The government cannot hold up reforms and expect to get votes

With reference to the editorial When we are not the change (Our Take, April 21), everyone in the government from chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee realise that reforms have taken a backseat because the Congress is putting all its energies in keeping UPA allies happy.

The government cannot hold up reforms and expect to get votes
With reference to the editorial When we are not the change (Our Take, April 21), everyone in the government from chief economic adviser Kaushik Basu, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee realise that reforms have taken a backseat because the Congress is putting all its energies in keeping UPA allies happy. But the question is: what is the government doing about it? It can’t put off reforms in the name of coalition politics, as that won’t get the UPA votes.
SC Aggarwal, Delhi

HT Image

Practise what you preach
This refers to the report There will not be a witch hunt, be bold (April 22). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s advice to civil servants won’t change the existing situation because politicians, not civil servants, take the final decision on all policies. The need of the hour is for the PM to be bold. He must ask the UPA allies to stop coming in the way of smooth governance.
MC Joshi, Lucknow

Equality isn’t about shedding ideals
I agree with Nandita Patel’s views in Not an equal music (April 19) that if India wants a real feminist debate on rape and gender justice, it must also talk openly about the right way to value love, sex and commitment. It’s true that gender equality is not about shedding all ideals; it is.