You name it, we’ll break it, seems to be our motto

With reference to Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s article Spoilt brats (Incidentally, July 3), it’s true that Indians take pride in flouting the rules, be it jumping traffic signals or queues.

With reference to Gopalkrishna Gandhi’s article Spoilt brats (Incidentally, July 3), it’s true that Indians take pride in flouting the rules, be it jumping traffic signals or queues. A part of the blame for our ‘misbehaviour’ goes to politicians and bureaucrats who lead from the front in this regard. They jump queues, block roads, demand special privileges and don’t care about the inconvenience they cause to people. When the ‘leaders’ of the nation don’t hesitate to go against the rules, how can one expect the common man to be disciplined? As someone who knows politics inside out, Gandhi should suggest workable ways to reduce indiscipline in the corridors of power.

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Surendra Bhargava, Delhi

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Gandhi rightly implies that Indians behave hypocritically when it comes to discipline. We criticise others for not abiding by the rules but don’t flinch while breaking them ourselves. Similarly, we demand our rights but ignore about our responsibilities and duties. Truly, our society is still far from being civilised.

B.K. Kumra, Delhi

Army marches on its rules

Pratik Kanjilal’s parochial views on the role of our armed forces are misleading (No longer anonymous, Speakeasy, July 3). One should remember that the deployment of the army depends on various factors like the area’s topography, gravity of the threat, etc. The army’s reluctance to fight the Naxals in Chhattisgarh is justified. Its use of force against civilians in Kashmir is, to an extent, valid, as it was necessary. The security forces should be above politics.

Prakash Bhatt, via email

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Kanjilal seems to suggest that our commandoes misuse the freedom given to them under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. What he forgets is that a couple of cases in the remotest parts of the country aren’t enough to question the credibility of the entire force. The Act is meant to help our security forces effectively fight insurgency and terrorism. We should remember that the army has its system of checks and balances and the guilty are suitably punished.

Subhash Vaid, via email

Let’s mind our own business

With reference to the editorial Don’t sit on it anymore (Our Take, July 8), there is no need for the government to allow foreign retail chains to set up shop in India. We are self-sufficient to meet the country’s growing demands in almost every sector. The government should instead encourage Indian entrepreneurs to set up retail outlets so that everyone from labourers to farmers to consumers benefit from them. Various Indian retail chains are already doing brisk business in major cities. Foreign investors will exploit the loopholes in our legal system and short-change consumers.

Rajan Kalia, via email

This sticks in our throat

In a country where millions go to bed hungry almost every day, there can’t be anything more heinous than letting hundreds of quintals of foodgrain rot (Wheat kept outside FCI godown spoiled, July 7)? The public demands an explanation from the agricultural minister and Food Corporation of India officials for their failure to properly store the foodgrain that got washed away recently. Why weren’t proper measures taken to ensure their storage, transportation and distribution well in advance? Demanding an official inquiry into this negligence is futile for when the head of the ministry himself is incompetent. Expecting his subordinates to work efficiently will be foolish on our part.

A.K. Bansal, Delhi