Modi effect worked

In “The equation underlying the Modi wave” (October 21), Poornima Joshi relies essentially on changes in vote share to infer that Modi’s leadership had no effect on regional parties and caste-based politics. If we use the parameter of number of seats won, a better determinant of political impact, it gives a different picture about the latter. In Maharashtra, the BJP won seats from all over the State (except Konkan ) including “Marathi manoos ” dominated urban areas. Of the 46 seats that BJP had won in 2009, it lost only one to the Shiv Sena while out of 44 seats won by the Shiv Sena then, it lost 12 to the BJP. Thus, gains have come from Sena losses also.

Besides, overall winning of almost double the seats won by the Shiv Sena would not have been possible without the voters’ support for the BJP. Similarly, in Haryana, the BJP got 52 per cent of the seats. Surely, Jats also voted for it in good numbers. Caste-based voting has been dented by Modi to a good extent.

YG Chouksey

Pune

Credit must go to Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as it was the latter who ensured that non-Jat votes were consolidated, as Jat votes were being divided between Chautala and Hooda. And in Maharashtra, where we saw a strong four-cornered fight, it emerged on top by a big margin securing as many as 123 seats. It would be advisable for the BJP to chart unknown territories like West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and even J&K.

Bal Govind

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Welcome steps

The Government’s ordinance to acquire the land of 214 coal mines and its plans for e-auctioning the coal mines are steps in the right direction and must be welcomed by all. It has taken these measures especially in the wake of the corrupt system and the recent Supreme Court verdicts. It is time to keep tabs on all public schemes and other projects so that the actual results are achieved without bias.

P Senthil Saravana Durai

Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu

Confusing status

This refers to the article, “Bringing black back” by Prince Mathews Thomas (October 21). The writer has stated that India can learn a thing or two from Germany. Germany has negotiated with Switzerland to get back some of the “billions of unclaimed German assets” hidden in Swiss banks.

But recently, appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi said the German government has raised objections on making public the names of the Indian account holders in LGT Bank, Liechtenstein. Is it that the German government is not willing to make public the names of Indian account holders in general, or is it willing to disclose information on individual cases?

KV Rao

Bangalore

The BJP’s poll promise to bring back black money to the country within 100 days of its forming the Government might/should have been a part of its campaign rhetoric to endear to the voters. But what is now more important is that the Centre should explore all options to get back the black money slashed abroad.

If revealing the identities/names of those parking black money stands in the way of bringing back the ill-gotten wealth, so be it. But what is really important is that the mind-boggling amount of black money stored abroad should find its way back to India.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Not so simple

This refers to your edit “Diesel disengaged” (October 21). The last couple of lines in the edit are the main concern . If crude prices start moving up again what will the Government do? If they have the long-term interests of the people in mind they should not regulate diesel prices again, because the prices will move up. This decline in prices is driven by the US and the Saudis moving in tandem to counter Russia and Iran. This decline was accentuated by the Saudis indicating that they are only interested in maintaining their market share, instead of protecting prices. This action will be reversed when the Saudis get their results.

CR Arun

E-mail

The missing shade

The surge of the BJP, the mauling of the Congress and the helplessness of regional parties represents an uncomfortable turn in Indian politics. Most regional parties were founded by men with pan-national credentials who circumscribed regional aspirations within national themes. That gave us valuable experience in coalition politics and also took democracy to new doorsteps. But soon, the game of numbers made their aim insular and the vision narrow. It was the Left, with its transnational moorings that was able to provide a shared platform and some political glue to these disparate outfits and helped extend their relevance. The Third Front was its brainchild. The weakening of an intellectual Left has taken away a vital third balancing force that was both ideological and political. It would be sad if our political canvass were now to be reduced to black and white, without that intriguing shade of grey that added depth to our political motif.

R Narayanan

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Curbing gold imports

The Centre is contemplating curbing imports of gold after Diwali to reduce the current account deficit in the economy which is rising alarmingly. The yellow metal is a veblen good (consumed for prestigious purposes) and hence its consumption must be discouraged. The country can save a huge quantum of foreign currency (which can be utilised for capital formation) by imposing restrictions on gold imports.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

Unfriendly systems

Businessmen running factories will surely be relieved that in future they can file just a single online return with the Government instead of the massive 16 they do now, as part of measures aimed at ‘ease of doing business’. Good to know, but the public also deserve friendly treatment from various government agencies who put us through tedious procedures and could be as oppressive as inspectors visiting factories. An example is the sub-registrar’s office that torments anyone buying or selling an immovable property.

An ordinary buyer entering that office to register a sale deed in his name for a house or an apartment chooses a ‘good’ day for the visit. He does not wish that day to be wasted with the registration being postponed to any other day for any reason. Hence he is willing to pay a price for all that, and sensing his plight many make hay. And though you pay the Government in thousands or in lakhs, and foot other expenses too, you are left literally standing inside the sub-registrar’s office. On that day the seller will be happy to get his money value and a buyer should be glad to own a house but both are made to feel like culprits.

All this can be altered for the better with modern methods of measuring, profiling and documenting land and buildings and of recording changes in their holdings, with some amendments to property and registration laws. We just need the will and vision and a concern for the property buyer — the person who ensures a quick and high income to the Government in the form of stamp duty and registration fees, but is given an experience he is not willing to talk about loudly.

R Veera Raghavan

Chennai

Well begun

India is well positioned . It is now considered an important and favorable destinations for foreign direct investment. With economic integrations fast gaining ground, the country understands that it cannot afford to remain isolated from the rest of the world.

Globally, economic recovery is not happening on expected lines. We, therefore, need people at the helm to be effective policymakers who have deeper and greater insights into complex issues. Under the able stewardship of Narendra Modi, the new government has made a good beginning to win the trust of the people and revive confidence in the market. The finance trio consisting of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and the newly appointed Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramaniam has the onerous job of getting India on a higher growth pedestal in a sustained manner.

Srinivasan Umashankar

Nagpur

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