PICTURE SPEAK

“Why UP Matters”, April 30, 2007

“UP is the microcosm of India. The state’s performance and decisions have been the barometer of our nation’s growth right from our Independence.”

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

UP=Ultimate Politics

We can safely say that leaders haven’t progressed much in their thinking (“Why UP Matters”, April 30). They still play caste and religion-based politics to get votes. We, as people, must own responsibility to discourage this.

Trisheet Chatterjee, Delhi

With the month-long election coming to an end, everyone’s focus is on UP at the moment. The outcome is important as it will determine the fate of India’s most populous and politically critical state.

Kalpana Sood, Delhi

Rahul Gandhi’s statement “I am blind, I am blind to caste and religion” should be the guiding philosophy of our political parties and the press. Even if parties select candidates on the basis of caste and religion, the media should not indulge in pinpointing the candidates’ caste and religion.

Asoke C. Banerjee, kolkata

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is trying to appease the Muslims in the state with an eye on UP elections. His intention is to highlight the secular side of the UPA Government and earn brownie points. What he doesn’t understand is the fact that he cannot do much to revive the Congress party in the state whose future is already dark.

Sudhir K. Bhave, on e-m ail

After all the hullabaloo, it’s quite possible that UP will witness a hung Assembly. It seems as if everyone is fighting a personal battle and no one is really interested in providing good administration aimed at improving the quality of life. It’s best not to devote so much of time to politics.

Srinjit Venkatesh, Delhi

Rahul Gandhi should have the courage to accept the shortcomings of his family. His party had once promised to eradicate poverty, but it did nothing in that regard. He should talk keeping in mind the pros and cons of the party.

Manmohan Bhatia, Delhi

Rahul Gandhi lacks the maturity to become a leader. He needs to do a lot of homework before getting into politics.

Venkat Raju, Vijayawada

A star campaigner of the Congress party, Rahul Gandhi is a charmer and has everything to make a good ruler. He is young, he is neutral to caste and religion. All he requires is experience and therefore should be given a chance.

Parakram Khanna, Delhi

Belated Perks

It is surprising that the Government had to announce that Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh would be treated on par with service chiefs in terms of pay, accommodation and other facilities (“Signposts, Indiascope”, April 30). Traditionally, the field marshal does not retire. On the army list, the name of Manekshaw is printed before the names of other serving officers which proves that he is still on the active list.

Mahesh Chaddha, on e-mail

Visiting Mania

For Vasundhara Raje, wooing people in Rajasthan is synonymous with visiting remote areas in the scorching summer heat (“Farsight in Raje-sthan”, April 30). A mere publicity-stunt, what she doesn’t realise is the fact that this is not enough to fetch her votes in the assembly polls that are a year-and-a-half away.

Varun Arya, Jodhpur

Grit and farsightedness are the two things required in a leader. Raje has both and it is good to see that she is doing everything concrete to retain the support of the people.

Leena Mehta, Bikaner

Tongue Tight

The DMK Government’s initiative to make Tamil the official language in the state high court will make appointments of non-Tamil speaking judges difficult (“Tongue Twister,” April 30). The Centre should not accept Karunanidhi’s decision as it will affect the delivery of justice.

Subhash Madhu, Delhi

The DMK has always loved to hate the Hindi-speaking north Indians due to political and ethnic reasons. Karunanidhi is trying to set a very dangerous trend which eventually may have terrible repercussions in other parts of the country as well.

Anurag Gupta, Kolkata

Boxoffice Debacle

After last year’s bonanza in Bollywood, there seems to be a lull in cinema (“Freaky Fridays”, April 30). The unconventional script is not doing too much of a magic on the boxoffice. It’s time Bollywood got back to doing more meaningful movies. These days viewers prefer comedy and light romantic movies which carry a strong social message.

Virendra Tangri, on e-mail

Aglow on Agni

The successful launch of Agni 3 has placed India on a strong footing (“Building India’s Missile Muscle”, April 30). Indian scientists deserve rich compliments for accomplishing the feat.

Varun Behl Dehradun

Climate Calamity

The latest UN Panel report on climate change is both frightening and alarming (“Apocalypse Now”, April 23). Almost everything under the sun is going to be affected, making life difficult for a majority of us and perhaps miserable for many. Though it will be difficult to stop the resultant calamities, governments all over the world should take the warning seriously.

M.N. Kale, Mumbai

Taste of India

It is heartening to learn that mango has finally become an export commodity for India (“Reaping the Global Fruit”, April 23). With Japan, China and the US opening their markets, India will definitely be able to yield higher profits now.

Ashish Gupta, on e-mail

Elephantine

It takes a lot to test an elephant’s patience (“Jumbo Rage”, April 23). But when over exploited, it can turn violent and create havoc.

N. Nagarajan, Secunderabad

BOUND IN RED TAPE

It’s good to read an article about IIM-trained bureaucrats suggesting radical steps to change the way babus are hired (“A Blueprint for Babudom”, April 30). But will the politicians and the easy-going bureaucrats allow its implementation? To improve efficiency in the system, first the blueprint needs to be examined. Only then can the committee prescribe changes.

M.R Mallya, Bangalore

A blueprint for babudom is what our country badly requires but it lacks practicality. It’s not easy to rid the system of the malaise of red tape as long as corruption in politics prevails.

Jagat B. Bhattacharyya, Kolkata

30
Years Ago in India Today
MAY 16-31, 1977

Horrors of Torture

In late 1969-early ’70, the infamous Lal Bazaar Police station in Calcutta as well as the offices of the Special Branch in Lord Sinha Road had requested the Finance Department of the West Bengal Government to sound-proof some of the rooms. The piercing screams at all hours of the day and night of persons being “questioned” had made it “difficult” for the families of some of the police personnel who had quarters there. Torture has been frequently used by people in power to quell any form of dissent. Its basic use is to seek information. But the sudden concern with torture stems from the fact that the post-Emergency period saw the same instruments of torture being used by the super-elite caucus to maintain itself in power and against the elitist who till recently had been accustomed to sharing it.

by Chand Joshi

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