Governors
THE Supreme Court did well with its judgment on the powers of Governors (Cover Story, August 3). Governors are always expected to be non-political, and there is no justification for them to take part in active politics or be partisan. In general, Governors should feel fortunate that they get an opportunity to serve a State. It is unfortunate if politically minded people are selected as Governors. Gandhi once said: “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
A.J. Rangarajan, Chennai
LIC-IDBI
THE article “Shotgun Marriage” (August 3) was a brilliant analysis of the sinister designs of the National Democratic Alliance government to dole out LIC policyholders’ surplus financial resources to IDBI Bank without compunction. The NDA government is weakening or abolishing well-established statutory institutions as it did with the Planning Commission. This decision will impede the independent functioning of both the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the RBI if they give it their approval.
This takeover will have a disastrous impact on LIC. LIC itself is in need of improvement in terms of its efficacy, but the government seems indifferent to that fact.
B. Rajasekaran, Bengaluru
Pranab Mukherjee
A.G. NOORANI’S incisive article “Pranab’s mission with a purpose” (July 20) somehow omitted a significant incident: Pranab Mukherjee’s four-hour-long closed-door meeting with the RSS supremo shortly before he demitted office. During his term, when there was a marked increase in atrocities on Muslims and Dalits and various Hindutva-linked organisations flagrantly attacked basic liberties granted by the Constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee, unlike some of his predecessors such as K.R. Narayanan, confined himself to harmless generalities.
As Noorani argued, Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Nagpur and indirect endorsement of the RSS ideology has sinister implications. He is a veteran Congress leader of some eminence and with proven abilities. The Congress was expected to take a forceful stand on the visit, but its reaction was diffident. Does that mean that some sections of the Congress instead of waging a resolute ideological battle with the RSS are seeking a modus vivendi with it? If so, nothing could be more unfortunate.
Hiren Gohain, Guwahati, Assam
THE ar ticle was a well-researched treatise on a Machiavellian opportunist who kept his true colours hidden during his long political-public life. He attended the RSS function in Nagpur on June 7 to give the RSS the maximum possible respectability. He not only publicly exonerated a staunch enemy of the Congress of all the serious charges against it but also eulogised its founder, K.B. Hedgewar. Only time will tell whether Pranab Mukherjee benefited in any way from his mission.
M.N. Bhartiya, Alto-Porvorim, Goa
Plastics
Maharashtra’s decision to ban plastics may have been taken in a hurry, but its benefits will be long lasting (“A plastic ban”, July 20). Over the past few decades, the plastics industry has introduced non-breakable, colourful lower priced products in practically in all fields of manufacture. All of us are aware that these items, which are attractive and cheap, are not biodegradable. We are also aware of the health consequences of plastics, some of which even have endocrine-disrupting potential. The “Plasticene” era is of recent origin; it was not so long ago that much of the packing material used was made from metals, glass, wood or other more eco-friendly materials. Stringent laws alone will not reduce the flood of plastics. Industry has to make a conscious decision to use biodegradable materials regardless of the cost.
H.N. Ramakrishna, Bengaluru
Taj Mahal
AN article such as “Targeting symbols” (July 20) is useful to counter the fake news being spread about the Taj Mahal. Instead of appreciating the fact that India has such a masterpiece of world heritage, one of the seven wonders of the world, some people seem to view it with stone hearts. Removing references to the Taj Mahal from an Uttar Pradesh tourist booklet, when it is the most visited tourist site in India, is an example of discrimination against this monument by those intent on communal polarisation.
Shabeeb P., Nattukal, Kerala
Sterlite
THE privatisation of India’s mountains, rivers and forests by giant mining companies in the name of progress has caused ecological devastation and displacement of the poor (“Gunning down a protest”, June 22). The governments of Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have through hundreds of memorandums of understanding signed over trillions of dollars’ worth of bauxite, iron ore and other minerals to many private corporations for a pittance. Royalties to the government range from 0.5 per cent to 8 per cent. Such redistribution of land and wealth is not just undemocratic but lunatic.
Shovanlal Chakraborty, Kolkata
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