Opinion Double take
This refers to Cabinet okays conciliation plan for Vodafone tax issue
Double take
* This refers to Cabinet okays conciliation plan for Vodafone tax issue (IE,June 5). A Congressional Committee in the US is studying potential amendments to their tax laws in the wake of reports about MNCs exploiting them,so that they dont pay taxes in the country where they are registered or in the country where they operate from. It is unfortunate that our cabinet,which felt last year that the retroactive legislation was prudent,has now thought better of it and invited Vodafone for conciliatory talks. This could result in a windfall for the MNC,and is going to set a very bad precedent.
N. Ramamurthy
Passed up
* THIS refers to Another PIL challenges appointment of CAG (IE,June 4). The PIL was filed by eminent senior citizens such as a former CEC and former chiefs of naval staff. The PIL rightly challenges the appointment of the former defence secretary as the CAG. The audit department of the government has a dedicated cadre (IAAS),manned by officers recruited through the same civil services exam as the IAS. They spend a lifetime auditing government accounts,but are denied the top job in their organisation. Appointing someone from the IAAS,based on merit and experience,would have avoided the conflict of interest charge,which will always stick if a secretary to government is appointed as the CAG. It is time specialist services get their due.
R.R.N. Prasad
Gurgaon
Letting sunlight in
* THIS refers to Party police (IE,June 5). The inner workings of political parties have long been hidden. They publish manifestos that put in writing their goals for public service and development but their financial transactions reveal a different story. Financial transparency is absolutely necessary for the political system to be accountable. The RTI is a tool for citizens to change their role from passive receptors to active participants. It will balance the power equation between us and them. Though you have stressed the ways in which the RTI can be misused,you do not mention any effective alternative to cleanse the system.
Niharika Singh
Greater Noida
* BRINGING all political parties under the RTI is stretching the concept of transparency a bit too far. The financial details of parties are already submitted to the Election Commission. Apart from this,there is no real value from the public knowing about the internal workings,strategies,decisions of a political party. On the contrary,I think a political party should be entitled to not share such information with any outsider. As you have rightly mentioned,this should not be allowed to happen.
Rahul Gaur
Gurgaon
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