This refers to “Keep farm loan waivers out of poll promise: Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan” (December 15). The appeal made by eminent economists led by Rajan (pictured) to political parties in India that they desist from such populist tricks is timely. Whether it is the promise to waive farm loans or provide free television sets and grinders to the poor if elected to power, these amount to taking the electorate for a ride, as ultimately, the expenses are borne by the taxpayer. Such announcements only reveal the reckless desire of the political parties to capture power by hook or by