This is with reference to “Public sector firms are no milch cows” ( Business Line , January 13).

The Government cannot ask a company to sell goods at cheaper cost, but can provide some comfort to the aam aadmi by reducing taxes. If one looks at oil prices, the majority component is taxes, if they are reduced automatically all stakeholders will benefit. The Government too will be free of the burden of issuing oil bonds to oil PSUs.

But with elections round the corner, the Government goes for populist measures. How does it matter if CIL runs up a loss? Ultimately, the government aims to garner votes.

BSNL is a classic case of how the government can kill a cash-rich PSU. If things go on in the same fashion there will be many other PSUs that will die a silent death.

Jim Kim

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PSUs and people

This refers to “Public sector firms are no milch cows” ( Business Line , January 13). It is not correct to say that PSUs are asked to sell products below cost and cough up cash for the government and asked to foot subsidy bills. The very purpose of the government organising such firms is to sell their products at affordable prices to the people. That the government receives dividends is true. But the government also comes to the rescue of PSUs whenever they are in the red. T.R.Anandan

Coimbatore

Sharon legacy

“Ariel Sharon's violent legacy” ( Business Line , January 13) is a dispassionate account. Sharon (Arik), an uncompromising and unapologetic defender of his country’s interests, may have many admirers in Israel. But to the larger world, he personified Israeli aggressiveness.

Palestinians saw him as an enemy to be hated and feared. The West Bank barrier built under his close watch is a stumbling block to peace in the region.

He may be eulogised in Israel but will be loathed by Arab neighbours as his legacy is dominated by violence, bloodshed and cruelty.

C.G. Kuriakose

Kothamangalam, Kerala

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