Blunt the Knife

The story on the Mumbai blasts seared my soul ("Return of Terror", September 8). If the political and administrative leadership cannot prevent such tragedies, they ought to be shipped out of the country. Only a zero-tolerance policy towards the corrupt and the inefficient-in politics, administration, judiciary, legislature and the opinion-making segment-will make a difference. Punishment has to be quick and exemplary.

Saurabh Sarkar, on e-mail

If there is heaven on earth, then it must be Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir. And if there is a hell on earth, it is right next to Kashmir-it is called Pakistan.

Sandeep M. Mourya, on e-mail

For those who want friendship with Pakistan, the message from Mumbai is clear. Kashmir is not the core issue, the issue is to destroy India. Pakistan has a huge terrorist infrastructure that provides employment to its illiterate and unemployable masses, with enormous funds coming in from Saudi Arabia. Even if Pakistan wanted to, it cannot easily dismantle this vital part of its economy.

Smitha M. Kapoor, Bangalore

As resentment in the majority community over minority appeasement results in the shifting of social tectonic plates and as the neighbouring country fills the space with the help of local Islamist fundamentalists, the acts of terror mount. Sadly, this has multiplied the right-wing political force in India.

Praveen Singh Rathore, on e-mail

Depoliticise Police

Julio Ribeiro's column is a very clean assessment of the police department which has undergone attenuation in quality on account of politically influenced appointments, transfers and postings ("Policing Terror", September, 8). At one time the Mumbai Police force was considered one of the best in the world, comparable even to Scotland Yard. Unfortunately, it has fallen into disrepute. While it is not always possible to prevent a terrorist attack, a higher level of police alertness in vulnerable areas like the Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar would have made it harder for terrorists to plant bombs there.

Mirle S. Sita Ram, Bangalore

I wonder now if the Gateway of India will be remembered symbolically as an entry to India or an exit to hell. Can the "gatekeepers" reverse the situation?

N. Dharmeshwaran, Guduvancherry, Tamil Nadu

Fundamentalism and its offshoot, terrorism, cannot be wished away as a brief phenomenon. The whole world is in its grip and in India it has seen its worst manifestation for a combination of reasons. Since terrorism has come to stay, India has to confront it with professional competence. The police forces in the country are in urgent need of an overhaul. Political interference has played havoc with the system and greed now holds the security of the nation to ransom. Unless the corrupt are hounded by peoples' movement more innocent lives will be lost.

H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Mysore

Bottomless Pit

The ASI is a responsible organisation and its findings must be respected ("Shaky Foundation", September, 8). Going by their characteristics and age, remains found at Ayodhya cannot be that of a mosque. Our Muslim brethren must take the findings in the right perspective and withdraw their claim to the site in the country's larger interests.

B.H. Agarwal, Bhopal

The VHP's claim that a temple existed at the disputed site can prove counter-productive. Although the pillars and pottery excavated are being highlighted, the presence of skeletons and a graveyard point to an entirely different story.

Shruti Chandra, Delhi

Losing Fizz

Your editorial has rightly called the setting up of a JPC to go into the norms for soft drinks a "gigantic farce" ("Poisoning Priority", September 8). In fact, the whole exercise of cola-baiting is absurd and politically motivated. How can we impose EU standards for colas when there are no standards for plain drinking water, consumed by a billion people, day in and day out?

Subbiah Venkataraman, on e-mail

Who would not want to be a part of the JPC when members can visit the offices and plants of cola majors as part of so-called investigations and enjoy their lavish hospitality? Who wouldn't want to make those mandatory visits abroad to study the EU norms of quality and their compliance at the Government's expense?

Shubh Verma, on e-mail

The setting up of the JPC probe is itself a matter of probe, especially when MPs have been lobbying hard to be a part of the panel. If our MPs are sincere about public health, why don't they press for a ban on tobacco products, including cigarettes and guthkas, which admittedly are among the biggest health hazards in the country?

Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi

If the information about colas containing high levels of pesticides is true, the public should be grateful to cola manufacturers as the drinks can be used to remove the rust on chromium-plated car bumpers, to clean toilets and to prevent corrosion on battery terminals and so on.

Gouraswamy Krishna Murthy, Bangalore

Control and Delete

Computer related illnesses (CRI) have been on the rise worldwide ("Terminal Illness", September 8). There are some open source/shareware software packages downloadable from workpace.com, rsiguard.com, infinn.com/- infopack.html and workrave.com that can help reduce the effect of CRI.

N. Ramesh, on e-mail

No Role Model

I would request you to stop giving coverage to 22-year-olds who have made a fortune out of hip shaking ("Starry Heights", September 8). Nothing is inspiring enough as yet in actor Kareena Kapoor's career that warrants a one-page article. Our youngsters need more inspiring information, especially from the world of science.

Nidhi Mishra, on e-mail

Sharp Shooters

The Indian Military Academy in Dehradun deserves credit for taking new initiatives in training defence personnel ("New Warriors", September 8). There is definitely a need to change the process and concepts of our training methods and lay more emphasis on counter-insurgency training. The truth is counter-insurgency operations will be more dominant than conventional warfare in the next few years.

Lt-colonel (Retd) R.V.S. Mani, on e-mail

Real Discoverers

It took a Paul Sereno from the US to tell us in 2001 about the existence of the Rajasaurus narmadensis, a discovery made in 1983 by the Geological Survey of India ("Jurassic Bagh", September 1). While a smiling Sereno's photograph occupies prime space, there is no picture of the Indian scientists who contributed to this historic find.

Rina Mukherji, on e-mail

If the state Government's idea of turning a 50-acre plot in Raiyoli into India's first Jurassic Park takes shape, it is sure to set the cash registers ringing for the tourism industry.

Nithya gogtay, Mumbai

Soap Opera

The parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion looked like a saas-bahu mega serial episode ("A Self Confidence Motion", September 1). Sonia Gandhi looked like the saas complaining about the BJP, Advani like the bahu defending himself and the Speaker like the hapless husband sandwiched between the two.

S. Shanthi, Delhi

Distilled Truth

In an otherwise excellent coverage of the soft drinks controversy, there was an error ("The Gulp War", August 25). Contrary to what your article says, reverse osmosis does not involve salt or ion exchange. The separation is by diffusion through a dense membrane.

M.M. Gurbaxani, Bangalore

Eventful Journey

It is my hope that the metaphor used in Prabhu Chawla's essay-"My journey paralleled India's tumultuous journey"-holds good for years to come because this country needs his resilience, vigilance and analytical brilliance ("Midnight to Dawn", August 18). He has seen the "Great Indian Dream" in the dreary midnight of Partition, in India under Nehru, during the totalitarian surge and is now a part of resurgent India.

Samarendra Malik, Angul, Orissa