GOLD IMPORT-Drain of Saving

agreements for the 'fast-track' power projects is so blatant that corruption and bribery are to be expected, indeed to be taken for granted. Even so corruption is not the heart of the matter, though it has figured prominently in the public controversy surrounding each of the deals. The central fact must not be allowed to be lost sight of that the ultimate blame must rest on the architects of the current economic policies which have elevated foreign investment and privatisation to the status of national goals with the result that today no deal is so outrageous that it cannot be justified on those grounds and pushed through. And the well-grounded apprehension that these good times may not last longer than a few months more will no doubt prompt the Salves and the Santosh Mohan Devs to redouble their efforts.