Retail raw deal• The rise in the prices of essential commodities is the direct result of the wrong economic policies of the UPA government. It proves that most of its fiscal and financial policies — including taxes on services and the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices — are inflationary.The present situation is also the result of profiteering by retailers as they make a huge profit by arbitrarily increasing their margins. No doubt wholesale prices are also high but both wholesalers and retailers add too big margins. In future the government must ensure that farmers get the right price for their produce and that these middlemen are not allowed to exploit the situation. The alternative is to open government retail shops like Mother Dairy outlets in most colonies and control prices through that.— Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi• Despite proclaiming itself as one of the best regimes ever, the UPA government is not able to curb inflation. If the government’s report card were to be marked by the public, the story would be something else. It seems the government will not find itself in a better position until it controls its own expenses. Development should be in actual terms, not just on paper.— Hitesh Jhangiani, New DelhiIcy dispute• I was somewhat surprised to read about the recent controversy over the creation of an artificial Sivalinga inside the holy cave at Amarnath. It is marked by a lack of knowledge about Shaivite sculpture and tradition. What is significant is the presence of the linga itself, whether natural or artificial. In fact it is the shape of the Sivalinga, whether in the form of a cylindrical object or as a pillar made by human hands or otherwise, that is meaningful, particularly after its ritual consecration. The common practice among the devotees of Siva is to prepare Lingas with earth, cowdung or even sand, and worship them. Therefore there is nothing wrong in making a Sivalinga of snow and worshipping it.— M.C. Joshi, Retired director-general, ASI New DelhiAct faster• I read Rashtrapati A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s article on energy independence by 2030 in your newspaper (June 20) with great interest. But I wonder why we should have to wait till 2030 to achieve this. Just one executive order for mixing 30 per cent ethanol instead of 15 per cent (as at present) in fossil fuel will save 18 million tonnes of fossil fuel right away. Ethanol is produced from sugarcane. The country is growing sugarcane in large quantities and has a lot of crushing, brewing and distilling capacity to produce ethanol. In fact our sugar mills are not functioning to their full capacity.— Assa Singh, PatialaAamir’s point• I am afraid Nandita Patel’s article,‘Speak up but read up first’ (IE, June 9) is mere casuistry. She accuses him of “combative posturing”? When did poor Aamir Khan resort to this? All he said was that the oustees of the Narmada Dam should be properly rehabilitated, adding that he was not equipped or competent to go into the issue beyond saying that. Where is any kind of combativeness on display here? His combativeness came into the picture only when he was asked to apologies for the simple, noncommittal (and non-combative) statement he chose to make as a concerned citizen.— Norma Louis, Mumbai
