— H.S. Gur

Hisar

Oil bomb

• It is time the government stopped all oil subsidies and bonds and sold petrol and diesel to private users at the market price, through the usual petrol pumps. Even if the prices of all commodities and essential services shoot up, it will at least be the true picture. Private consumption of petrol and diesel will become more prudent and car sales will drop. The government should state oil prices at the beginning of each financial year and this price should not vary across the country. Subsidised fuel should be available only to public transport, from state-owned petrol pumps. If the government desists from implementing this policy because a general election is round the corner, India’s oil-deficit bomb will explode any day.

— N. Ananth

Mumbai