I was a bit troubled by the way our finance minister, Shri. Arun Jaitley, responded to a former finance minister, Shri. Yashwant Sinha's article on the state of economic affairs in the country.
Dear Shri. Arun Jaitley,
I was a bit hurt by the tone of your rebuttal to a former finance minister, Shri. Yashwant Sinha's critique of the government's economic policies, under your very able guidance as the finance minister.
I have a father who is 80 years old, who despite being crippled due to the amputation of a leg, is still of sharp mind and memory and is even able to solve complex algebraic and trigonometric problems with his grand-daughters. Blind in one eye, he is also a voracious reader and writes down his thoughts on philosophy and economics everyday, a testimony to his razor sharp memory and mind. All this apart, he has a rich wealth of experience gained through his education, career and general life experiences. If there were no age for retirement, I am sure he would still be highly employable and would also prove to be an invaluable asset to his employer.
I have a father who is 80 years old, who despite being crippled due to the amputation of a leg, is still of sharp mind and memory and is even able to solve complex algebraic and trigonometric problems with his grand-daughters. Blind in one eye, he is also a voracious reader and writes down his thoughts on philosophy and economics everyday, a testimony to his razor sharp memory and mind. All this apart, he has a rich wealth of experience gained through his education, career and general life experiences. If there were no age for retirement, I am sure he would still be highly employable and would also prove to be an invaluable asset to his employer.
I believe that we live in a democracy and that every citizen has the right to express her/his dissent; more so, if the person has had experience in the field and believes that something is going wrong - it does take great courage to speak the truth and greater to accept it. Of course, truth is subjective, but that is a matter that can be debated upon. Age and gender have absolutely nothing to do with it. I have held you in great regard as a lawyer, Sir, and you would know well that as a lawyer you would always argue on the facts of the case, never getting personal. I would have loved it if you had done the same in this case, too. Getting personal isn't the sign of conviction of belief; rather, it may be perceived as a sign of a lack of strong evidence to support the case. Someday you, too, Sir, will be referred to as a former finance minister of the country and I sincerely hope that you will be treated more generously.
The BJP has always prided itself in being a flag bearer of Hindustani sanskaar and it surprised me that you spoke the way you did of someone elderly. It surprised me more when the government placed the task of responding to the article with Shri. Yashwant Sinha's son and Minister, Shri. Jayant Sinha. What was the point in the son v/s father duel, more so when the son is the Minister of State for Civil Aviation?
I wondered if Shri. Jayant Sinha may be put in a quandary with regard to where his dharma lay after having been asked to respond to his father, Shri. Yashwant Sinha's, critique. Shri. Yashwant Sinha clarified that, saying that his son would follow his dharma as a minister and he would follow his as a citizen of the country.
I wondered if Shri. Jayant Sinha may be put in a quandary with regard to where his dharma lay after having been asked to respond to his father, Shri. Yashwant Sinha's, critique. Shri. Yashwant Sinha clarified that, saying that his son would follow his dharma as a minister and he would follow his as a citizen of the country.
May be it is my dharma to stand up for all those 80 year old gentlemen of this country, who might have served this country with their sweat, and, probably, blood, too, and who may have been insulted by your remark yesterday.
Yours Sincerely,
Shobha Joshi.
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