Why safety fears need a more mature response

Tower troubles

Business Standard

Back to cereals

Narendra Modi recently questioned the Congress and the UPA government's attempts to claim ownership of the Lok Pal Bill and their enthusiasm to push it in Parliament, asking why the Congress government in Uttarakhand was not able to pass a Lok Ayukta Bill so far. To this, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh responded with a counter question: How can Modi, whose government did not appoint one (Lok Ayukta) for 10 years, talk about Uttarakhand not having a Lok Ayukta? He then went on to explain that the current Uttarakhand government had a problem with the earlier draft made by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led B C Khanduri government in the state and were modifying it. As for Modi, Ramesh said his comment on the Lok Ayukta is as inappropriate as Asaram Bapu talking about virginity.

Lok Ayukta and virginity

The surfeit of marathons across the country on Sunday, December 15, created considerable confusion, especially in the capital. The long-scheduled event was a glamorous annual Airtel half-marathon in Delhi, currently in its ninth year, that attracted around 30,000 runners including several regulars from corporate boardrooms and a fair sprinkling from Bollywood. However, political developments took some of the sheen off this year's event. First, the Delhi Assembly elections forced the organisers to push the event from November-end to mid-December. Then, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's "run for unity" marathon on the same day across several states left many wondering who was running for whom, and where. A participant who had just crossed the finish line in the annual half-marathon event was overheard clarifying to a friend over the phone that it was not a BJP event.

Marathon confusion

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) was created about three months ago to evaluate various government programmes and schemes and analyse their effectiveness. This is surely a vital function in these times of heightened scrutiny, yet it has been without a permanent office since it was formed. The office, which is attached to the Planning Commission, initially functioned from the Yojana Bhawan. Later, it shifted to Vigyan Bhawan. Insiders said a permanent office for the IEO is being set up in the New Delhi Municipal Council building but till it is ready, it will have to function from temporary quarters.

Out of office

This refers the editorial 'Follow local laws' (December 16). None can fault the US law enforcement authorities proceeding against Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade if she had committed visa fraud and other alleged serious offences. But the question is whether her handcuffing and public humiliation was justified? Handcuffing may be resorted to by the escorting police 'only if the prisoner is dangerous and desperate, or is likely to break out of custody or play the vanishing trick', as the Indian Supreme Court observed while providing guidelines on the practice to be followed by the Indian police. Would the US government tolerate similar treatment meted out to its own diplomats abroad? The case reminds us of the hue and cry the US government raised in 1994 over the flogging sentence awarded by the Singapore authorities to American teenager Michael Fay, who pleaded guilty to committing mischief, like spraying paints on parked cars. America seems to believe its own citizens abroad are mor

Letters: Diplomatically incorrect

This refers to Rahul Jacob's well-articulated column "Can we speak for the world's poor?" (Caveat India, December 12). The author has vividly narrated the sorry state of affairs  when it comes to malnutrition and the apathetic attitude of our rulers to effectively resolve the issue. While on the one hand, stocks of food grains stored in Food Corporation of India's godowns are brazenly allowed to rot, on the other hand, thousands of children die of malnutrition.This exposes the cavalier attitude and the topsy-turvy policies of those responsible for governing the country. Since the country's independence, no government appears to have taken any decisive step to effectively tackle the issue of malnutrition to save children. Unless concerted efforts are made by the government immediately to address this problem, the victory reportedly achieved at the Bali conclave (based on T S Vishwanath's article "What 'victory' at Bali really means" on December 12), would really mean nothing to the poor

Letters: Malnourished policies

This refers to the editorial "Insulating shareholders" (December, 16). We need to admit that corporate profitability has bottomed out in the past few quarters. Many companies, that expanded extrapolating the nine per cent growth that India had witnessed till 2008, were shocked when growth fell and the global environment turned highly negative. India has a very high household savings rate. Unfortunately, a large part of it is not coming into the financial instruments but going into real assets like real estate and gold. The bright spot is that pressure on the rupee has abated and the trade deficit has come down dramatically.Vivek George  MavelikaraLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number

Letters: Savings can save us

One year on, gender issues are discussed - but far from solved

Still a crisis

High inflation will likely force RBI to raise rates

Fait accompli

Finance Minister P Chidambaram has never been known to hide his light under a bushel, and this was amply proved at a recent panel discussion in Mumbai. One panelist, The Economist's former editor-in-chief Bill Emmott, spoke about "how a weak government can be a big problem for India" and he also referred to the "temptations of using the financial systems in a political way". To which Chidambaram, who was also part of the panel, said, "A seemingly weak government doesn't mean you cannot have a strong finance ministry looking after it."

