Vox pop

The debate on the Lokpal Bill is getting more farcical by the day (BJP tightlipped over Lokpal bill, July 1). While civil society is earnest in its intention to get the bill passed, the government is not willing to take its demands seriously.

The BJP's dilly-dallying on the lokpal issue does it little credit
The debate on the Lokpal Bill is getting more farcical by the day (BJP tightlipped over Lokpal bill, July 1). While civil society is earnest in its intention to get the bill passed, the government is not willing to take its demands seriously. But what's stopping the BJP from taking a firm position on the issue? Its senior leadership is constantly switching sides, making the party a laughing stock.
Janaki Narayanan, via email

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He's got it all wrong
Kapil Sibal's criticism of the Lokpal Bill is unwarranted (Up the garden path, June 30). The bill will strengthen our democracy. Public officials will become more accountable once a mechanism to check them is in place. Sibal's attempt to defend the status quo, which favours the corrupt, is weak.
Ishwar Chandra Gupta, Delhi

Too high a price to pay
The editorial Don't slip on the oil slick (Our Take, June 30) rightly suggests that the government change its tax policy on oil to favour the poor. The difference of Rs 23 in the per litre price of petrol and diesel is huge. The government incorrectly claims that the lower middle-class depends on diesel more than petrol. If subsidies are meant to help the poor, then the government must focus on making them work.
Manmohan Bhatia, Delhi

Surprise party within the party
In his article Exile on main street (Beyond the Bite, July 1), Rajdeep Sardesai confirms that Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh is playing an adversarial role to the Congress. But what's surprising is that the Congress is letting Singh get away with his outrageous claims. Is this some kind of 'party strategy'?
NS Rajan, Bangalore