What a Mockery!

Dr Manmohan Singh was never known for his political or diplomatic skills. His only skill was economics. However, the turn of events now show that even those skills were merely theoretical. A country cannot be run on any hypothetical theories of economics. The economy of India today stands ruined.

Dr Manmohan Singh was nominated to the Prime Minister’s post only for two reasons. First, to keep the top seat hot for Prince Charming, and second, to practise economics. Unfortunately, he has failed on both counts. His baby-sitting for Heir in Waiting failed because the chair he occupied was far heavier than his own weight. The responsibilities of Prime Ministership constituted a work load far heavier than his weak shoulders could carry. What can you expect from a Prime Minister who is afraid to face more than five newspaper editors once in seven years, leave aside contesting general elections? Besides, the recent UP elections have shown that the top seat may no longer remain with his party, thereby rendering his entire tenure of baby-sitting futile.

Regarding his second distinction of being an economist, evidently the knowledge has been used more to practise and shield corruption, rather than generating development. The economy of the country is so bad that even Indian business houses are shifting fresh investments to other countries. Despite having full details of black money accounts abroad, he is unwilling to bring back a single paisa. Petroleum companies are having a field day minting money in India.

Anti-corruption protests are suppressed by dialogues like “the Parliament is supreme” and “laws cannot be made on streets”. But when it comes to increasing petroleum prices, the so-called supremacy takes a back seat. There, the prices are decided on the streets and Parliament has no role to play. Supremacy of the Parliament  conveniently vanishes before petroleum companies. What a mockery of Parliament Manmohan Singh has made!

Prabin Sonowal, Udaypur, Chowkidinghi, Dibrugarh.

Murky Medical Affairs

This refers to your news item “Why is IMA agitating against exposures in Satyamev Jayate?” (June 6, 2012) and the letter of Madhu Agarwal on the same date. We do not have any complaints against the IMA but the Executive Committee members of the IMA appeared to be directed by some vested member controlling the IMA through the Executive  Committee. Otherwise how is it possible for the president of the IMA of a State unit to continue as president?

The Centre has done a right thing by dissolving the MCI (Medical Council of India) which was controlling the medical colleges of the country. Satyamev Jayate has very rightly shown that by paying half-a-crore rupees you can get a seat in a medical college? This was possible because of corruption in the MCI under the direct or indirect control of one-time president Dr K Desai as shown in Satyamev Jayate. The IMA house, Delhi was constructed under support from this president who has made one room, No. 501, allotted to him permanently with the very knowledge of the IMA members. When this particular suspended president was not in office, he used to throw dinner and drinks to the Executive Committee members in this IMA room one day prior to the sitting of the Executive Committee of the MCI to give permission to medical colleges. Unfortunately, it was decided there before the Executive Committee members met the next day in MCI Office. After his suspension of five years was over, he organized a meeting of all IMA members at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi by arranging accommodation and also air travel for some of the members of the MCI where his name was unanimously proposed as the incoming president.

What happened after that, all the people of the country know — the infamous functioning of the MCI.

Dr Sukanta Mazumdar, Chandmari, Guwahati.