This refers to Kumkum Sen’s article “The Commission & the cartel: A protracted battle ahead?” (July 2). It is certainly bold of the Competition Commission of India (CII) to impose of a penalty of Rs 6,300 crore on 11 cement companies, but the move has left many issues unresolved. CCI’s verdict is based on unjustified assumptions and does not provide fair arguments on pricing policies of cement companies. Is the government implying that companies cannot have parallel or similar prices of products and services, that no association should hold a public forum to meet and discuss business strategies or that no company should make profits? What about pricing strategies of builders? How can they be brought under control and stopped from indulging in price collusion?
Yashomati Mukherji New Delhi
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