• The editorial, ‘Vat cynicism!’ (IE, March 22), raises many questions. Sure, tax reform will contribute to a better economy and VAT is a progressive system. But are the Central/state governments serious about it? As a traders’ body, we welcome the BJP’s move which has been taken in the larger interest of trade — and, ultimately, the consumer. The NDA government and the present UPA government made solemn announcements for abolishing CST and other taxes when VAT comes into force. So what led the finance minister to state that, for the first year, CST will continue and it will be brought down to 2 per cent in the next year and then reviewed? What has led the empowered committee and state governments to continue with other taxes even after VAT? What unanimity among states are we talking about when the empowered committee and the government have failed in making public the list of 550 items identified under VAT for various tax slabs. India’s traders have been left in the dark as to what rules they are to follow. — Praveen Khandelwal Secretary General Confederation of All India Traders New Delhi Tatas, too • Gautam Chikermane's comments about billionaires in India does not mention the house of Tatas (‘India’s golden dozen’, IE, March 21). It is true that the wealth of the Tatas is owned by a trust and family members have very few shares in their personal names. But with the listing on the New York stock exchange of TCS, TEC and Tata Motors, some of them must have accumulated multiple billions. The same is true of the Birlas. — Kirtidev Bhatt Columbia Lessons for us • The article, ‘Modi gets a Red Card’ (IE, March 22) takes a hard look at the facts. However the article does not point out the obvious insult this is to India. Indian politicians should state in one voice that it is not for the US to decide who is guilty. The US will not learn until their heads of state are treated similarly. — Himanshu Joshi Pune • Accept my kudos for such a good article. We Indians have degenerated so much. If things continue like this, Indians may feel the need to seek a gora sahib’s permission to call their mothers their own. — Hemant Dubey Seattle Way out • Pranab Dhal Samanta’s report, ‘Energy, strategic talks next steps in ties’ (IE, March 17) is thought-provoking. India needs energy, Iran claims it is building nuclear plants to diversify its electricity production from fossil fuels and the US is concerned about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. A good way out that works for all three is Iran stopping work on nuclear plants in lieu of an Indo-Iran ground pipeline with overhead electricity lines. The pipeline would export natural gas from Iran to India while overhead lines will import electricity to Iran from nuclear power plants built with US help in India. — Arun Khanna Indianapolis Biased coverage • The report,‘Bucknored’ (IE, March 19) showed your bias in favour of Sachin, whose anger against Test umpire Steve Bucknor is condemnable. Why did you not report on Sachin not walking when Dinesh Kanaria got him out in Mohali? If he is the world’s best batsman, he should have given himself out and proved the umpire wrong. — Bidyut K. Chatterjee Faridabad
