Funding for Indian politicians should be more transparent

Our readers have their say about Indian elections and plastic bags

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for another five-year term after a landslide victory. Getty

I write to you in reference to Samanth Subramanian's article Modi's victory in the Indian elections offers vital lessons for opponents of populism (May 25).

The new electoral bonds are a measure initiated by the BJP that could encourage backdoor corruption. The measure contributes to rendering political donations more opaque.

Unfortunately, few Indians understand the implications of this draconian measure. There is a danger that any person or business could buy nameless electoral bonds and deposit them with any party and the bonds are cashed in with no questions asked.

The BJP and Narendra Modi are supposed to be fighting corruption but have instead legalised the opaque funding of political parties.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Congress must take stock of its crushing defeat at the polls

I write to you in reference to Samanth Subramanian's article To reverse decline, must India's Congress party ditch its dynasty? (May 27).

This article about the crushing defeat of Congress during the recent Indian elections was truly insightful. Despite Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s offer to resign his post, members of his party refused to let him step down. I was truly surprised to see this as he did not show great leadership during the election campaign and his party got very bad results.

Senior leaders such as Gulam Nabi Azad wish to retain Mr Gandhi and keep him in his current position, which shows that Congress loyalists have not learned anything from their overwhelming defeat at the polls.

There are many senior leaders in the Congress party who could do a better job than Mr Gandhi but they are forced to take a back seat, as he drives his party over a cliff. Dynasties continue to wreak havoc in Indian politics.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

It's time to stop using disposable plastic bags

I write to you in reference to Emily Price's article How to reduce food waste in your home (May 26).

I love this article and found it gives great advice. However I have to caution readers against using disposable bags.

Containers work just as well and they can be washed and reused indefinitely. It is time for us to drastically reduce our disposable plastic consumption here in the UAE.

Nina Wedel Joergensen, Dubai