The Cover Story (June 4) presented a fine picture of the differences between India and Pakistan. In resuming talks, the basic thing is to build trust. The Pakistan Prime Minister and the Army chief coming together could make the talks fruitful. Though one should not expect miracles, there is a chance for better understanding in the future.
A. Jacob Sahayam ThiruvananthapuramThe Cover Story article Bridging the gap, though informative and interesting, ignored the fact that the talks that India has had with Pakistan several times in the past all failed miserably. Whenever the Indian Prime Minister meets the Pakistan Prime Minister, Indians are unnecessarily optimistic that the outcome will be good.
First of all, the democratic governments of Pakistan are always in a precarious situation. None has been able to complete a full term. They have always been at the mercy of the Army. Past experience indicates that generally after peace talks with India, the government is toppled and the Army takes over.
Whenever there is talk about peace with a democratically elected government of Pakistan, Indians should understand that it does not have full power, authority or control. So, it is necessary for the Pakistan Army and/or the ISI chief to also take part in peace talks, otherwise they will lead nowhere.
S.P. Sharma MumbaiThe talks between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Yusouf Raza Gilani are a waste of time. The government need not have gone back on its word that it would not hold talks with Pakistan unless those responsible for the Mumbai attacks were punished. This dialogue is to please the U.S. Like Israel, India has to reconcile itself to living with a perpetual enemy as its neighbour. India need not be friends with Pakistan; it just has to be prepared to defend itself at all times against unprovoked attacks from this irrational country. If India remains prepared for war, Pakistan will not be a problem for it.
S. Raghunatha Prabhu Alappuzha, KeralaTerrorismWhenever a terror attack occurs in India, fingers are pointed at Muslims (Hindutva hand, June 4). Many people would be rounded up, and a number of Muslim youth arrested and interrogated. A recently published book, Evidence of Suspicion by Amitava Kumar, notes how innocent Muslims are made scapegoats and spend their lives in prisons without being involved in any attacks.
A shameful example of this was the arrest, torture and incarceration of 75 young Muslims in Hyderabad in 2007 and 2008. The recent report that links Hindutva groups with the Ajmer Sharif blasts is welcome. Hopefully, there will be more such reports.
This is a lesson to investigators and the police department that honest investigations should be carried out before anyone is accused.
S. Ajish Khan Pollachi, Tamil NaduSasthamkottaIt was shocking to read about the receding of the Sasthamkotta lake (A lake's last sigh?, June 4). It is not enough to create awareness programmes on the issue for World Water Day and World Environment Day.
The government should immediately take steps to ban the mining of clay and sand in the area to protect this natural water resource.
Jayalekshmi Rajasekaran Tirunelveli, T. N.NarcoanalysisThe Supreme Court's landmark judgment against forced narcoanalysis, or truth serum tests, is commendable (Moment of truth, June 4).
Physicians argue that the intravenous administration of the sedative sodium pentothal could lead to side-effects such as headaches, chronic respiratory problems, amnesia and even coma. Despite knowing this, Indian investigative authorities continued to practise this barbaric mode of investigation. Perhaps, this is the only country that depended on this unconstitutional mode of investigation.
Ippili Santhosh Kumar Srikakulam, A.P.The Supreme Court's ruling limiting the use of brain mapping and polygraph tests is welcome although it has come late in the day and has loopholes.
S. Vanthondan Tiruchirappalli, T.N.The article on narcoanalysis, polygraph examinations and brainmapping tests was informative. These much-abused tests elicit information that may not necessarily be true, and the Supreme Court's judgment is apt.
K.R. Srinivasan SecunderabadKhap ruleRajasthan appears to be sliding into the medieval ages, with its khap panchayats justifying honour killings and demanding an amendment to the Hindu Marriage Act (Outside the law, June 4).
Khaps are neofeudalistic organisations that question the rule of law and defy the constitutionally guaranteed equality of citizens. During elections, they decide the fate of candidates on the basis of the candidates' caste.
Rajasthan, where even now the pernicious practice of sati has supporters, needs great social reformers like Raja Ram Mohun Roy to cleanse its social system.
