Manmohan Singh should not look back

Manmohan Singh should not look back
If Mamata Banerjee really gets out of the UPA, it will be a relief to the common people and those who want economic reforms. During the past three years and four months, she has been blackmailing the government and not allowed it to function smoothly. She thinks that India is West Bengal. Even if the UPA government falls, prime minister Manmohan Singh should not roll back the FDI in retail business, since the eventuality is almost expected. If there is any chance of reconsidering her decision, it will be only through an economic package that she had demanded for her state and which was declin ed by former finance minister Pranab Mukerjee. As time goes on, she will understand that liberalisation and expansion of the Indian economy is inevitable. As for BJP, it has decided to lie a little low since its NDA allies have different views on the matter of FDI. But once FDI in retail starts materialising, the BJP-ruled states will be gunning to take credit. It is high time that the party should introspect for what they stand.
—K Nandakumar, via e-mail

II
Ever since Trinamool Congress became a part of the UPA, Mamata Banerjee has been suffering from a chronic withdrawal syndrome. Her decision to call it a day, finally, should be taken as a blessing in disguise by the UPA and it should not give her an opportunity to rethink her decision. The Congress should now rope in Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party as part of the UPA-II with their 43 MPs to replace the 19 MPs of TMC. Both these UP-based parties need only a simple invitation from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi; who is not power hungry, after all?
—KP Rajan, Mumbai

III
The Trinamool Congress chief’s resolve to withdraw support seems to be final. The complaint that the Congress do not consult her on any issues has incensed the Trinamool Congress. The big brother attitude of the Congress is contrary to the ethos of coalition dharma. The pro-people stance taken by Mamata is indeed praiseworthy. It   would now be interesting to see how the Congress-led UPA chew and digest the blow, as there are no Chanakyas like the late PV Narasimha Rao around to surmount the brewing trouble.
—HP Murali, Bangalore

Scathing criticism
This has reference to ‘I am Dhoble: The come back by the Indian state’ (Sep 18). I have not read a more stringent criticism of the Dhoble phenomenon. It is all the more surprising that the writer is an IPS officer himself and yet he has gone against the general trend of supporting one’s ilk. 
—N Rajasekharan Nair, Mumbai

II
The article is typical of our bureaucrats and politicians — advising others of what to do and what not to. They themselves cannot do even 10% of their work sincerely, but they comment on others as if they are masters of morality. Can Kumar let us know what he has done as an IPS officer? In his article, Kumar has stated that there are a number of issues which the police can do; but as a police officer himself, isn’t he just preaching? People like Dhoble who like to do justice to their profession should continue to do so. —Mohan, via email

Lalbaugcha Raja
It was pleasant to see the Lalbaughcha Raja in all its glory on your front page (Sep 17). Thanks, but it was annoying to read the story ‘90 hours in queue to touch Raja’s feet’ in the same issue. Surely, there is no end to such trivia; we Indians love to go to absurd lengths, in blind faith, to create such so-called records in the process. Why do we do this? Will the Raja not bless those devotees who seek his darshan on the last day? I do believe in God, and I also believe that God helps those who strive to help themselves. He does not give anything for free, unlike the UPA 2 government, which gives coal blocks!
—Narayan Badmanji, Khopoli

Is Hindi an option?
The report ‘Hindi a hit among Marathi students’ (Sep 19) made a sad reading. If Marathi students prefer Hindi over Marathi for commercial reasons, it is understandable; but one should not feel proud about it. Let us recall a few truths about Hindi: Maharashtra accepted the 3-language formula and our generation had to study Hindi for seven years up to matriculation. We were introduced to English only in class 8. Students like me suffered a lot when we decided to pursue science subjects in college. The Hindi-speaking states did not adopt the 3-language formula and studied only two languages. Those who come to Maharashtra from Hindi-speaking states hardly speak Marathi. The reporter has concluded that students have no option but to flock to Hindi. Is not English an option?
—Shreeram Paranjpe, Mumbai

Realty prices & politicians
Why don’t politicians protest against the rise in realty prices or education fees? From the past one week, politicians from various parties are opposing the increase in prices of diesel and LPG cylinders. Similarly, you can see them opposing vegetable price rise etc. But have you ever seen any politician protesting against the sharp increase in real estate prices or increase in education fees? The real estate prices for a 2 BHK flat in certain areas of Mumbai have gone up from Rs20 lakh to Rs1.5 crore, within 7-8 years. Similarly, the primary school fee has gone from about Rs6,000 a year to about Rs40,000 a year — an increase of about six times in six years. Aren’t these going to impact a middle-class family more than the price rise in diesel and LPG cylinders? Why don’t politicians ever oppose these hikes? The answer probably lies in the fact that almost all politicians have some stake in various real estate projects and every politician worth his salt has got an educational institution opened in the name of one of his family members. The middle class should get ready for worse times. 
—Manish, Mumbai