Opinion Wrong move
It is surprising that several meetings between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi resulted in a rejig like this.
* It is surprising that several meetings between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi resulted in a rejig like this (Discard a few,IE,January 20). The criterion of accountability has been completely ignored and non-performers retained. All this happened even when there was no pressure from coalition partners. For instance,Vilasrao Deshmukh,even after his castigation by the Supreme Court,has been retained. His name appeared in the Adarsh scam. He was also seen to be favouring the money-lender father of a Congress MLA after an FIR was lodged against the father by a farmer in Maharashtra. Being given the rural development ministry will further annoy the already uneasy farmers of Vidarbha,to the detriment of the Congress. The PM termed this a minor reshuffle and hinted a more expansive exercise after the budget session.
Lets see if there are any fireworks then.
Yash P. Verma
Making friends
* This refers to Look South-East (IE,January 20). It is heartening to note Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the chief guest this Republic Day. Since the initiation of Indias Look East policy in the last decade,his visit will mark a new beginning of relations. Theres no conflict of interest between Jakarta and New Delhi. Instead,theres a great potential for cooperation on issues like defence,culture and trade. Trade between the two has expanded. The FTA in goods signed last year opens new doors. Indonesia is one of the major Indian Ocean Rim countries and this necessitates strategic cooperation. Given Chinas increasing aggressiveness in the neighbourhood,friendly relations with Indonesia are necessary.
Manoj Parashar
Ghaziabad
Save the ship
* The editorial Infra agenda (IE,January 21) has adequately advised PM Manmohan Singh to ensure public-private partnership after the reshuffle is more transparent and open in order to help the UPA slowly scrub out the taint of 2010. The reshuffle has proved to be an anticlimax. The new set-up is not even old wine in new bottle. Dr Singh has inducted old faces and changed portfolios as if everything were in order. So far,hes failed to run a tight ship,presumably because of political compulsions. Lets see now whether ministers have the savoir faire to save the UPA presently under siege.
Tarsem Singh
New Delhi
Network busy
* This refers to the news,Armed with a cellphone,UP keeps tab on schools mid-day meal, (IE,January 21). Its heartening to note other states are coming forward to emulate this example. It may properly control public money spent on the scheme. Now a system should be evolved to manage public money spent on other development schemes too.
Mool Chand Gupta
New Delhi
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