Readers’ Forum: Cabinet with Hallmark of Modi
This is with reference to the front page story in Organiser titled ‘UNPRECEDENTED’, dated 8.6.2014. After a long time the country has got a set of ministers who have a strong stamp of the prime minister on them. Narendra Modi has plumped for a purely political ministry, a hallmark of a democratically elected government. He seems to have left out technocrats for another day. Though the composition of the new Cabinet clearly underlines the fact that Modi faced a talent deficit. He has made it more inclusive by giving greater representation to the women and expanding its social base. However, the master stroke of Modi has been pitchforking many relatively young first-timers as ministers of State with independent charge, with an eye to extracting maximum work from them and grooming them for the future. The PM has done his best to downsize some ministries and has succeeded to some extent. Now it is the time for the team to takeover.
GNAPATI BHAT, Akola
The Task Facing the NDA Government
(Organiser 29.6.2014); Apropos article titled ‘ The Task Facing The NDA Government’ by M V Kamath in Organiser. The three major problems confronting the country under NDA government are—stagnant growth, inflation and unemployment , have their roots in fiscal mismanagement. Misguided government spending has sapped confidence of industry and hurt investments. It has also pushed up demand even as supply bottlenecks hardened. So a check on fiscal deficit, by reducing unproductive spending should be the top priority of Shri Modi’s government. A good way to reduce corruption is the simplification of government procedures and reduction of controls. Bureaucrats should be assured that honest ones will be protected and only merit will be the basis of career advancement.General public have got high hopes from the Modi government and we all hope it will fulfill them.
Y G CHOUKSEY,
Pune
Instill Confidence in Minorities
Narendra Modi and BJP have been given a decisive mandate to bring relief to people and usher in good times. Feted for his Gujarat model for development, Modi must not waste his time and energy in unnecessary activities. Modi should realise that there are a lot of expectations from him. He must undertake measures which would instil confidence among Muslims, without appeasing them in the way other political parties have been guilty of. For that to happen anything sectarian or communal should not have any role in his governemnt’s agenda. Modi has got a golden chance to redeem himself and prove that he is everyone’s prime minister.
VIPUL PANDEY, Nainital
Mullaperiyar Dam
We deplore the Supreme Court’s verdict of increasing the water level in Mullaperiyar Dam upto 142 feet. When we have repeatedly experienced tremors at 132 feet itself, which can endanger the stability of the dam how come the Supreme Court permit the water level in the dam upto 142 feet. We do not understand from where the Supreme Court derived technical authenticity. We also do not understand that if this is not done how the agricultural activities can get affected in the arid Madurai region.Even if it is so this cannot be done by risking the lives of the thousands in the downstream of the dam i.e in Kerala. Feeding a thousand cannot be done at the stake of a thousand lives. It is as good as an adage ‘Steal Peter to feed Paul’. Tamil Nadu has to shed its selfish attitude and cooperate with Kerala in bringing about an amicable solution. No slightest apprehension has been expressed by Supreme Court in case the dam gives way and its dire consequences which are unimaginable and astonishing to us. Since the dam is more than a century old built with technology which is obsolete and outdated it is beyond doubt that its validity has expired, what any amount of rectifications and modifications are done. What injustice has happened to Karnataka in Cauvery issue with Tamil Nadu, perhaps the same thing is happening to Kerala in Mullaperiyar issue.
SETURAM ASPARI
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