Tavleen Singh's arguments against POTO were puerile and unconvincing ("Much Ado About POTO", December 10). She almost seemed to assert that a ban on smoking was not warranted. Singh should realise that the suffocation and nausea a passive smoker is forced to experience can be done away with either through the common sense of the smoker or a proper law enforcement agency. Secondly, the definition of law and the law enforcement agencies pose problems in implementing the law and not the law per se. The need is to change the attitude and mental frame of the Indian citizen, politician and the law enforcement agencies.

M. Nagesh Babu, on e-mail

The efficacy of any legislation, POTO included, depends on the five Is: intent, interpretation, implementation, infrastructure and integrity.

Armin Wandrewala, Mumbai

Indigenously Grown

The arguments forwarded by status quoists banning foreign investment in print media are self-serving ("Swadeshi Times", December 3). Surely a country of our size and with a robust democratic set-up should not be nervous about contrary and divergent views. Most of the news dailies in our country carry snippets, columns and opinions culled from foreign sources and periodicals. In the age of the Internet, where information is free flowing, the Government must not stick to some antidiluvian resolution.

Ajay. B. Pradhan, Nashik

Marathi daily Lokmat is not a "new entrant" as mentioned in your article. It is a 31-year-old publishing group and has a circulation far in excess of Sakal, making it the largest-selling newspaper in Maharashtra.

Vijay Darda, Chairman, Lokmat Group of Newspapers, Delhi

The error is regretted. -Editor

Clarion Call

Your editorial calling on Indian leaders to emulate President George Bush was timely ("Lessons of War", December 3). Instead of taking action, Indian leaders have been crying about "cross-border terrorism" and exhorting the world to declare Pakistan a "terrorist state". But no such declaration can solve the problem. Terrorism in Kashmir calls for firm and resolute action. India should earn and command respect as a military power by punishing Pakistan for harbouring, training and using the terrorists in its undeclared war against India.

Jeff Ram Brijvasi, Toronto

History Rewritten

Asoka was destined to fail because whenever any movie is made on a historical figure, people compare it with Sir Richard Attenborough's Gandhi ("Dreams Unlimited", November 26). Disappointingly, Asoka doesn't come anywhere close to the yardstick. The final nail in the coffin came in the form of the emperor prancing around trees. Let us hope Shah Rukh Khan does not make a film on Gautam Buddha or Mahavir.

Kanak R. Nambiar, on e-mail

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