It is true that the Congress' dirty tricks department has got into the act. The alleged "snooping" tape was with the Central Bureau of Investigation for four years and has been released at the height of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's campaign. The allegation, even if proved true, amounts to snooping - a minor political crime. This is nothing in comparison to the heinous crimes committed by the Congress - the promulgation of Emergency, pogrom against the Sikhs and now gagging free speech by restricting opinion polls and social media. It has failed to discover any chinks in Modi's armour. The BJP should not spend time clarifying such allegations the authenticity of which even Cobrapost has not vouched for.Chandan Parhi  BhubaneswarLetters 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 te

Letters: Look who's talking

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Why the Maldives' election is bad news for India

Ignoring values

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That Election Commission officials have a fine sense of politics was amply demonstrated at a media preview on Sunday of the paper audit trail attached to the electronic voter machines (EVMs). These upgraded EVMs will be piloted in some constituencies of Delhi and Mizoram in the Assembly elections. The machine on display had also been upgraded with the controversial None of the Above (NOTA) option, which was introduced on the Commission's recommendations and has been strongly opposed almost across the political spectrum. Perhaps that is why the official who good-naturedly agreed to be photographed with the EVM promptly and emphatically declined to place his finger above the NOTA option.

NOTA chance

As expected, the rally for Narendra Modi in Bangalore on Sunday, saw a huge turnout from people all over Karnataka. But not all those who attended did so solely for the privilege of listening to the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate. Many of them, who claim not to have been paid to attend, had come from far-flung destinations and poor backgrounds. What they really coveted were the flex boards that surrounded the venue, which they dismantled once the rally was over and took back as reinforcements for their houses.

Home run

Struggling to counter the so-called media bombardment by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the ruling Congress party is trying every which way to discredit the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate, never mind the occasion. At a recent press meeting, for instance, a senior Congress leader made disparaging references to the description of Modi's apparent popularity as a "Modi wave" or "Modi toofan" (storm). A storm always leaves destruction in its path, the leader sagely pointed out, and Modi is no different. To underline the message, he even pointed to the recent cyclone in Philippines, which killed 10,000 people.

Storm warning?

This refers to the news item "Objectionable election speeches" (Checklist, November 17). It is true that our election campaigning has taken a high-pitch decibel level, and is often laced with invective and innuendos. We should maintain a level of decorum and dignity in public debate. Agreed, that in the heat of election rhetoric one may lose this sense of proportion but as leaders who are also role models to the next generation every effort should be made to maintain protocol during campaigning. In this context, I am reminded of an anecdote that is attributed to former US president Richard Nixon. He said the media has the responsibility to scrutinise the Presidency "with a microscope" but using other devices such as a proctoscope, is "going too far".H N Ramakrishna  BangaloreLetters 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

Letters: Campaigning decorum

It was interesting to note that the all-India peak load factor of the electricity sector for October was about 54 per cent. This in a country that suffers from chronic power shortages. The main reason cited by power generators is a "back-down" in power purchases by the state electricity boards (SEBs). The cause of that back-down appears to be the strict implementation of the financial restructuring package designed for them by the Centre, whereby they are now forced to live within their means. Does this mean that perhaps the Centre made a mistake in pushing through financial reforms of these SEBs without requiring a commensurate and simultaneous imposition of distribution reform, i e checking theft? Indeed, has the power reform process itself backfired? And has the financial risk of India's power woes now been transferred from the SEBs to the private-sector power generators?Rohan Soares  MumbaiLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahad

Letters: Reform short-circuit?

This refers to the editorial "Real estate reforms" (November 15). The destruction of illegal assets is a waste of resources, in terms of the sand and other construction material. Instead, such assets should be converted into public utilities such as old-age homes or hospitals. The Campa Cola row is a complicated issue - the root cause being the nexus between the municipal authorities and builders. Why should legal occupants suffer when the demolition drive takes place? There is a need for a system in which prospective buyers should know whether the builder has secured all the construction approvals. This can also be put on the website of the municipal corporation. The new proposed real estate Bill should have a provision on this, including penalties on the concerned municipal officials if norms are flouted.Deendayal M Lulla  MumbaiLetters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:The Editor, Business StandardNehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar MargNew Delhi 110 002Fax: (011) 23720201E-mail: le

