PM Merely Figurehead
![]()
Incisive Diagnosis And Remedies
I really appreciate the manner in which you have correctly addressed the plight of every sleepless Indian in your open letter to the Prime Minister (Dalal Street Investment Journal, Volume 27, Issue No. 13, dated June 4-17, 2012). The only words that come to my mouth are "humara dil chir ke dikha diya". Above all, it has the solutions to overcome this situation.
Our highly regarded PM must now understand that the time has come to ‘do or die’. The average Indian age is low and in the right proportion for a booming economy like us. It is the elderly, experienced and eminent people like you and the PM who should chart the path ahead.
Keep up the good work.
- Nikhil Bhartia
PM Merely Figurehead
The open letter addressed to the Prime Minister should in fact have been addressed to Smt Sonia Gandhi, as the Prime Minister is only a figurehead now. His hands are tightly bound in the name of ‘coalition dharma’. The PM cannot take any action without Sonia's consent. A world famous and renowned economist who was also the former governor of the Reserve Bank of India has nothing to do with his position as the PM. He cannot move on any side independently. This has been the position ever since he became the PM. We can only have pity on him, and cannot find fault with him. Good or bad, he is not responsible.
The points dealt with in the open letter have no doubt been excellently prepared and beautifully presented. Congrats!
- A Ramalingam Mannargudi[PAGE BREAK]
More Suggestions For The Government
I have read your open letter and wish to thank you for writing to the Prime Minister on behalf of the general public. I would like to draw your attention to a few more points.
- India is the biggest democracy. Are most of the people sitting in the Parliament fit to do so, and do they really care for the public? Is it not shameful to see their behavior in the Parliament? Nehruji blundered in dividing the country on a linguistic basis. We should think again and reorganise the country into ‘zones’.
- The Indian Penal Code is a copy of the Irish Penal Code, which is very faulty and people do not get justice for years. It is well said that ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’.
- The amount of money spent on the security, travel, etc. of VIPs from the President downwards should be reconsidered and reduced.
- You have suggested increasing the price of petroleum products, but not suggested reducing taxes, central and state, which work out to almost 50 per cent of the price.
- Nobody has bothered about the service tax levied this year, which works out to be more than Rs 50000-70000 crore.
- The government never takes decisions in time until it is forced to do so by an agitation, which costs the nation heavily.
- Just a few days ago, a popular national daily published a report about projects being delayed by as much as 10 to 25 years, escalating the cost by 50 to 100 times.
- The FM has hinted about a 10 per cent cut in the non-plan expenditure. Is it sufficient and will it really be implemented?
- West Bengal is asking for a package as it is unable to pay the interest due on its borrowings. What a pitiable condition this is. Similar is the case with many other states. Shri Rajiv Gandhi was honest in expressing that only 15 paisa out of every rupee is actually spent and the rest in swallowed at different levels.
In short, I request you to elaborate on how the government should run economically and efficiently. They should take on a few projects at a time, and get them completed in time.
The public is already under a heavy burden of taxation, and is further harassed by collectors of different taxes and bribes. Just see how officials across corporations, registrars, RTO personnel, ministers and bureaucrats make money in crores within a short period.
Just about the price paid for appointments and transfers. How can we expect a man to be honest when he has paid a heavy price for getting an appointment or transfer?
If you can spare some time, there are so many points which we can discuss and which you can throw light on in your magazine.
- Navinchand Zaveri