Self-help is the best help
With reference to Namita Bhandare’s article Can the widows of Vrindavan reclaim a life of dignity? (Focus, September 2), the women of Meera Sahbhagini Mahila Ashray Sadan should have started a cooperative of sorts to earn a living and lead a dignified life of their own. Instead of blaming the government for not helping them, they should have taken legal action against those who deserted them. We need to perform ‘karma’ for ‘moksha’ and not ask for it while accepting alms.
-MPS Chadha, Mohali
Improve governance to end violence
With reference to Pankaj Mullick’s article Anatomy of violence (The Big Story, September 2), people rise against governments because of dissatisfaction with the quality of governance. But, in some cases, violence is incited for political gains. This can only be checked with better governance.
-Subhash Vaid, via email
Modi is very much PM material
This refers to the article My way or the highway (Chanakya, September 2), Narendra Modi has all the attributes to lead the country. The only hitch is his image. The Gujarat chief minister, as Chanakya rightly suggested, should say sorry and clear the air. I am convinced that Modi is a secular leader and will do wonders for the country as prime minister.
-RD Singh, via email
II
Chanakya cogently argues that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi cannot plausibly deny his personal involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The author then goes on to make the remarkable assertion that an apology from Modi will satisfy all but the “loony fringe”, clearing his path to Delhi and, presumably, eventual prime ministership. This amounts to considering the preplanned massacre of over a thousand individuals as something akin to a minor traffic violation. We find it an affront to basic morality to even contemplate a prime ministerial position for a person who cannot plausibly deny a central role in a crime of this magnitude. Do these old fashioned views place us in the “loony fringe”?
-Om Damani, IIT Bombay, Ananya Dasgupta, TIFR, Mumbai and others
II
Chanakya cogently argues that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi cannot plausibly deny his personal involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The author then goes on to make the remarkable assertion that an apology from Modi will satisfy all but the “loony fringe”, clearing his path to Delhi and, presumably, eventual prime ministership. This amounts to considering the preplanned massacre of over a thousand individuals as something akin to a minor traffic violation. We find it an affront to basic morality to even contemplate a prime ministerial position for a person who cannot plausibly deny a central role in a crime of this magnitude. Do these old fashioned views place us in the “loony fringe”?
-Om Damani, IIT Bombay, Ananya Dasgupta, TIFR, Mumbai and others
No such thing as a free lunch
With reference to Karan Thapar’s Definitely not Colgate (Sunday Sentiments, September 2), when it comes to taking decisions on matters based on recommendations, the main responsibility lies with the final decision-maker. It is wrong for PM Manmohan Singh to blame the state governments for the coal scam. Also, the fact that the allottees got coal blocks at cheap rates proves that there must have been some quid pro quo between them and the UPA government.
-Yedendra Kumar, via email
II
I don’t agree with Thapar’s opinions. By commission or omission, the prime minister is responsible for the coal scam. He now needs to declare a judicial probe into the scam and find out who was actually responsible for this huge loss to the exchequer.
-Ramesh Sinha, via email
All play, no work for our MPs
This refers to Manas Chakravarty’s article No performance anxiety (Loose Canon, September 2). It’s true that our parliamentarians don’t work hard these days. They just come to Parliament, shout a bit and leave. The fact that their stalling Parliament during the recent monsoon session cost the exchequer millions of rupees did not affect our revered leaders is appalling. Since master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is slowly losing his cricketing form, he should consider attending Parliament regularly, as it may inspire others to take their political innings seriously.
-A Azim, Lucknow
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