Apropos of the editorial Make it work (February 14), it is a fact that corruption is the biggest menace eating into the vitals of our body politic. The Administrative Reforms Commission has focused on corruption as the crux of the problem. Political parties have often tried to torpedo good suggestions without realising that bad practices will boomerang on them sooner or later. It is hoped that the politicians, bureaucracy and people in power will come out of their shackles and think in terms of wider national interest.
EM Adithyan
via e-mail
Fuelling inflation
The government’s decision to decrease petrol-diesel prices is commendable. But the cutback is not proportionate to the constantly decreasing price of crude oil in the international market. As inflation rates go higher, the poor are trying to keep body and soul together. Petroleum prices play a significant role in inflation. The government must take concrete steps to curb inflation.
Hemant Kumar Jain
Kota
Rein America in
This refers to Vikram Sood’s article Friends in need (February 14). India should go the extra mile to prevent American aggression against Iran. Political parties in Iran should also avoid any direct confrontation with the US. The UN Secretary General should realise the sensitivity of the situation and try to resolve the situation.
Zafar Abbas
Delhi
Zafar Abbas
Delhi
Paying the price
The prices of all essential commodities are skyrocketing. The main reason is the increase in the amount of service tax. It is also fairly imminent that the Finance Minister is contemplating a further increase in service tax and will bring in more commodities under it. Budgetary sops in the form of making the age of a senior citizen 60 years, marginally increasing the IT slab, etc are all an eyewash.
Geraldine H
Mumbai
Girl interrupted
Apropos of the report Girls no better off today than before (February 13), the PNDT Act, 1994, prohibits sex selection before and after conception, but the punishment for violating it isn’t severe enough to curb the problem.
S Majumdar
Delhi
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