At a time when social tensions confront political expediency, a debate on reservations is required. While announcing 27 per cent reservations for OBCs in central institutions of higher learning, the HRD minister did not wait for a cabinet nod. What was the hurry? When implemented, the policy will benefit only the affluent among the OBCs and second generation aspirants. It is not a measure in poverty alleviation but self-elevation.
AD Pandey
Delhi
Army with dentures?
Mufti Mohammed Sayeed should remember that in the joint terror mechanism meeting, Pakistan said that Kashmir does not come under the ambit of this new venture (Panel to look into J&K troop cut coming soon, March 30). In other words, cross-border terrorism in the garb of ‘freedom fighting’ continues in J&K. Removing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the state will make the army toothless. Why didn’t the Mufti demand this withdrawal when he was the chief Minister of the state?
Arun Bajpai
Lucknow
Crime and Parliament
Apropos of the report No conventionthat a tainted minister should resign: Centre (April 4), it is not clear how long the nation will have to bear the burden of tainted ministers and politicians. There should be a fast-track provision in the Supreme Court to decide cases of national interest on the basis of day-to-day hearing by a special bench.
Subhash Agrawal
Delhi
Subhash Agrawal
Delhi
Puppet democracy
In his article South by South Best (April 4), Manoj Joshi contends that democracy is essential for peace and stability in South Asia. That is a remarkable turnaround in his views in just a few days. In the Saarc region, democracy is slipping. The US-endorsed military coup in Bangladesh and the continued supply of lethal arms and billions of dollars in aid to Pervez Musharraf by the US cannot promote democracy.
Harsh Ray
Delhi