No smoke without fire

No smoke without fire

* This refers to 'Smoke and mirrors' (IE, October 12). The editorial rightly points out that having well-defined, transparent rules for conducting business is the only lasting way to check corruption. More discretionary power vested in the government means greater chances of corruption. The post-reform era has been characterised by massive wealth creation and falling standards of governance. We need high growth to fund our social welfare programmes. The chances of attracting capital will increase if we have less cumbersome business processes and a more market-friendly policy environment. We must make the sources of political funding more transparent to avoid accusations of cronyism, which in turn gives a bad name to reforms. The PM was right to highlight the prevalence of corporate corruption. However, few administrative reforms have happened in his tenure. With cleaner politics and better governance, the ability of corporates to influence policies in their favour will be greatly reduced.

— Manish Kumar

Patna

In good faith

* RURAL development minister Jairam Ramesh's remarks must be viewed in perspective ('Jairam says toilets more important in India than temples', IE, October 6). Ramesh clearly wished to make a statement that would have an impact at the function to flag off the Nirmal Bharat Yatra, a campaign against defecation in the open. But perhaps the rural development minister should have worded it differently. Recently, the apex court ordered the states and Union territories to ensure that there were toilets in all schools. This direction was re-issued after the states failed to comply with an earlier order. Our local governance bodies have failed to provide for the minimum sanitation needs.

— Ganapathi Bhat

Akola

Out of turn

* APROPOS 'First family, second nature' (IE, October 13), if Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra is really a private individual, why have the party spokespersons and other loyalists decided to take on Arvind Kejriwal? Vadra should deal with the charges against him as he chooses.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Romance, finis

Hail, rain make a dent in kesar mango exports

tyuty