Mail of the Week

PICTURE SPEAK

"Living With Fear", November 14

"Since the common man is the target of terror, it is he who should be more vigilant and take steps to make society impervious to jehadis."

Vikrant Arora, Delhi

Dealing with Disaster

The brazen terrorist attack in Delhi at a time when the subcontinent is recuperating from a terrible earthquake reeks of desperation on the part of the jehadis to derail the India-Pakistan peace process ("Terror in Delhi", November 14). In a world polarised into the western bloc and Islamic nations, it is a pity that India has been clubbed with the western bloc despite being a secular nation and home to the second largest Muslim population of the world. It seems unlikely that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will rein in the India-centric jehadis. All that India can do at this juncture is shore up its defences by launching an effective public awareness drive and by tightening security at vulnerable areas.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan, Thiruvananthapuram

Though Pakistan has condemned terrorist acts, one cannot be sure whether it is being honest. Most of the separatist and militant groups operating in the Valley have roots in Pakistan. Terrorist training camps still exist in that country. Pakistan needs to be more transparent in its dealings with militant organisations. Condemnation is not enough.

Madhu R.D. Singh, Ambala

There is an urgent need for the Government to change its attitude towards terrorism and be more aggressive. If necessary, the laws should be changed and steps taken to banish fear from the minds of the people. A terrorist act should be seen as a betrayal of the nation.

Bipin Pandya, Rajkot

The lives of 70 passengers travelling in the DTC bus were saved by the courageous joint effort of driver Kuldeep Singh and conductor Budh Prakash. The promptness with which they took the bus to a safer place and evacuated all the passengers is commendable. The Government should give adequate rewards to both and also provide the best possible medical aid to the driver.

Surendra Kumar Srivastava, Lucknow

There is a need for awareness among the public about precautionary measures like identifying suspicious objects and individuals and forewarning the police. This is routinely practised in Israel.

S. Lakshmi, on e-mail

With terrorists being trained to strike at soft targets and with an element of surprise, it is virtually impossible to have every public place under surveillance. Therefore, we need to sensitise, strengthen, modernise and augment our vigilance network in and around the possible hideouts of terrorists and their associates.

Pramod Srivastava, on e-mail

Terrorism cannot be treated as a mere law-and-order problem. Neither India nor Delhi is new to the menace. If such incidents happen again and again, it means India needs to change its approach to tackling terrorism. This will require a radical change in its outlook on the problem and taking some difficult decisions.

Vandana Kaul, Mumbai

Fall From Grace

A man of learning like Natwar Singh ought to have resigned immediately after his name was mentioned in the Volcker Report ("Oil's Not Well For Natwar", November 14). Not only did Natwar fail to do so, he also showed scant regard for probity and decency in public life. Volcker does not seem to have erred in naming Natwar and the Congress as the beneficiaries of the UN's oil-for-food programme. But then the Congress is Congress. Its extraordinary capacity to bury any scandal will remain unmatched.

T.S. Pattabhi Raman, Coimbatore

It is sad that some political parties, especially the Left, are treating the serious issue of Natwar being named in the Volcker report as an opportunity to target the US. Even Natwar, who played a major role in India's vote against Iran on the nuclear issue, did a somersault after the Volcker report. Such a biased stand of political parties and politicians shows that politics prevails over everything.

V.S. Ganeshan, Bangalore

The Congress is in the same dock as Natwar as both have been named in the Volcker Report. If one quits, the other should also go.

S.C. Bhatnagar, on e-mail

With the UPA in power, it is unlikely that a thorough probe will be carried out and the guilty punished. The prime minister has given a clean chit to Natwar even before the investigation is over.

A.K. Sharma, Chandigarh

The former external affairs minister is today an angry and frustrated man. Ever since the Volcker controversy broke out, he has been trashing India's foreign policy. He launched a tirade against the US and hinted at conspiracies as if he is big enough for that. He dismissed the new Government of Iraq as having no credibility, though it is recognised by India. He said he would recommend reversing the vote against Iran if the issue comes up at the IAEA. Natwar seems to have forgotten that he is not a private citizen who can air independent views on the country's foreign policy.

Anand Sriram, Mumbai

LEFT IN THE LURCH

The CPI(M) is trying hard to get rid of its ideological baggage ("Striking Distance", November 14). Trade unions will have to fight their battles alone. Shefali, Kolkata Trade unions do not want progress because if the country is developed and poverty is eradicated, their own existence will be threatened. That is why they favour strikes. Varijakshan K., Malappuram Sometimes strike is the only option the workers are left with to make themselves heard. This right should not be taken away from them. Mayank Majumdar, Lucknow

Natwar has set a bad precedent by continuing in the Union Cabinet without portfolio. He denies kickbacks, questions the validity of the Volcker Report and the credibility of Iraq itself. But everyone knows that politicians first deny their role in corruption, doubt the investigating agencies and if the verdict is not in their favour, they even lose faith in the court.

Anantha padmanabha H.M., Mysore

Bring Them to Book

Whenever a non-bailable warrant is issued against a minister or an MLA or MP, he should be directed by the party leader, prime minister, chief minister or Speaker to surrender ("Absconder's Run Ends", November 14). If he fails to do so, he should be removed as member of the House. Also, the security given to him should be withdrawn.

M.M. Kale, Kakinada

Dividing Force

Only the army should be allowed to wear the olive green combat outfit ("The Uniform Chaos", October 31). Although paramilitary forces work in similar conditions, they are deployed mostly in civil areas where such an outfit can create a feeling of unrest among people.

Andy, Delhi

Very Important Possession

One can no longer enjoy movies in cinema halls or peacefully attend business meetings because of cell phones ("... It's a Mobile Phone, November 14). One cannot enjoy walks and holidays. In fact, unless one is continuously disturbed by calls, he does not become a VIP. Thanks to cell phones, everyone can be important, naturally.

Mahesh Kapasi, Delhi

Trust Deficit

The initial hesitation of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to let Ghulam Nabi Azad take over from Mufti Mohammed Sayeed as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir shows a lack of trust in Azad's ability and a reluctance to take risks, both of which are crucial to bring back normality to the state ("Slippery Slope", November 14).

Sherry Smith, Ghaziabad.

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