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This is an archive article published on November 1, 2012
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Opinion Short sighted

If governments become bold and decisive only toward the end of their terms (‘Legacy politics’,IE,October 31),it is because they knows that public memory is notoriously short.

The Indian Express

November 1, 2012 10:59 PM IST First published on: Nov 1, 2012 at 10:59 PM IST

Short sighted

If governments become bold and decisive only toward the end of their terms (‘Legacy politics’,IE,October 31),it is because they knows that public memory is notoriously short. The public tends to retain only what the government does in its last days in office,and forgets its weak governance of earlier days. In this context,Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said on September 15: “Earlier the Bofors was a talking point… people forgot about it. Now it is coal. This too will be forgotten”. The government does what it likes for most of its term,at public expense,and adopts different policies in the last few months before the end of its term in an attempt to ensure victory in the next elections.

— R.P. Subramanian,New Delhi

Quick capital

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The decision to establish a National Investment Board that would function as a single nodal agency to monitor the progress of major infrastructure projects and to remove bottlenecks in their implementation would be a commendable step for this government to take (‘An agenda for governance’,IE,October 25). At present,several projects face inordinate delays at high costs because of the time lost in getting clearance from multiple agencies. This is a major disincentive for foreign investment in capital-intensive projects. Fast-tracking these projects will go a long way in improving the overall economy as well as attracting foreign capital.

— V.S. Kaushik

Bangalore

Crisis management

One must compliment the US government and its citizens for the manner in which they are coping with the devastating Hurricane Sandy (‘Death,devastation,darkness in US’,IE,October 31). The storm could have wreaked havoc and killed a large number of people had the US government not approached the catastrophe with single-minded resolution to limit its damage. The two presidential contenders have halted their campaigns at a time of unprecedented natural calamity. Would Indian politicians have responded to a calamity in a similar way? Would the government have taken similar steps to help the “aam aadmi” in such a crisis,

or would the parties have been caught up in their own disagreements and in maintaining their own power in future elections?

— V. Chandramohan

Mumbai

Price control

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THIS refers to ‘No rate cut,govt to “walk alone”’ (IE,October 31). RBI Governor D. Subbarao deserves appreciation for being patient and leaving lending rates unchanged,because controlling inflation is an important aspect of growth. Subbarao’s stand is prudent and in the interest of citizens who are already afraid of inflation and the tremendous hikes in the prices of essential commodities. The finance minister,who has desperately and repeatedly advocated RBI rate cuts,should revisit the issue and endorse the RBI’s action.

— Kishorkumar J. Ved.

Mumbai