This refers to “Politics of inflation” (August 2). It is being said that the Centre alone should not be entirely blamed for inflation. However, the way the high-powered dream team of economic advisers and other functionaries has gone around handling the issue has raised serious questions about the ability of this group. Last year, when the spectre of drought was beginning to take hold, Pranab Mukherjee assured everyone that the government had close to 50 million tonnes of foodgrains and there need be no fear about either shortage of food or inflation. With soaring food prices, one expert after another, and indeed the prime minister himself, proclaimed the taming of inflation in a few months. More than a year has gone by and the dream team now hopes for a “normal” monsoon to bring down prices.
This draws attention to two serious issues. First, it is quite clear that nobody in the government has any clue about how food inflation works and what is required to curb it. Second, if in August last year it was clear that food inflation had a high probability of occurrence, why is it that the government just sat and watched and did not take any action? All this clearly shows that our bureaucrats are only capable of reacting to events rather than making things happen.
Bhaskar Bhattacharya, on email
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