Games politicians play

The editorial Mumbai meri ban (Feb 5) wro-ngly blamed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for the violence in the city.

Misplaced support
Apropos of Vinay Lal’s article Mother Courage (February 4), Bilkis Bano won the legal battle because she got support from ‘secular’ politicians. But where were these leaders when Shah Bano, also a Muslim, was fighting for her due? There are several women who have faced more difficult situations than Bano. Do they also deserve the Bharat Ratna?
Pankaj Mishra, via e-mail

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Games politicians play
The editorial Mumbai meri ban (February 5) wro-ngly blamed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for the violence in the city. Most politicians use the same route to stay in power. After getting some plum berth in state and central ministries, most politicians recruit people from their constituencies, even if they don’t meet the qualification criteria.
Kedarnath R Aiyar, Mumbai

Clear quota stand
Apropos of Pankaj Vohra’s article Old whine in a new bottle (February 4), though the BJP’s national executive reserved 33 per cent seats for women in the party, it remains to be seen whether the party can get the Women’s Reservation Bill passed in Parliament.
Bishal Das, Delhi

No help for poor donors
The unearthing of the illegal kidney racket should make us think twice before we go ga-ga over medical tourism. Health Minister A. Ramadoss said the government is planning to establish five more Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisations (Orbo) in different parts of the country. But what happened to the Orbo which was established at AIIMS in 1997?
Anupama Singh, via e-mail

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Several investigating agencies are probing the kidney racket but no one is bothered about the poor donors. The government should create a fund with the ill-gotten money of the accused and spend it for the welfare of these donors.
Manjula Pal, Delhi