Double standards

Huge waste

• Apropos of the article, ‘Who are the guilty?’ (IE, August 11), we have all along paid huge sums and spent much time and energy to bury the facts. We have scuttled the prospect of any truth emerging immediately after the event by appointing inquiry commissions headed by retired judges. We will never get to the truth through this time-tested method. Unless forensic tests are cited and evidence-based presentations made, we will keep on shadow-boxing.

— Vasuki Ramarathinam Ulundurpet

Thought provoking

• Your editorial, ‘Bihar’s law and disorder’ (IE, August 1), was quite thought provoking. You have rightly observed with regard to the recent transfer of 17 senior IPS officers, that the sole motive behind these transfers was not to uphold the rule of law, provide security for citizens, punish criminals and crack down on the perpetrators of violence. On the contrary, the state government seems to be doing everything it can do to protect those politicians that pose a threat to the citizens of Bihar. This does not augur well for the future of Bihar.

— Obaidur R. Nadwi Lucknow

Conversions

• In reference to the article, ‘Conversion: Invitation to introspect’ (IE, August 8), I would like to state that you have missed mentioning the security aspects of conversion in your arguments. Oppressed castes are easy prey to minority fundamentalists driven by foreign agencies seeking to create disharmony in society. There are no laws to keep any tabs on the motives behind conversions.

— Gaurav Kasturia New Delhi

Enrol more women

• The Women’s Reservation Bill is debated practically every year in Parliament (‘Hypocrisy Bill’, IE, August 8). Not a single party is against this Bill and, at the same time, each one has been opposing it for one reason or the other. I would suggest a simple but most appropriate and effective remedy to solve this problem, which will not attract the restrictions of the Constitution, Representation of People Act 1951, etc. All political parties (there is no dearth for them in our country) must come forward to enrol more and more women members and appoint them as office bearers for their party work. Their active involvement will earn them experience in party politics and thereafter they can be given party tickets. The responsibility will rest on political parties to groom women candidates.

— S.K. Iyer Kottayam