Sriman Cynic has started reading newspapers... rather scanning through them. This headline caught
his attention - "Overall inflation to moderate to 6% by Dec, says Chawla" (Business Line, July 6, 2010).
"Food inflation is going down. It will take some time before it comes to a range that is acceptable to the Government and good for the people," Mr Ashok Chawla, Finance Secretary, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference here on Monday. He, however, declined to put a timeframe as to when the acceptable range would be achieved.
"Declined to put a timeframe" - these words keep ringing in the ears of Sriman Cynic. After all how can the government put a timeframe - we can put a timeframe, once we are in control of the situation. Deadlines have come and gone, only to be replaced by a fresh set of deadlines. The entire inflation debate has become a cruel joke. Times of India's headline (July 29, 2010) sums it up better -
