Ponzi net
* The West Bengal swindle is like quicksand (SEBI digs deeper,chit scam gets bigger,IE,April 26). The more the Mamata Banerjee government tries to wriggle out,the deeper the ventures sink. Banerjee is devising ways and means to collect funds to rescue the victims of Saradha. But charging an additional 10 per cent on tobacco products to provide relief is like encouraging the youth to develop addictions. The next step could be an additional tax on alcohol. In the absence of stringent laws,such ponzi operators take flight at night with the help of politicians. Regulatory authorities like SEBI should proceed without fear or favour. The actual investigation should find the irregularities. The individuals bank accounts should be frozen instantly.
Deepak Chikramane
* One is at a loss for words regarding the Bengal chit fund scam. It is by no means the first in the state,or the country. But what,in the end,is most sickening that so many of the poorest people of a state were robbed of their lifes savings? Or that no political party in Bengal can wash itself clean in this case of corruption so big that it has reached right up to the Union government?
A.K. Ganguly
New Delhi
Jet,set,go
* This refers to the editorial Taking off (IE,April 26). The Jet-Etihad deal will do much for the ailing civil aviation sector. Apart from a financial boost,it will improve the credibility of Jet Airways,facilitate a more visible international presence and make it learn best practices. Nuances of better hospitality and a customer-centric attitude,missing in domestic carriers,will be inculcated. Had the government been proactive and allowed foreign equity holdings earlier,the sector might have avoided its troubles.
ANCHIT MATHUR
New Delhi
Syria in red
* Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising in 2011,more than 70,000 people have been killed,according to the editorial Crossing the red line (IE,April 27). Its now being alleged that the Bashar al-Assad regime is using chemical weapons. This,if true,is not only crossing the red line the US had warned against,but a serious war crime. It seems Syrias future will now be decided by the opposition and its neighbours.
Vijay D. Patil
Captain hero
* It was a heroic innings from M.S. Dhoni,captain of the Chennai Super Kings,which tilted the scales against Sun Risers Hyderabad (In the end,the finisher,IE,April 26). His unbeaten knock of 67 runs off 37 balls enabled his team to score 46 runs in the last four overs. This outclassed the power-packed knock of 36 runs off 16 balls by A. Ashish Reddy in the company of S. Dhawan,the economic bowling spell of K. Sharma and the impressive spin from A. Mishra for Hyderabad.
V. Sethuraman
Chennai
