Won’t do China good

Refer to the article ‘It suits China to maintain links with terror groups’ (March 29); terrorist activities are the state policy of Pakistan and it has been blackmailing the US for decades. China has its own problem in Xinjiang province where Uyghurs are creating problems for the Chinese government. A large number of Uyghurs are imprisoned and barred from carrying out religious activities. Many restrictions have been put on that community just to keep terrorism under check. China has links with Pakistani terror groups and provides them with finances and arms, so that they don’t create problems for China, but continue targeting Indian interests. This is also a sort of blackmail by the Pakistani terror groups. It is expected that China understands the complexities and dangers of the issue and joins the international community in the fight against terrorism. China may exhibit its change in policy by consenting to list Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in the UN. 

Advertisement

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi 

High on speculation 

Apropos ‘Why opinion polls often come a cropper’ (March 29), opinion polls are just a prop for panel discussions that follow with great elan. Exit polls may well have matured over time in improved projection of vote share from sample size to actuals. The problem in a highly segmented electorate lies  in deducing the seat share from the vote percentages. Assembly polls, where combination of pre-poll allies is closely associated with regional factors, are amenable to more rational analysis. In the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK had a 30% vote share with nil seats, and in 2009, with 23%, had nine seats! Much like Indian bourses, the exit polls are high on speculation. 

R Narayanan, Navi Mumbai

Tax sops & incentives

Reference to the report ‘We will remonetise what Modi demonetised: Rahul’ (March 29); previous governments at the Centre have never shared revenue foregone figures and statistics. Revenue foregones to the rich and industry have remained far more than taxes (direct taxes) paid by them. Tax sops, incentives, rebates to those well-off and industry amount to Rs 10 lakh crore in a Rs 20 lakh-crore Budget. This outgo has made India a wasteful economy and industry spoon-fed. We have not become exporter of the items on which governments doled out incentives for the past 30 years. Giving Nyuntam Aay to the poor instead of incentives to the well-offs will definitely help the poor, economy, happiness, cleanliness and overall rankings of the country. 

ASHOK Kumar Goel, PANCHKULA

Silence of convenience 

There is a growing number of intelligentsia that has developed a proclivity to offer its opinion on the government’s discrepancies after most among them retire after enjoying the pay and perks of plum posts they find fault with, post retirement. They do not utter a word while they are a part of the system, their ethics choosing to remain in hibernation. Once they are out on retirement, their dormant ethics goad them to churn suggestions and advices. The latest example is that of SY Quraishi, a former Chief Election Commissioner of India (‘Appoint ECs via collegium system’; March 29). A very logical advice, Mr Quraishi, but why did you not suggest it before accepting the EC’s job? His suggestion implies that he could not do justice with the CEC’s job, being a direct appointee of the government.

LR Sharma, Sundernagar

J&K political scene 

Apropos the news report ‘Faesal’s party to stay away from polls’ (March 24), a section of people disenchanted with the National Conference and its rival PDP are looking for an alternative voice in Faesal. The Valley’s politics revolves around the Kashmir issue and its resolution. Faesal has made ‘peaceful resolution’ of the issue as per the ‘will of the J&K people’ as the top objective of his party. The decision to not contest the parliamentary polls is not an unwise one, because he wants some time to gauge the mood of his cadre and strength his base. It would be interesting to watch how Faesal, who is not a product of dynastic politics and carries no past baggage, makes his mark in the tight political space, where loyalties are firmly divided. But some sceptics feel he may further divide the vote and add to the disempowerment of Kashmiris. 

PL Singh, by mail

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@tribunemail.com