Eliminate the lunatic

Barkha Dutt in Train to Pakistan (July 15) wrongly states that ?To walk out of the peace process is to strengthen terrorists across the border?.

Barkha Dutt in Train to Pakistan (July 15) wrongly states that ‘To walk out of the peace process is to strengthen terrorists across the border’. She should know nations survive not by ethical platitudes but by martial and commercial strength. The killing of an Indian by terrorists is an insult to the nation. Anti-India actions are the life-blood of some State leaders. Asking them to ensure peace is like asking them to quit office. Rabid dogs are best eliminated.

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JN Bhartiya
Lucknow

11/7 and police failure

Rajdeep Sardesai rightly criticised the intelligence machinery and the police for their failure to rise to the occasion following the 11/7 blasts. Many of the ills that plague our police and intelligence agencies are the result of political interference. It is futile to expect a pulverised force to respond to calamitous situations that demand efficiency and commitment. The governments of the day are squarely responsible for the mess.

RJ Khurana
Bhopal

Be practical

Apropos of the editorial Friendship band (July 20), India is justifiably pleased to have managed to persuade the G-8 outreach group to issue a joint statement against the recent terror attacks. One wonders when good sense will prevail and our leaders will act in full force against those allowing the use of their territory against us.

Tarlok Singh
Delhi

Bring transparency

The proposal of the government to keep notings and remarks out of the purview of the RTI Act is likely to destroy the very spirit and intent with which the Act was introduced (Govt gives in to babus, cripples RTI, July 21). In fact, it is only the notings on the files which have relevance to the information sought as the rest is known to everyone even otherwise. The government needs to rethink this decision and not succumb to bureaucratic pressure.

PK Srivastava
via e-mail

II

The government’s decision regarding the RTI act is unfortunate. It is only through notings that the motive of a proposal can be gauged and access to them should not be denied. Only then will those proposing any action act with more responsibility.

Deepak Narain
via e-mail

Contrary view

The article City limits (July 19) by Abhishek Singhvi deserves commendation but the fact remains that we need to match our words with our deeds to encourage tourism. To visit a historical site in India, foreigners have to pay about 20 times what Indians pay. Is this not contrary to our avowed motto of Atithi devobhava?

Soumitra Basu
Delhi

Monsoon blues

Urban Development Minister AK Walia was correct in suspending two junior engineers. Such officials get paid handsomely but when it comes to responsibilities, they blame the higher authorities. They should be made answerable before Delhi faces a Mumbai-like mayhem. The MCD should have learnt a lesson from the Mumbai floods. As things stand, only a few showers have exposed the inadequate traffic and drainage system of Delhi.

Shreya Bhatnagar
Delhi

II

Delhi has lost its greenery and the nicer facets of its architecture. The city is now a city of bricks, concrete, choked drainage, gross inadequacy of safe drinking water, traffic clogging and inefficient power supply. AIIMS which has been rendering excellent services to the ailing is decaying because of politicisation of its governance. The MCD should be disbanded and its civic services outsourced.

AL Agarwal
Delhi

Follow peace process

It seems ridiculous that Pervez Musharraf is talking of peace and cooperation with India when there are so many terrorist training camps operating on his side of the LoC. Pakistan has been using terrorism and tensions with India as an instrument to get its internal as well as external political objectives fulfilled, and is not sincere about the peace process.

Sandeep Kumar Kohli
Delhi

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