1. The article "The Age of the Aam Crorepati" (The Hindu, June 20) is a stinging piece of writing on the susceptibility of politics to money power. the term aam crorepati is seemingly an oxymoron. But it serves to highlight the fact that the newly constituted Lok Sabha is under the sway of millionaire politicians. With 836 million people still "getting by" on less Rs.20 a day and the average worth of a Lok Sabha MP being worth Rs.51 million, the gap between the poor and their rich representatives is glaring. A house of the rich for a nation of the poor is apparently a paradox. But it can be resolved by understanding the correlation between wealth and power. - G.David Milton, Maruthancode.
2. The excellent and informative article makes distressing reading. It highlights the true state of affairs - which is at variance with the picture portrayed - in our elected bodies. Facts speak louder than the din of high-decibel concerns voiced ritualistically in favour of the aam aadmi from time to time. - Satinath Sen, Bangalore.
3. The article has exposed the link between money power and governance. Our political parties have steadily discarded their policies and manifestos, resorting instead to freebies and populist schemes to lure the poor. - T.R.Krishnamurthy, Chennai.
4. The 15th Lok Sabha established the disturbing phenomenon that only people with huge wealth can occupy positions of power, even in a supposedly working democracy like India. Garibi hatao, power to the aam aadmi, and uplift of the weaker sections are all empty slogans. The polity, it seems, has been compromised irreversibly. - J.V.V.Murthy, Coimbatore.
Courtesy: 'Letters to the Editor', The Hindu, Madurai, June 22, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s.G.David Milton, Satinath Sen, T.R.Krishnamurthy, J.V.V.Murthy and The Hindu.
2. The excellent and informative article makes distressing reading. It highlights the true state of affairs - which is at variance with the picture portrayed - in our elected bodies. Facts speak louder than the din of high-decibel concerns voiced ritualistically in favour of the aam aadmi from time to time. - Satinath Sen, Bangalore.
3. The article has exposed the link between money power and governance. Our political parties have steadily discarded their policies and manifestos, resorting instead to freebies and populist schemes to lure the poor. - T.R.Krishnamurthy, Chennai.
4. The 15th Lok Sabha established the disturbing phenomenon that only people with huge wealth can occupy positions of power, even in a supposedly working democracy like India. Garibi hatao, power to the aam aadmi, and uplift of the weaker sections are all empty slogans. The polity, it seems, has been compromised irreversibly. - J.V.V.Murthy, Coimbatore.
Courtesy: 'Letters to the Editor', The Hindu, Madurai, June 22, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s.G.David Milton, Satinath Sen, T.R.Krishnamurthy, J.V.V.Murthy and The Hindu.
