Even if wishes were horses, it is doubtful whether the Congress party would be able to deliver even a fraction of what has been promised in its over-ambitious manifesto, which is obviously not backed up by any due diligence or practicalities (Page 1, “Congress promises to create wealth, ensure wealth for all”, April 3). The party should have taken into account that in all probability it may only be leading a coalition catering to uncompromisable regional aspirations. A united Opposition front with a Common Minimum Programme would have ensured more credibility. It is a pity that even after Independence, parties are still talking about finding solutions to farmers’ grievances in a predominantly agriculture-oriented nation. While all the manifestos promise windfalls, one has still to find a party with a practical road map for sustainable economic growth. Such an exercise would have automatically taken care of all the ills facing the country. It is evident that the vision and mission of all parties are aimed only at short-term electoral gains.
V. Subramanian,
Chennai
The Indian voter is inured to the lure of grand promises made once every five years or so because they struggle through the debris of broken promises every day of the intervening period before the next set of promises. Although the Congress’s manifesto promises dignity and autonomy to institutions, there is no road map for this.
P. Arihanth,
Secunderabad
The annual minimum guaranteed income, whatever be its good intent, reminds one of John Wayne’s words, “Government has no wealth and when a politician promises to give something for nothing — he must first confiscate that wealth from you either by direct taxes or by the cruelly indirect tax of inflation.” Come election time, it is not only the Congress, with its proposed NYAY scheme, but also other parties which promise huge bank loan waivers, attractive freebies, excessive subsidies that seem to throw sound principles of economic logic to the winds. All such indiscriminate doles are bound to substantially widen financial deficits, pushing the economy into a vicious circle of dented growth, escalated unemployment, snowballing inflation, hiked interest rates and growing recession. Do parties bother at all about the inescapable and long-term, self-damaging economic consequences of their myopic vote-catching strategies?
A. Mohan,
Chennai
It is time we ask our leaders why climate change and air pollution are not adequately discussed during electoral campaigns. According to the WHO, 6.2 lakh people die of air pollution and lung-related issues every year in India. In London when the air quality became poor, there was a health emergency. Subsidising electric-powered transportation and renewable energy sources is important.
Apoorv Acharya,
Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
Published - April 04, 2019 12:04 am IST
