Politicising the deal

Sir, - Some politicians never give up the habit of politicising every issue based on their convenience. Take the recent example of the Bharat Aluminium Company (Balco). Whether the price is good or bad, can be judged best by financial analysts, not politicians. When almost all independent financial experts (not just those appointed by the Government) are saying that the price is good, there is reason to believe that the deal is good, too.

The Chhattisgadh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi, is making unnecessary noise. Stoppage of work is costing the exchequer Rs. 20 lakh a day. But who cares? In the name of ``state interest'', Mr. Jogi has already deprived the state of Rs. 1 crore. Chhatisgadh is one of the most backward States in the country. Drought in the state has worsened. Apart from this, there are many basic problems.

It looks like Mr. Jogi is raising the Balco issue to divert attention from the basic problems the State faces. Like Jogi, his party, the Congress(I), too it seems is more interested in cheap politics even in economic matters. This is the same party which supported liberalisation in its manifesto. But who cares about manifestos?

Ram Singh,

Raipur

Sir, - The article `Balco deal' by Rajinder Sachar (March 7) was an excellent analysis of the whole episode and an eye- opener to the layman. One wonders whether the powers that be have read it at all. Whatever may be the reasons, it seems that the Government is selling a profit-making public sector undertaking for a song. The ``judicial activism'' which, of late we are seeing, should initiate necessary action to begin damage control and rectification. Otherwise, in the ``deluge of disinvestment'' many profit-making PSUs may be handed over to platter to hungry private parties.

V. Sundaresan,

Hyderabad

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