Apropos the editorial, "Fiscal time bomb" (September 7), the rubber has been stretched to the maximum. If the past is any indicator, political expediency almost always gets the better of economic priorities. Almost all governments at the Centre have been responsible in some measure for the country's sorry state of affairs at present.
Instead of wasting time moping over what should not have been done, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government, which came to power on the promise of development and clean politics, should strive to ensure greater fiscal discipline. This involves taking tough decisions in the larger interest of the country and not making long-term commitments. Subsidies should be done away with in a phased manner. The government cannot sustain itself without achieving the required level of revenues needed for the country's economic development and for implementing social welfare schemes.
The time has come to pave the way for cautious and sustained growth.
Srinivasan Umashankar Nagpur
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