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Journalism of Courage
This refers to your editorial arguing that civil servants must not bow to the orders of their political masters 8216;Rusty steel frame8217;, September 20. It is easier said than done. It is a bit more complex than that.
Wholesale transfers of bureaucrats, insinuations in administrative and
political circles, playing one bureaucrat against another, sitting on files sent for approval and even verbal abuse are just some ways of intimidating officers.
8212; Subhash Mittal, On e-mail
Babysitters club
You rightly assail the government8217;s affidavit in the Delhi high court in the case filed for the repeal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code 8216;Nanny state8217;, IE, September 10. The state has no right to interfere in what consenting adults do in the bedroom, and paedophilia and rape should be dealt with by appropriate legislation after repealing anachronistic legislation which facilitates blackmail.
We certainly do not need an Orwellian 8216;8216;nanny state8217;8217;.
8212; Vinod Chowdhury, Delhi
Art of forgetting
Apropos of Thomas L. Friedman8217;s article 8216;The mad, bad world of France8217; IE, September 19, I have only this to say, that he seems to be suffering from selective amnesia.
Friedman appears very concerned about the threat posed by Islamists who probably may take over if the US forsakes its responsibility in Iraq. Could he please tell us who propped up the Afghan mujahiddin in the first place. Who
provided them with Stingers? Who gave Saddam Hussein aid, advice and chemical weapons in the first place?
8212; Mohamad Junaid, Aligarh
Stress 038; strain
The sudden spurt in suicides of paramilitary personnel is worrisome. The cause is probably a high level of stress and long duty hours coupled with extreme loneliness and depression.
It is imperative that the government come up with a plan to tackle the situation.
8212; B. Vinoth Raj, New Delhi
There are others
I don8217;t see the logic behind this exclusive praise for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the grounds of privatisation, especially when many other chief ministers are equally 8212; if not more 8212; keen on privatisation 8216;Commending Modi8217;, IE, September 19. To name a few, Chandrababu Naidu, Amarinder Singh,
S.M. Krishna, even Buddhadev Bhattacharya.
8212; Amit Roy, On e-mail
Question of words
Do you find it impossible to characterise Israeli action against bombers as action against terrorists rather than as Israeli action against 8216;8216;militants8217;8217; 8216;UN emergency session raps US veto; 2 hurt in Israeli raids8217;, IE, September 20?
8212; Norman Cohen, On e-mail
