I entirely agree with the views expressed in the editorial “Don't bail out” (Nov. 13). The Kingfisher airlines has itself to blame for making huge losses. The prices of essential commodities are increasing and there is already considerable burden on the common man. In such a scenario, there is no logical reason for the government to come to the assistance of a private enterprise, which operates only for profit. Did Vijay Mallya share his profits with the government?
N.V.S. Praveen,Kozhikode
The editorial and the report “The rise and fall of a castle in the air” (Nov. 13) expose the hypocrisy of the corporate sector and the influence it wields in our country. On the one hand, the advocates of the corporate sector and the LPG lobby sing paeans to the efficiency of the private sector. They also argue for the removal of subsidies. But when the so-assumed geniuses make a mess of things, they expect the public sector to help them, risking people's resources. Why should airlines have been privatised in the first place? Has not the move led to unhealthy competition and made a profit-making and reputed public sector company like Air India a loss-making proposition?
Kasim Sait,Chennai
The editorial rightly says that the government which took so long to come to the aid of Air India should not even think of bailing out Kingfisher. But can we expect justice in a country where the government cuts subsidies to farmers but subsidises multinationals and corporations so that they feel ‘incentivised' to invest in India?
Ritvik Chaturvedi,New Delhi
It is only because of Captain G.R. Gopinath of Air Deccan and Vijay Mallya of Kingfisher that the middle classes could think of travelling by air, which was the exclusive privilege of affluent classes till a decade ago.
It appears that the privilege enjoyed by the middle class is set to be taken away. Once again, only the affluent and VIPs can afford to travel by air. The UPA government which has squandered funds to the tune of Rs1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum deal can definitely bail out Kingfisher Airlines.
R. Balasubramaniam,Jamshedpur
