With reference to the article ‘Power of perception may see BJP through’ (April 30), whatever his critics and detractors may say there is no second opinion on Modi’s sincerity of purpose. People who were fed up with corruption, scams and unemployment gave a massive mandate to Modi in 2014.

Modi may have his flaws, but his clean image, humble background and sincerity of purpose is drawing people towards him. By concentrating on education, health, infrastructure and investments the Modi government can usher in a new era if given another term. Modi has launched many ambitious schemes like smart cities, clean Ganga, Make in India, Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, PMJDY, Bharat Mala which will take time to bear fruit.

Veena Shenoy

Thane

 

RBI and transparency

With reference to the editorial ‘Show and tell’ (April 30), banks being one of the key financial intermediaries are engaged in resource mobilisation. The stakeholders of the banks are entitled to know the financial prudence observed by the banks while conducting the business. The Annual Inspection Report of the RBI and or any other audit reports are authoritative documents which reveal the conduct of the business including lapses, deficiencies and violations of the policies of the banking regulator and the government.

The norms and regulations are in place to ensure the financial health of the banking system and to maintain the overall financial discipline in the economy. Based on the AIR the banking regulator directs banks to initiate corrective actions, besides imposing punitive actions against the erring banks. Since the violations and wrong actions are adversely impacting the banks, the stakeholders of these institutions have every right to ask for the relevant information and data. The government must enact appropriate laws to enable the banking regulator to recognise the information to be disclosed under the RTI Act to ensure more transparency in the working of the banking sector without jeopardising the interest of the customers.

VSK Pillai

Kottayam

The RBI's reluctance to provide information to the apex court relating to inspection reports and other material on big defaulters sought by Right to information petitioners on the pretext that it will have a bearing on the security of the state is not correct. In fact he public has every right to know the procedures and practice followed by banks in sanctioning and afterwards monitoring these loans. Hence the Supreme Court is absolutely right in asking the information from the RBI as the public has a right to know. At a time when the level of bad loans continue to remain high it is not correct on the part of RBI to keep the depositors in dark. Hence the RBI must oblige the court’s order and submit the information sought for immediately.

TSN Rao

Bheemavaram (AP)

Giving teeth to NOTA

With reference to ‘NOTA as a right!’ (April 30), it was quite interesting to learn that ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option was first used in India in 2009 in the Chhattisgarh.

However, the credit truly goes to the Supreme Court as it had, on September 27, 2013, directed the Election Commission to make the necessary provisions in ballot papers and EVMs to provide a ‘None of the Above’ option for voters who decide not to vote for any of the candidates in the fray but also wish to maintain their ‘Right to Secrecy’.

But, the fact that the NOTA provision does not impact the election results, even if it has bagged the most votes, ends up making a mockery of a well-meaning move.

So the moot question is: Why neither the government nor the EC have so far thought about suitably ‘amending’ the Rule 64 of Conduct of Election Rules? Needless to say, serving any half-baked food does not make any sense.

One therefore truly wishes that the Supreme Court soon comes to the ‘rescue’ of the unsuspecting voters who opt for NOTA by ‘disqualifying’ all those candidates who may secure less number of votes than polled in favour of ‘NOTA’.

Anjana Gupta

New Delhi

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send your letters by email to bleditor@thehindu.co.in or by post to ‘Letters to the Editor’, The Hindu Business Line, Kasturi Buildings, 859-860, Anna Salai, Chennai 600002.

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