Coup meister

With the PPP and PMLN reaching a consensus on the impeachment of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf...

8226;With the PPP and PMLN reaching a consensus on the impeachment of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, his days in the highest office are numbered 8216;All eyes on Army8230;8217;. It was unrealistic to think that Nawaz Sharif could go along with Musharraf as the head of state, since the latter had deposed him in a military coup and become president by manipulating everything, including the judiciary, the legislature and the constitution. Musharraf had an opportunity to cut a deal in lieu of quitting as soon it became clear that he had lost the power game. If he exercises his power now under Article 58-2 B of Pakistan8217;s constitution and dissolves parliament, he must do so with the army8217;s backing. But much has changed in Pakistan since he toppled the Sharif government in 1999.

8212; M.C. Joshi

Lucknow

In God8217;s country

8226; The Supreme Court8217;s lament that even God cannot save India is based on real-time facts. A large number of one-time beneficiaries of government accommodation have not vacated the quarters years after they lost the right to occupy the houses. Instead taking firm action against them, the government has indulged them. Which is why the apex court has asked the government to eject these illegal occupants forthwith and to report compliance. This is not the only instance of this kind. Today the Centre and the state governments themselves are on the side of the law-breakers.

8212; R.J. Khurana

Bhopal

8226; I disagree with the Supreme Court8217;s observation that even God cannot save this country. It is God who has saved this country all along to guide it to whatever progress it has made so far. With reasonably good governance, our nation can progress much faster in all spheres. India is being increasingly taken notice of by the international community, which not so long ago refused to believe that anything good could happen here. We have proved them wrong and will continue to do so. All that is needed is a concerted effort by the political establishment to implement cohesive policies, keeping in mind the various needs of people and industry.

8212; V.P. Damodar

Pune

Peerless Patel

8226; A.G. Noorani wrote in 8216;Speak, memory8217; that Somnath Chatterjee8217;s predicament and resolve parallel those of Vithalbhai Patel. I do not accept the latter part of the parallel.

Somnath can in no way be compared with the illustrious Vithalbhai Patel, because, while we may not have seen how Patel performed his duty as the speaker on the floor of the House, we all have seen, thanks to TV, Somnath8217;s bias against one particular party, confirmed by his stand that he would vote along with the BJP. Noorani8217;s comparison is thus not a happy one.

8212; Kedarnath R. Aiyar

Mumbai