S.M. Kompella Kakinada, A.P.IPLMaking money by any means goes against the spirit of cricket (League of scandals, May 21). The functioning of the IPL committee is not transparent. The organisations and people involved in the IPL are not interested in locating talent or promoting sports in India.
T20 is the market version of cricket. The most disappointing and frustrating aspect is that while there is a shortage of electricity in India for irrigation and industry, enormous quantities of power are used to organise floodlit matches.
Surendra Kumar Yadav Gorakhpur, U.P.Lalit Modi has changed cricket into an Instant Profit Laboratory. Like a Hindi masala film, the T20 format entertains its viewers for three or four hours, with the added spice of cheerleaders. The format also creates a virtual ground for money laundering, frauds and many other profit-making illegal activities.
Alok Bharadwaj LucknowPeople, including mediapersons, need to be reminded that the franchises were auctioned. In an auction, it is the auctioneer's job to get the best bid price and collect the money, and Lalit Modi has done a great job.
Ratification by a board does not make sense because the success of the auction depends on the level of bidding, and the auctioneer's hammer is the final authority. Nor is it the auctioneer's responsibility to probe the financial, legal or moral probity of the bidders. The cricket board could have asked for prequalification/scrutiny of intending bidders before admitting them to the auction, but apparently it did not do so.
G. Ramakrishna MumbaiIt looks like the IPL tournaments that were being played across India on fast-track pitches for the last three years were organised by a man who never considered how today would impact tomorrow. Everyone who had something to do with the IPL was in it to make money, and as quickly as possible.
K.P. Rajan MumbaiThe title Fly in the soup was an apt one. It is only because of Shashi Tharoor and the Kochi team that the IPL fiasco got exposed. Had the team succumbed to Lalit Modi's pressure, nobody would have known about it.
K. Srikumar MuscatClarificationIn the article Corruption & state (May 21), a reference was made to Rajat Gupta's alleged involvement in the Galleon matter. Contrary to the article, I would like to clarify that Gupta has not been charged in this matter and has not done anything wrong. His record of ethical conduct and his integrity in his professional and personal life is beyond reproach. He has made significant philanthropic and civic contributions in India, the U.S. and elsewhere.
Sunali Rohra Spokesperson for Rajat Gupta Mumbai
Benazir's killingThe author of the article Palpable fraud (May 21) calls the U.N. report on Benazir Bhutto's assassination a fraud because it is critical of Pakistan, its Army and the ISI. The report is fair and seminal, but the U.N. will not indict Pakistan as a terrorist state, thanks to America.
Nirode Mohanty California, U.S.MaoistsThough development is the best strategy to deal with the Maoist insurgency, it will prove fatal if the government hesitates to take up arms against the extremists (Chinks in the armour, May 7).
The recent killing of 82 CRPF jawans proves that the paramilitary forces are inefficient. Though the Army has the experience, deploying it to counter internal threats would be harmful to the spirit of democracy.
The best strategy would be to adopt a joint manpower initiative for the Army and paramilitary forces. Well-trained Army personnel could be transferred to the paramilitary forces once they have completed their service in the Army. This will help create paramilitary forces that are well-acquainted with leadership qualities and are better aware of the tactics to be followed while dealing with Maoists.
E.A. Ibrahim Vyttila, KeralaMalnutritionThe Cover Story on malnutrition among children (Stunted India, April 23) had a good collection of articles that reflected the real India. Despite decades of state intervention, child malnutrition remains, implying that the country's economic growth has not benefited the most vulnerable sections. If the state continues with its present pro-market policies, what will be the future condition of India's poor? The Cover Story is a wake-up call.
Sarbeswar Padhan Burla, OrissaMore shocking in a way than the Cover Story on Stunted India was the fact that many readers (Indians) learned about the country's malnourished children only after going through the articles in Frontline.
It is not surprising that our political leaders are not interested in dealing with such issues because children do not form part of any vote bank. There is also the misconception that children are the responsibility not of the state but of their families. The government has made its priorities clear by allocating less than 1 per cent of the GDP for schemes such as the Integrated Child Development Services.
Silpa Satheesh Kottayam, KeralaAnnouncementLetters, whether by surface mail or e-mail, must carry the full postal address and the full name, or the name with initials.
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