The Modi government promised achhe din but it has come only for the rich and NDA politicians, not for middle class and senior citizens. The prices of almost everything are rising everyday. The proposed GST would provide no relief. Considering their meagre income, middle-class persons are heavily taxed. Interest rates on savings are have gone too low in the regime of present government, it is a jolt to senior citizens.

Their income tax exemption limit has not been enhanced either. It is a pity that senior citizens who have no taxable income are getting a notice / enquiry as to why they have not filed their returns in recent years.

It is a fact that politicians or the rich with black money and foreign accounts are not touched by the government.

M Kumar

Email

Modi phenomenon

The third anniversary of the BJP government is an apt occasion to try and understand Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has become the face of BJP and the central government and a phenomenon in Indian politics. In his pre-election interview to BBC the-then-PM-aspirant Narendra Modi confessed without the slightest hesitation that he was a “Hindu nationalist”.

And he did not reinvent himself as a moderate or secular leader. He has proved himself to be a master of tapping religious identity for political gain. The prospect of “Modism” outliving Modi is very real. While affluent classes support him in the full knowledge that he is their own, the impoverished support him under the illusion that he champions their cause. A true democracy complete with secularism, humanity and inclusion of the “human flotsam and jetsam” is still a long way off.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, TN

Give it to the needy

Apple being extended an offer of tax sops by the Government may be good news for Apple, and perhaps Apple lovers, some of whom could probably anyway afford an iPhone without having to sell a kidney. If the Government does intend to ‘Make in India’, it must first factor in the paucity of access to world-class R&D in the healthcare sector today. Medical devices, which help save lives are perhaps more deserving of such sops. It will also provide the long impending impetus to local manufacturers to produce superior quality MedTech devices.

Rama Chandrasekhar

Email

Scam-free governance

President Pranab Mukherjee rightly observed the relevance of Modi as PM in today’s India. His views that Modi is a good communicator like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi are noteworthy. Mukherjee also complimented the Modi government for its economic decisions.

The government has exhibited its true intention of doing something concrete for the nation, as seen in its effort to unearth black money through IT and ED raids. GST implementation will have a good impact on prices and ease of doing business. The tough stand against Pakistan and China speaks well of the Modi government.

VS Ganeshan

Bengaluru

In turbulence

The concern of the deputy finance minister to make Air India a global and efficient airline is a welcome statement. It is rare to see such initiatives to save a public sector unit. Even as the chief of Air India has sounded alarm about the viability of the airline, the concern of the finance ministry raises many questions.

The ‘Maharaja’ has been in the service of only the elite, till recently when competition forced it to realign its pricing and operational efficiency. In repeated infusions of capital, the government pumped in a substantial amount. Public sector is meant to operate to serve the common man rather than make profit. Air India was an exception.

The approach of the government towards other public sector units has been quite different, advising disinvestment. In a few cases, the government has recommended closure. It is strange that the government is adding strings to helping capital-starved public sector banks.

S Veeraraghavan

Coimbatore