Disinvestment blues

This refers to the Editorial ‘Selling strategy’ (March 25). Even though IDBI Bank has recorded impressive performance in areas such as business growth, asset quality, and capital adequacy, as reflected in its stock price, but this has not helped in divesting the government stake.

With the Centre and LIC being major stakeholders, the government must look to dilute its stake significantly through a competitive price mechanism rather than inviting bids with a reserve price. This will help the Centre to get a better price.

Since the portion of equity floating in the market is limited, the government must look to sell its stake through the market at an opportune time to gain a better market-determined price.

PSU divestment must be pursued only through the market mechanism to ensure transparency and also to prevent the concentration of those equities in the hands of a few buyers. The government must enforce new methods to optimise the value of stake sales.

VSK Pillai

Changanacherry (Kerala)

Peace ironies

This refers to ‘Asim Munir: The world’s most unlikely peacemaker’ (March 25). It was intriguing to learn that amid missile strikes and drone attacks, Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir offers himself as negotiator in Middle East talks. How come that a world renowned hawk is now trying to adorn the role of some dove?

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a defence deal whereby an attack on any one of them would be construed as attack on the other. Key US military assets in Saudi Arabia being targeted by Iran in this war, also complicates matters. Let Munir first douse the fire in Afghanistan.

Kumar Gupt

Panchkula (Haryana)

Dire situation

Till recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi was telling people not to panic over the war in West Asia and energy crisis.

But now he has observed that the issue is grave and will have serious consequences (March 25 ).

One hopes that the seven empowered groups he has set up would help India handle the situation and secure India’s energy needs. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Chennai

Published on March 25, 2026