Letters: Cut the PM some slack

A K Bhattacharya in his column “PMO and the PM” (February 28) seems to suggest that while Pulok Chaterjee is doing an excellent job as principal secretary, the prime minister’s performance is not up to scratch. However, this differentiation is not borne out by the instances the author cites.

If the PM did give a clear directive that the state-controlled Coal India should import coal to meet the shortfall in supplies, is it not the responsibility of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to ensure compliance? If Chaterjee is indeed super efficient, he should have been able to rebut the specious plea of the Coal India chief and made sure that such dissent didn’t come out in the open. I have no doubt that if things had gone according to the script, Chaterjee would have earned accolades for his dynamism. And are we to assume that the PM took on the NGOs regarding the Koodankulam power project without any inputs from the PMO? Also, is there anything new in the Trinamool Congress defying the PM?

If Chaterjee is doing a good job, let it be applauded by all means, but there is no need to pass judgements on the PM in the process, who is shouldering an onerous responsibility in trying circumstances.

P Chaganty Mumbai

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