The formation of Janata Parivar is quite amusing in the sense that all the spent forces are coming together. The nation has already seen their work. They should not believe that they can change the people with their own old policies.

They should realise that the nation’s youth cannot be cheated by corroded politics of communalism and secularism. The country now wants some action-oriented and committed leaders.

VS Ganeshan

Bengaluru

Radical humanist

Justice VR Krishna Iyer was not just a person with socialist leanings and progressive views, he was a fine human being. His landmark judgments exemplified the saying “Justice must be tempered with mercy” at its best.

Iyer defended civil liberties and championed social causes with an incredible vigour and determination. As a moral colossus, his voice carried a certain authority across party lines. He was a beacon of hope for public interest litigants and made it a duty for the state to come to the rescue of the most vulnerable members of society from injustice, oppression and derision. Still, it disheartened us when Justice Iyer gave the impression of gravitating towards right-wing forces by his endorsement of Narendra Modi.

But that single ‘aberration’ need not be cited to diminish his greatness as a radical humanist.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Rural truths

This refers to “Should we make in India or in Bharat” by Pradeep S Mehta (December 5). The writer’s observation that 65 per cent of the rural labour is engaged in non-farm livelihood activities or Rural Non-Farm Economy (RNFE) is a revelation. The very slogan ‘Make in India’ indicates that it is focused on big industries leaving the rural activities to fend for themselves.

When rural India grows along with urban India, the real growth story of India takes place. The planners should be driven by the motto of making every village an extension of its nearest city.

CG Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

Well-timed

This refers to the editorial “Messing around” (December 5). Most of us, especially politicians, have criticised the government’s decision to hike excise duty on petroleum products.

When crude prices keep falling, the government, facing with tight fiscal deficit with loads of subsidies, has seized the opportunity to mitigate the strain of subsidies. That promptly guides us to see the hike in excise duty in right perspective. The argument that the government has shown no interest in reducing the subsidies of kerosene and LPG is valid.

As such is the case, the Centre needs to appraise the various means of mobilising funds to fortify its capability. Disinvestment in PSUs, which are making losses or yielding low return on capital employed, is the one of most flawless strategies that the Centre may consider. By doing so, it can leverage the unproductive funds locked for years in such PSUs to finance various profitable but fund-starved projects (prominently, public private partnership).

S Lakshminarayanan

Cuddalore

Treaties and ties

This refers to “When corporations hold the upper hand” (December 5). The truth about trade treaties is that they prevail over the constitution of the country which enters into one. Look at GATT, which was extended as the WTO in the 1990s did not get the ratification of the US Congress for over 50 years.

Interestingly, the 50-year delay was because of the fear that the constitution of the US would be undermined. After the passage of the treaty, the US government has been sued by a large number of corporations, some of them have won many of these cases.

In sum, big multinational corporations are well above ‘we the people’ when it comes to trade treaties. Many governments have lost these WTO law suits to corporations, in the process effectively handing over the government to these corporations in the US.

This is the reason big corporations rule us, while what we believe is that the government we elected rules us.

CR Arun

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