Pensioners’ interests hit
The proposed amendment in the Finance Bill to empower the Centre to establish distinction among pensioners as a general principle is highly detrimental to the interest of pensioners.
The new benefits recommended by Central Pay Commissions hereafter will not be available to old pensioners.
The amendment is bound to open flood gates of litigation by pensioners as the apex court had clearly addressed the question in Nakra vs Union of India (1982) whether it was appropriate and justified to divide pensioners into two groups according to the date of retirement and held that such unequal treatment of pensioners was against Article 14 of the constitution’s guarantee of equality.
One fervently hopes better sense will prevail and the government will drop the ill advised move to save hapless senior citizens the ordeal of agitating the issue again in the court of law.
Manohar Alembath
Kannur (Kerala)
The Trump challenge
Apropos, ‘The Unravelling of alliances’, (March 26). Donald Trump’s second presidency presents India and South Asia with a paradox: unprecedented opportunities wrapped in profound challenges. For India, closer defence cooperation and strategic alignment against China are promising.
Yet, trade tensions, restrictive immigration policies and the unpredictability of Trump’s diplomacy pose real threats.
Modi’s personal chemistry with Trump may provide some diplomatic cushioning, but it will not override the cold calculus of transactional foreign policy.
The next four years will test South Asia’s ability to turn challenges into strategic gains, proving that in global politics, survival depends on adaptability.
N Sadhasiva Reddy
Bengaluru
Engage with US
With reference to Paran Balakrishnan’s article “The unravelling of alliances” (March 26), Trump’s policies are posing great uncertainty to India. It is in India’s interest to diplomatically engage with the US.
India needs to change diplomatic strategy on two fronts. First, it needs to appoint scholar-diplomats in MEA to engage with the United States.
Second, India needs to cultivate friendships in the US Congress, corporate America, media, academia, and think tanks.
Indian diplomats need to closely work with the US elites closer to President Trump’s administration to see the security and economic policies favourable to India.
Velpula Ramanujam
Hyderabad
Coops need attention
This refers to the article ‘UCBs need to scale up’ (March 26). Issues relating to governance and supervisory oversight highlighted are all very relevant in respect of banks and NBFCs dependent on public deposits. Perhaps a review of the structure of these institutions and the sources of funds and their deployment is overdue.
A total overhaul of the institutional system other than commercial banks is the need of the hour.
MG Warrier
Mumbai