Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav has ignored senior citizens in his Budget. A 50 per cent concession across al fare slabs was expected, but there was nothing.
The Budget has disappointed. The minister should have kept in mind that senior citizens travel only when absolutely necessary. To a large extent, travel is for purposes of availing medical treatment. But nobody listens to what the aged need.
S. Narayanan, via e-mail
II
The Railway minister has totally ignored Himachal Pradesh in the Budget. No railway line has been laid in the state since Independence. While several ministers have promised to connect the hill state, nothing has ever been done about it. The PM should address this oversight and rectify the lapse.
Mangal S. Jaryal, via e-mail
Tune in, Mr FM
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram concluded his Budget speech with a Swami Vivekananda quotation, exhorting the educated to work for the poor. But I didn't find proof of this in the Budget proposals. It was yet again a populist Budget. More relief measures for the poor should have been formulated.
B.K. Chatterjee, via e-mail
Courting change
The Mumbai special court deserves encomiums for convicting nine persons in the Best Bakery case. This historical verdict will restore faith in the judiciary among the masses. It was high time that hostile witnesses like Zahira Sheikh were taken to task for changing their statements so often. Judges must use the existing laws on providing false evidence to punish the corrupt.
Shadab Ahsan, via e-mail
{{/usCountry}}Shadab Ahsan, via e-mail
{{/usCountry}}Don't give up
While the concern expressed by the Ministry of Home Affairs brings hope that the 'price tag' of high profile cases will be removed in the court of law, the average citizen expects that the concern will be sustained till a change in the system is enforced. Justice must not remain a hostage of power and influence.
Ashok Joshi, via e-mail