Readers' comments: 'TM Krishna's piece makes us squirm about how little we are doing to help poor'

Money and morals

This is by far the best and most relevant piece I have read on this topic (“Demonetisation woes: We, the empowered people of India, do not spare even a thought for the poor”). I hope it gets enough visibility and gets understood by many. – Supriya Saxena

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This is a very well articulated and insightful article, which makes us squirm about how little we are doing to help the poor who are suffering so much with the overnight demonetisation decision. TM Krishna has voiced accurately and what many of us had been thinking. – Tara Kini

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This is a brilliant article. Unfortunately, it is always this section that is ignored, used only when needed and trashed when not required. – Gollamudi Srinivas

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TM Krishna’s article and his views are similar to those of a few economist- astrologers who have started predicting the failure of the demonetisation drive.

TM Krishna is an authority in music and arts, but not on these issues. Any public figure who starts commenting on demonetisation prematurely without waiting it out should realise that they a probably hurting the poor further.

Many people and especially the opposition who have an axe to grind say that this move by Modi government is affecting the common man more than the one who has hoarded black money. They say, this should have been done without affecting the common man.

But all of them, including TM Krishna, need to know that the common man is part of the system that created black money. They are the ones who buy black or grey goods for cheap, who prepare fake rental agreements to show as proof of HRA, who pays bribes, buys products without a bill and buys/sells property partly in black.

So, how can a cleanup of the system exclude the common man? – Murali

The real questions

Narendra Modi’s demonetisation survey was a fait accompli (“Ten questions Modi really should have asked in his demonetisation survey”).

The questions make little sense. By intent and design, they cannot be used to gauge frank public opinion. Moreover, why depend on an app that will be available only to a small section of people, who, most likely, are least affected by the move and so still support it? Why aren’t BJP MPs and MLAs going around the country surveying the ruins and presenting first-hand reports to their bosses?

As an aside, the meekness of “big media” on demonetisation is laughable A report on the survey in a leading English daily ends with: “...the response to the app survey was mixed”, without a word in criticism! In general, big media has been days behind websites like yours in their reporting and critique of something that has shaken up the whole of India. I wonder what it is that holds them back! – Arnab Basak

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Modi and his government are saying that demonetisation will help the poor. Our prime minister then sought feedback on the move on his app. How will the poor give such feedback? They do not use the internet, or such apps. – Sunil Shah

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I would like to answer the questions raised in the article:

1. How much time did you spend at the bank or ATM to get your money from your account?
Twenty minutes. Stay at the ATM to get money.

2. Did you get the amount you needed? If yes, after how many attempts?
One of two attempts.

3. What do you think the problems you faced indicate?
I choose option (a): This was an inevitable consequence of the government’s resolve to fight black money.

4. Do you think that since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, terrorists have been starved of the currency they need to carry out their operations?
Of course, as these notes have been invalidated, they have become useless for all militants and terrorists.

5. Do you support the decision to issue Rs 2,000 notes, when higher currency notes are thought to be friendly to corruption and make it easier to hoard black money?
At the time being most of the black money in cash in the economy has become useless. It is try that high-denomination notes are used to hoard black money, but it will take at least five years for unaccounted-for wealth to accumulate again. The Rs 2,000 note will be appreciated once users get familiar with it.

6. The new Rs 2,000 note does not possess any additional security feature. Do you think it will be counterfeited and used by the terrorists?
Till the time there are traitors in the country, terrorist activities will continue. But I support the move.

7. What do you think the primary motive for this move was?
I choose (b): It was a strike against corruption

8. Did the time you sacrificed at the bank or ATMs and the problems you are facing were in national interest or are you paying the price for someone else’s blunder?

National interest.

9. Do you think the stories of people dying and suffering in the aftermath of demonetisation are fake and politically motivated?

Yes, it is fake and politically motivated. Even if there is some truth, life and death is in no one’s hands. Our soldiers also die at the border every day. I want to ask the Congress and other Opposition parties, does this mean we cede Kashmir to Pakistan? If their answer is no, that means Modi’s decision is right.

10. Do you think the decision to ban the notes and the way in which the policy was implemented are separate issues and there can be two different, diametrically opposite opinions, about them?
I have not understood the question but I stand with the note ban, it’s a bold decision. – RK Jha

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1. How much time did you spend at the bank or ATM to get your money from your account?
I went to the ATM twice so far – the first time, I spent half an hour, and the second time, I spent 10 minutes. I think most of people like me didn’t face cash problems.

2. Did you get the amount you needed? If yes, after how many attempts?
Yes. I usually debit Rs 1,000 in one go and that lasts me for a week. That’s what happened this time as well.

3. What do you think the problems you faced indicate?

a) This was an inevitable consequence of the government’s resolve to fight black money.
b) This was inevitable problem in a country of 1.25 billion people.
c) There was a complete lack of planning on the party of the government.

I will say all of above. This was necessary to fight with black money. It is very difficult to do it in 1.25-billion-strong country. Even the government has never done anything at such a big level, so there were some oversights. Also, they could not have planned extensively, because of the secrecy involved.

4. Do you think that since Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, terrorists have been starved of the currency they need to carry out their operations?
No, I don’t this step was taken as a strike against terrorism. I have seen many black money holders running back and forth performing various exercises. So if some of their financiers are black money holders, they may be affected to some level.

5. Do you support the decision to issue Rs 2,000 notes, when higher currency notes are thought to be friendly to corruption and make it easier to hoard black money?
That depends on future decisions of the government. The prime minister said that this is just a step in the war on black money, so I am optimistic about it.

