Congress8217;s kites

8226; This is with reference to the news report, 8216;Quattrocchi: Manmohan summons Bhardwaj14...

8226; This is with reference to the news report, 8216;Quattrocchi: Manmohan summons Bhardwaj8217; IE, January 14. These so-called summons are along expected lines and fittingly coincide with the kite-flying that marks Makar Sankrant! The Congress party is an expert in kite flying, in any case. Earlier it was the post-Volcker expose concerning Natwar Singh. Now it is the Bhardwaj expose. Ultimately, it is all a big drama. If caught, save the ruling deity, several lambs in the party are ready to put their necks on the line, while their eyes visualise governor8217;s posts in the future.

8212; Kedarnath Aiyar Mumbai

Make Haj safer

8226; It is not the first time when a stampede has occurred during the Haj 8216;31 Indians among 364 killed in Haj stampede8217;, IE, January 14. This is very unfortunate. It is surprising that the Saudi government has not done anything substantive to ensure that this does not happen, and make the place and event more safe for pilgrims.

8212; Bal Govind Bareilly

Why scams happen

8226; The article, 8216;Kickback where it hurts8217; IE, January 14, by Shekhar Gupta
focuses on how several projects, been mired in controversy at the take-off and initialisation phases, have been stalled, and made to remain so, because of the very high animosity in the political climate. The writer expresses angst over the fact that such projects get infamous for the wrong reasons and efficacy is the loser. Perhaps it would have been apt if a line or two could have been added on the fact that such projects get mired in controversy over corruption and irregularities because they are related to the political interests of politicians.

8212; V.R. Srinivasan New Delhi

SBI and IIM

8226; Your editorial, 8216;Be Indian, bye India8217; IE, January 13, compares IIMs with SBI and ONGC. This is illogical as the Indian operations of both the SBI and ONGC are much larger and wider as compared to their international operations. Moreover their international forays has a strategic reason 8212; SBI caters to the demands of NRIs and corporates, and ONGC, through OVL, is acquiring oil assets abroad to secure India8217;s future energy needs. IIMs, in contrast, are contemplating foreign campus ignoring a huge domestic demand. What strategic or commercial reason could there be behind the move?

8212; Rishi Pal Singh Chandigarh

General questions

8226; Apropos of C. Raja Mohan8217;s, 8216;Pinning General to specifics8217; IE, January 14, General Musharraf has proposed the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Kashmiri cities of Srinagar, Baramulla and Kupwara, and has promised that once this happens there would be no militancy. There are a number of issues involved, apart from practical realities like the fact that these three towns, along with Sopore, Bandipore in North Kashmir and Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopiyan and Bijbehara, are the hotbeds of militant activity. Also, can a sovereign state like Pakistan ask another sovereign state like India to deploy troops in its area? Does it imply that Pakistan is virtually questioning the sovereignty of the Indian state on Kashmir? Does Pakistan control the tap of terror? If so why can8217;t it stop terrorist activities without laying preconditions?

8212; B.R.K. Rao New Delhi