Demonetisation was neither an unmitigated disaster, as claimed by the Opposition, nor an unqualified success, as trumpeted by the government (Editorial, August 31 ). The note ban has exposed a serious flaw in the quality of our political discourse — lack of objectivity and nuance in debating policies implemented by the government. The political ethos that we have nurtured is based on an adversarial culture, with the government and the Opposition viewing each other as implacable enemies. But for independent media analyses about demonetisation, the people would be left wondering which story they should believe. We need a political culture in which the relationship between the government and the Opposition is based on mutual respect. Political narratives should inform and enhance people’s understanding of major issues.
V.N. Mukundarajan,
Thiruvananthapuram