'Weak government, strong FM'

Many industrialists have assumed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be in power at the Centre next year, and accordingly, have turned proactive about developing a good rapport with likely power centres. Recently, when Raman Singh took the oath of office for the third time in Raipur, a beleaguered corporate chief who is ensnared by court cases was seen with BJP stalwarts including Narendra Modi and L K Advani. Similarly, other leading corporate chiefs were conspicuous during the oath-taking ceremonies in Bhopal and Jaipur. The big question is whether the BJP will extend the expected helping hand.

Associate spin-offs

December 16 demonstrations threw traffic in the capital out of gear, that too on a Monday. Even Supreme Court judges were not spared. S S Nijjar, who arrived late on Monday morning, told the waiting lawyers and litigants that he had to walk from India Gate. When everyone tried to sympathise, Nijjar quickly added, "I like walking," as the court room broke into laughter. When a counsel later tried to use the massive traffic jam as an excuse, Nijjar snapped, "That's why god has given you legs."

Walking the talk

The 18 conditions put forward by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for accepting the "unconditional" support offered by the Congress and the issue-based support offered by the Bharatiya Janata Party exposes them as a political party. While I agree with 17 conditions put forward by the AAP, I object to the one on regularising unauthorised colonies. This move will lead to corruption. The AAP has also tended to travel the much-tried path because it has spotted a captive vote bank. I expected something beyond this from Kejriwal. An administration should dissuade any unapproved or unauthorised activities in the area.B C U Nair  ThiruvananthapuramLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: letters@bsmail.inAll letters must have a postal address and telephone number

Letters: Same old politics

Major political parties in the country stand exposed with the outright rejection of Arvind Kejriwal's conditions to accept support to form a government in Delhi. Their contention that these conditions are excuses to run away from responsibilities is feeble. Unlike the popular trend of political parties trying to grab power by hook or crook, Kejriwal has taken a principled stand by not making any unprincipled alliance to take hold of power. Instead of rejecting the conditions proposed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and attacking Kejriwal with illogical, irrational and unsubstantiated allegations, these political parties should come out with their specific objections to each of AAP's 18 conditions. AAP's first condition of no red light beacons, no big houses or no special security to VIPs has the pious intention of curtailing unnecessary government expenditure and controlling the super-special status given to the "servants" of the people. Is this condition, in any way, giving undue benefit

Letters: Kejriwal's conditions

This refers to "Vacating the vacations" (Chinese Whispers, December 13). It throws light on the need to curtail summer vacations for the judiciary in the wake of the swelling backlogs of cases in higher courts. In response to a parliamentary question by Haribhai Chaudhary of the Bharatiya Janata Party whether the judiciary "enjoys" summer vacations every year since the British era, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal stated that a recommendation has been made to curtail vacations in higher courts by 10 to 15 days. Earlier, it was acceptable for the judiciary to enjoy summer vacations when the pendency of court cases was manageable. But, times have changed. Since courts have failed to show seriousness in disposing of cases within a time-bound frame, summer vacations for the judiciary must be dispensed with. If other departments can work during the summers, why should the judiciary enjoy summer vacations?K V Seetharamaiah  HassanLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business

Letters: Curtail court vacations

A price index for agri commodities: A Business Standard and Indicus Analytics initiative

Indicus price monitor

RBI's pressure points while formulating monetary policy

StatsGuru: 16-December-2013

Business Standard analyses a family's finances and suggests a suitable way forward

Case study

Anuj Agarwal, MD & CEO of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance, answers your questionsRecently, I realised I had been mis-sold an insurance product. I was sold a traditional product in early 2010 when I wanted to buy a term plan. I have put in around Rs 1.30 lakh in the policy. I do not want this policy now. Should I exit the plan or stop paying the premiums?According to Irda regulations, you have the option of cancelling your policy within the 15-day free-look period. The insurer is bound to refund the premiums paid after certain mandatory deductions, in case you feel you have been mis-sold an insurance product.The second step is to read the terms and conditions mentioned in the policy bond and inform your intermediary or insurer if there is any discrepancy within the first 15 days of receipt of the policy bond. Most insurers have a 24-hour call centre or a welcome/verification call facility to register such grievances. Policy terms and conditions are also reiterated during such calls. Yo

Life Insurance: Anuj Agarwal

A closer look at the number and types of complaints in the insurance sector

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