6. The new Rs 2,000 note does not possess any additional security feature. Do you think it will be counterfeited and used by the terrorists?
As the RBI said, there was no time to design additional security features in new notes.

7. What do you think the primary motive for this move was?
a) Financial
b) It was a strike against corruption
c) Political

None of above. This was clearly a move against black money. And no one can deny that most of the cash in black money is wiped out due to this decision.

8. Did the time you sacrificed at the bank or ATMs and the problems you are facing were in national interest or are you paying the price for someone else’s blunder?
It was because some people didn’t feel like paying taxes.

9. Do you think the stories of people dying and suffering in the aftermath of demonetisation are fake and politically motivated?
I found suicide story fake which was re-tweeted by Arvind Kejriwal. But I think most of them are genuine and because of the inconvenience they felt due to the demonetisation.

10. Do you think the decision to ban the notes and the way in which the policy was implemented are separate issues and there can be two different, diametrically opposite opinions, about them?
Yes, but we need to keep in mind two points I raised in the answer to Question 3. – Milap

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These are the questions that need to be addressed to the nation. Real answers will come from real people. – Bharat Khanna

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It is clear the author has zero knowledge of market research or demonetisation and has written the article shamelessly, as a part of anti- government propaganda. – Prabhakar Mundkur

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Yes, I completely agree with the questions you have proposed, but I also support Modi’s initiative.

Also, the Rs 2,000 note does not seem to be a blunder to me – in fact, it could be a trick and the same could be banned suddenly, in a few years – Kaushal Sabuwala

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These are excellent questions. Kudos for framing such probing and effective questions, these are the only ones required. – G Manickam

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The writer seems to be a confused person who supports corrupt people. An honest person knows how it is difficult to live in society of corrupt people. The prime minister has told us time and again that people will face difficulties. Even the people standing in line are happy with all difficulties. Yours may be an exceptional case. – Anil Kumar Chaturvedi

Morale boost

Being from a defence background, I can understand the relevance of the surgical strike to us (“The Daily Fix: As another Indian soldier is beheaded, it’s clear that the surgical strike failed”).

I don’t know whether it has been a failure or a success in stopping terrorism, but it has certainly given soldiers courage, faith and the satisfaction that the leader of the nation is with them. That’s more than enough.

No other leader has given such authority or freedom to them in past. One who always criticises is a big failure. Criticism to a certain extent helps the country but beyond a point, it is degrading. Scroll.in staff, please keep a check on your articles, with each passing day they are losing their charm. – Anshul Chauhan

Rhyme time

Great verse and I really enjoyed reading it. (“The world is screwed: From demonetisation to Donald Trump, all our troubles in verse”) I’d just like to add to this:

Super, well-written verse, dude.
Indeed, we are all screwed.
No, not to anyone, were we rude,
Our leaders exposing us, stark nude.

– CA Agnel Pereira

Birds of a feather?

In the West, we have seen a predominance of right-wing governments throughout history (“Preparing for the Trump era: What India’s Modi years can teach the US”). So when minorities lose out on development indices, one can place the blame at their feet.

In India, on the other hand, we have historically seen a dominance of left and centre-left ideology at both central and state levels. So when we talk of bigoted policies that harm the minorities, the left in India is more similar to the right in the West than the right in India.

Impetus to kite-making industry in Gujarat, introduction of Islamic banking, and pouring more money in madrassas for education since 2014 cannot be clubbed as an anti-minority stance of the BJP govt. However, manufacturing of opinion, such as labeling Vemula’s and an ex-serviceman’s unfortunate deaths as by-products of the right wing policy, is also typical of the left-leaning media in India.

I like to read from both sides of the ideological divide, but as the left-leaning media is the more experienced, I hope to see more balanced coverage and opinion columns in your wonderful publication. – Dhananjay

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This is a perfect analysis of the situation. The sheer hatred against “others” for having upsurped what supposedly belonged to a few is unbelievable.

The scenario in India is much more worrying though as Modi seems to have several gimmicks up his sleeve that he unleashes every quarter. Be it the demonetisation or surgical strikes, these acts contribute to his image as a macho leader. He seems set to be in power for a longer duration of time. – Smita Diwase

Indian image

While I do agree with the basic premise that rape statistics are not worthy of international competition, it is also true that one can add rape to the list of stereotypes associated with India (“Why does Maneka Gandhi think rape rates are an international competition?”).

Every cub journalist seems to be trying to report every single rape incident in the country, in almost vivid detail. While in itself there’s no problem with such reportage, the unlikely consequence of this has been the unfair portrayal of Indian society as uniquely patriarchal, uniquely depraved and perhaps the rape centre of the world.

Living abroad, when you’re faced with naive questions about the “astounding rape statistics in India” and the “poor situation of women in India”, one can only wonder at the naiveté despite the good intentions behind these questions. I never heard any western newspaper cover how unique the 2012 rape was, in the groundswell activism seen by both women and men across the country.

Reams of paper, instead, were used for demonising Indian men, the Indian caste structure and the history of patriarchy in the country, as if this is uniquely Indian. And unfortunately if you repeat the same thing multiple times, it becomes fact, doesn’t it?

To give an example, India’s currently going through the biggest economic shake up in history. Just search for video and news reports on CNN about demonitisation. Compare that with the number of articles they’ve posted on rape. India had a massive election in 2014-barely any news coverage, but multiple stories of rape as if that’s the only thing happening in India.

I don’t think Maneka Gandhi was trying to undermine the significance of rape – we need to change this perspective that India is somehow unique when it comes to misogyny, or the so-called rape culture. – Rahul Maini