WEST BENGAL-Rigmarole over English

sale of government shareholding in public sector undertakings. The campaign for reducing labour costs for industry by retrenchment of workers is being stepped up. The emphasis is shifting away from protection of lndian industry against unfair competition of TNCs in the Indian market. A step-up in public investment for building the economic infrastructure and raising productivity of human capital does not appear feasible to policy-makers because of the financial crunch. Moves are afoot to pacify and mollify selected foreign business interests in the fond hope of cultivating them as lobbies to play politics in favour of India and its government, This represents bogus and dangerous thinking. The upshot is likely to be that Indian politicians, senior administrators, businessmen and top professionals will be drawn more and more actively into the vortex of corruption organised by TNCs worldwide.