti is a pointer towards the pervasiveness and  volume of black money across the political spectrum and the inter and intra-party politics involved at a politically crucial time in the wake of the forthcoming elections. The implications and ramifications of demonetisation are likely to be equal to the malady involved and the attack on the source of black money. Imbalances of the Indian system have already reached a nauseating stage. Demonetisation has just touched its economic aspect in a measured way. Many people are yet not convinced of the intended outcomes, such is the state of their shaken confidence in the system. A good leadership ensures a high level of confidence of the people in the system by achieving the declared objectives in a natural way, without alleged dislocations and inconvenience. 

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

Give solution 

Apropos ‘A razaiwalla and Mr Mahesh Shah’ by Harish Khare, making much of Mahesh Shah’s disclosure and his Gujarat connection is not right, when a whopping Rs 2 lakh crore was disclosed by another person and new currency seized in crores and bankers caught from other states. It lends a political colour to the article. Leave politics to politicians. Demonetisation in its present form has created problems, but why have the ‘knowledgeable’ economists not offered any solution? As per the RBI Governor it will take another four weeks for more Rs 500 new notes to arrive. TMC and AAP want a complete rollback of demonetisation, which is not possible. But can we have a partial rollback? Can banks start returning the old notes to the people and allow both old and new notes to circulate for some time and then slowly withdraw the old notes? Or let the Opposition offer a solution. Disruption of Parliament is creating more problems. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), Jalandhar

Of no use 

The article ‘India’s  defence  report card at 70’ by General Malik (December 6) raised pertinent points but may not serve any purpose because the ministry  concerned  and bureaucrats hardly read such articles. Earlier, it had hurt the veterans and serving soldiers when the three Chiefs withdrew their protest on the assurance given by the Defence Minister, but no action was taken. Now, it is in the larger interest of national defence and security that a team of top defence veterans must meet the President — also the Supreme Commander of the three forces — and submit a memorandum, discussing in detail the defence issues and the adverse effects of the dilution of the military rank and file.

Lt col Ram Lal Arora (Retd), Paramjit Thind; by email

‘Polluticians’ at work 

The editorial ‘A matter of propriety’ (December 8) was bold and revealing. However, to get the Election Commission do its job without fear or favour, I wish to suggest a few things: Draw up the rules of the game, so that elections move to the next stage of fairness and justice to the harried electorate. Parties which do not contest elections should be forthwith de-registered. Other parties should be directed to issue a five-point manifesto, listing the issues and priorities, and how and when these would be fulfilled. The manifestoes should be kept with the EC. The performance of the parties should be observed and recorded. Those indulging in ‘the wilful violation of the spirit of the code of conduct’ should be given negative marks. A standard pass grade should be fixed. Failure to get it should disqualify the party concerned for contesting the next election. Misplaced largesse of party chiefs is not merely undemocratic, it is draconian. We should stop this sickening drama of riotous rhetoric in which political harangues are a lie and the wayward work of ‘polluticians’ an insult to the electorate’s will and wisdom. 

SS Bhatti, Chandigarh

Remove charges 

Refer to the news report ‘Go digital, get discounts: FM’ (December 9), the government has announced many measures to promote cashless transactions as part of a campaign to encourage people to go digital. Prime Minister Modi has also repeatedly appealed to the people about the virtues of a cashless society, but HUDA Panchkula is charging 0.75 per cent on payment up to Rs 2,000 and 1 per cent beyond Rs 2,000 for the payment of water bill through a debit card. If the payment is made by credit card, the charges are 1.20 per cent of the bill. Similarly, Uttar Haryana Bijli Nigam Ltd levies additional charges on online payment of bills. The Haryana Government should withdraw these charges immediately to promote digital payments.

SP ATTRI, Panchkula

Face questions, Mr PM 

It is perhaps for the first time in the history of our Parliament that the Prime Minister is avoiding a discussion (on demonetisation). Why is the PM afraid of answering questions  that might be put to him by the Opposition? Why he is unable to face the Opposition? At the same time, Mr Modi is quite vocal about his government’s point of view, spoken from other platforms. In the interest of his government, his party and the public at large, he should join the discussion and face the questions to quell suspicion from the minds of the general public. 

Roop Singh  Negi, Solan

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribuneindia.com