Pool the cesses

• The UPA government’s penchant for levying cesses for different purposes like education, rural employment, infrastructure and de...

• The UPA government’s penchant for levying cesses for different purposes like education, rural employment, infrastructure and development ushers in a new fiscal theory where resources raised lose fungibility in the labyrinth of total expenditure; instead, each cess collected will be spent for the purpose it is levied (‘Cess mess’, IE, October 5). In fact, the government should replace the current tax structure with a series of purpose oriented cesses and provide meaningful annual audited accounts. For example, a cess each for loss-making PSUs, subsidies, speedy disposal of files, foriegn jaunts by honorable representatives of the people, etc, will promote better understanding of the working of the government.

— P.V. Maiya Bangalore

Saffron blues

• This has reference to ‘Sanyasin and the cynics’ by Coomi Kapoor (IE, October 5). It is indeed difficult — in fact well nigh impossible, as observed by Jayalalithaa in a recent interview — for any woman to come up in politics in India unless she is born or married into the Nehru family.
The BJP particularly epitomises the chracteristic hypocrisy of our society which will worship women as Kali or Durga but will not allow them even a semblance of equal opportunities.

— R. Sundaram Chennai

Over and out

• This refers to your editorial ‘Good riddance’ (October 2). Dissolving all the 19 consultative groups in the Planning Commission is an apt rebuff to the Left parties’ tantrums on the foreign experts issue.
The adage coined for John Bull (the British) can be applied to the Left parties in India: lick the Left and it will kick you, kick the Left and it will lick you.

— M.G. Kapahy Delhi

Money matters

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• Declaration of wealth by candidates through an affidavit is a step in the right direction to cleanse our political system. To ensure that the exercise does not become academic, the powers that be should investigate sources of wealth, whether taxes were paid, etc, to check whether it is acquired by lawful means. A good number of candidates will find it a herculean task to prove that their wealth was acquired lawfully. In such an event their ill-gotten wealth should be confiscated. Let the Constitution be amended if the existing laws are inadequate.

— K.R.P. Gupta Mumbai

On Tehelka

• The NDA government deliberately avoided action against its tainted politicians exposed by Tehelka. The UPA government has acted correctly by not giving any extension to the Phukan commission because justice delayed is justice denied.

— Subhash C. Agrawal Delhi

• The winding up of the the Phukan commission and handing over of the Tehelka case to the CBI is not a good omen for Indian democracy. One needs to consider the wider ramifications of such a move and the impetus this will give to the ongoing slinging match between political parties.

— Suresh Chander Gurgaon