Hang the hanging

Ignorance?

• Bibek Debroy, in his infinite communist ignorance, asks: “Third, when talking about merit and efficiency, what are we comparing with what?” (‘Captain, a hole in your argument’, IE, June 28). Here is the answer, dear communist: the efficiency is compared to the efficiency of similar firms in liberalising economies like Malaysia and others. You cannot determine these by gazing on your navel and making predictions — which might be the most favored technique of “economic analysis” by certain so-called “intellectuals”. One only hopes that people like him will not take us all back down the sewer after we have worked so hard to make a difference.

—Hank Ahluwalia On e-mail

Leave it be

• The private sector has performed better than the public sector in the absence of reservation. If 50 years of the state’s efforts have failed to uplift the backward classes, the tinkering with private sector recruitment is hardly expected to do it miraculously. Hence, regardless of what the Manusmriti says or the Patels do in a certain village, status quo should continue.

—J.M. Manchanda New Delhi

Left out

• This is regarding the Left’s opposition to the proposed privatisation of the Mumbai and Delhi airports. Reading their statements, I wonder which century I am living in! The main contention of these parties is that the AAI has sufficient funds to modernise airports. The simple question to them would be why has nothing been done so far. One just needs to visit our airports to see the condition they are in. If the unions are so concerned about their work place, then they must have initiated a modernisation project long ago. The point is that the the workers simply fear that they may be held accountable for their work in case privatisation goes ahead. This lack of accountability is, in fact, the main reason why all the government concerns must be privatised. The arguments put forth by the leftist unions do not have any place in these times when individuals are recognised by the work they put in.

—Anand G. Mumbai Tailpiece

• Kuldip Nayar wants to be reappointed as ambassador again, it appears (‘Life begins at 60’, IE, June 29).

—N.B. Mehta On e-mail