Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Abject surrender

The abject surrender by the UPA Government is another setback to the divestment process, which has become hostage to the pulls and pressures of allies. After resisting the Left parties' pressure on divestment in the NLC, the Prime Minister has given in to arm-twisting by the powerful southern ally. The decision has underlined the paralysis that has afflicted the functioning of the UPA Government.

J. Akshay,
Secunderabad

* * *

By threatening to withdraw support, Mr. Karunanidhi has set a bad precedent. Any divestment process hereafter will be more difficult to implement, particularly in a coalition government. By giving in to trade unions' demands, Mr. Karunanidhi has missed an opportunity to demonstrate effective political leadership.

A. Thillai Rajan,
Chennai

* * *

Mr. Karunanidhi's act would have been more commendable had the DMK Ministers at the Centre objected to the proposal when it was discussed in the Union Cabinet. His silence then, his subsequent proposal that the NLC employees be allotted preferential shares, and then his act of pressuring the Centre to withdraw the move can only be seen as a reaction to the raising of the pitch by the AIADMK. In the process, he has done serious damage to the image of the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister.

R. Shanmugam,
Chennai

* * *

The DMK's move was nothing short of a threat. Such actions are not in the interest of the nation.

S. Baqr Ali,
Chennai

* * *

The Prime Minister has allowed himself to be bullied into giving up the reform process. The DMK would have only withdrawn its Ministers from the Government, but not its support to it. It is well aware that the fall of the UPA Government will lead to another election and that it may not be able to secure as many seats as it did in 2004 again. Also, the survival of the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu depends on the Congress' support. Dr. Singh should have gone ahead with the disinvestment.

A. Seshan,
Mumbai

* * *

Disinvestment in PSUs should be well planned and well-thought-out. It should be done after taking into consideration employees' interests, consulting the State Government and other parties concerned. Once the Government takes a decision, it should not yield to pressures.

Nikhil Pavan Kalyan,
Machilipatnam, A.P.

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