Letters: Using illegal assets

This refers to the editorial "Back to basics" (November 18). The new lenders who will be licensed soon will not choose to become niche banks. If the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India want to start niche banks, they will pile up another set of sick lenders. The failure of the US banks due to the refinancing mortgage companies is not a problem that can be associated with niche banks. The 2008 crisis was the very negation of banking basics.K V Rao  BangaloreLetters 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: Banking on basics

The sustained rise in the rate of food inflation has caused problems for the Reserve Bank of India, as well as the election-bound central government

StatsGuru: Decoding the numbers that drive food inflation

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

Indicus price monitor

This refers to Sunanda K Datta-Ray's column "The last post" (Where Money Talks, November 16). India Post's roadside pillar boxes are disappearing fast. While the private couriers are laughing their way to banks, India Post is making losses. The latter's rates for various services have not been revised for years. It has also stopped stamping the date of receipt on incoming dak, without which you would not know for how many days the dak was lying in the post office. There are even complaints that magazines and letters not being delivered. Even after all this, India Post wishes to enter banking. The capital required to start a bank has to come from public funds. If India Post is lucky to get permission, it may open banks in cities and not in remote villages. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, the first communications minister, introduced night air mail service in 1949 that could carry mail at night, to be delivered the next day. This example was reportedly the inspiration for the US to start its Federal

Letters: Mail chauvinism

With the press information offices of some ministries such as home and finance shifting to the newly-opened National Media Centre nearby from the congested Shastri Bhavan, a mad race has begun among bureaucrats of the remaining departments to grab the rooms left vacant by the departures. Almost every day, there are two or three requests from departments that are already housed in Shastri Bhawan (pictured), such as health, law and petroleum, to hand over the newly vacant rooms to them. In fact, the space crunch is so acute that one request has even come from the information and broadcasting ministry, of which the Press Information Bureau is a part.

Spaced out

Officials from states usually reach a broad consensus on various issues concerning the long-pending Goods & Services Tax (GST). But when these matters are discussed among state finance ministers and the Centre, there is little agreement on anything. The reason for this discrepancy has more to do with politics than economics. "My minister told me, 'you bureaucrats will be in office for 35 years, but I'm here only for five years and will have to face elections after that. So, I have to look at the political repercussions of any decisions'," says an official.

The politics of GST

It is well known that Mauritius accounts for about 40 per cent of India's foreign direct investment. But what tax authorities in India find more alarming is that a good part of this foreign investment from the tax haven originates from one building. "We hear that a few thousand crores of investment comes from one building only," said an official, implying that most investors have merely registered themselves in the island nation to take advantage of the Indo-Mauritius tax treaty, an old bone of contention between the two countries.

FDI's single window

The importance of C N R Rao's Bharat Ratna

Precious materials

Back to basics

How do insurers check policyholders' background when they get a port-in request?Insurers mostly ask a policyholder requesting to port-in a policy to produce his or her health insurance policy papers of the past four years. They mostly check the terms of the policy and the claim history. New insurers can also check with old ones for a more detailed and long-term background.What if you don't have the policy documents of the past four years?Policyholders can request their present insurer to issue the documents. Though insurers do not object to re-issuing policy documents, it could take a long time to be issued.

Tipping point

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

Case study

I am a doctor by profession. A friend suggested I buy an indemnity policy. What risks are covered under this policy and how is it different from a usual death cover?You can avail a Professional Indemnity Policy, which covers professionals for any shortcomings or disputes related to discharge of duties. In this case, it would cover you against any claims made by patients or relatives of patients pertaining to diagnosis, treatment and so on. In addition, if there are any legal proceedings, the expenses incurred on defence of the case, such as payment of fees to the attorneys would also be covered.An indemnity policy is different from a death cover. In the case of a death cover, a lump sum amount is payable in the event of death of the insured. On the other hand, an indemnity policy is a liability policy and applicable to a professional, as explained earlier.I am 26 and have been working for three years. As of now, I only have a term plan for Rs 30 lakh. What health cover would you recomm

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