Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad was far ahead of his contemporaries in the film industry because of his originality and excellent performances (“Committed to secularism”, July 5). He was a prolific writer, director and an erudite scholar and made an indelible impression on the minds of those he came across. He never hesitated to condemn in the strongest terms the wrongdoings of Hindu fundamentalists even though he was threatened with dire consequences. His death is an irreparable loss to the film and literary world. A film institute named after him would be the best tribute to this superstar
Jayant Mukherjee
Kolkata
Delhi Metro
AS a resident of Delhi for 25 years, I can say that the Delhi Metro is the saving grace in the otherwise mismanaged transportation system of the capital (“A free ride”, July 5). The Metro is a safe space where I have sought refuge from the city’s unruly traffic and non-existent footpaths, where any pedestrian is always in fear of being run over by a vehicle violating traffic rules.
The Metro is on a par with its counterparts in Europe. Clearly, this has something to do with how it is managed and how the project was conceived. The AAP’s move to make Metro travel free for women is a classic example of the kind of policies that have always been popular in India even though they have never worked. Indians know well what happens to an institution that does not generate enough revenue to sustain itself and is dependent on government subsidies.
Indians do not have a sense of responsibility towards public property even when they have to pay for its use, as in the case of Indian Railways, never mind free services. Now that E. Sreedharan has expressed his disapproval, there is little reason to go ahead with this impractical idea. I am afraid that the only respectable transport network in Delhi will fall into ruin because of a vote-seeking gamble.
Ritvik Chaturvedi
New Delhi
Kathua rape case
THE delivery of justice in the case within 18 months by the District and Sessions Court of Pathankot cannot be termed as fully rendered (“Speedy justice”, July 5). However, it must be appreciated that the court went about its task briskly even though the accused employed intimidatory tactics and every trick in the book to delay the process. What one fails to understand is why the court did not take cognisance of the ordinance that prescribes the death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below 12. All the six acted like beasts and deserve no less than the death penalty. The time has come to put an end to this menace of minor girls falling prey to men by strictly implementing clauses under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
K.R. Srinivasan
Secunderabad, Telangana
Jammu & Kashmir
THE Central government will be playing with fire if it goes ahead with its proposed delimitation drive in Jammu and Kashmir (“Devious design”, July 5). It seems to be desperate to win power in the State. Rather than focussing on such dubious plans, the Centre should focus on developing the State and fulfilling the promises it made to the people.
Anish Esteves
Mumbai
THE government is in a denial mode on every charge and report against the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir (“Scathing report”, June 21). Far from trying to take positive steps to improve their image, the security forces in the State are in “business as usual” mode. The genuine grievances of the people have to be addressed. The hated Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and Public Safety Act cannot be continued forever.
Instead of dismissing the U.N. Special Rapporteur’s report out of hand, the government should have investigated each and every case to get to the truth. Such an attitude damages its own credibility. Use of pellet guns against civilians must be banned. Each and every encounter case needs to be thoroughly investigated. The government and the armed forces must work hard to get people’s cooperation by investigating each abuse case. There has to be a sea change in the mindset of the forces if they are to win people’s confidence.
D.B.N. Murthy
Bengaluru
The Congress
Rahul Gandhi should not abdicate his responsibility in this time of crisis (“Time to introspect”, June 21). He must remain in the driver’s seat to boost the morale of the rank and file. The BJP’s ideologues have relegated Nehruvian ideology to the lumber room. Mesmerised by the BJP’s rhetoric, the masses believed that religion-based politics would solve their problems. The prime duty of the Congress party today is to bring the people back from the world of illusion to reality.
It is shocking to note that in several places, the votes polled and the votes counted did not match. Most advanced countries use paper ballots because they believe that EVMs are not tamper-proof. All the opposition parties in India should join together and fight for the restoration of paper ballots. The disillusioned Congress party should remember these words of Shelley: “If winter comes, can spring be for behind?”
C. Rajasekaran
Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
COMMents
COMMents
SHARE