Tags:
Journalism of Courage
This refers to 8216;Silver tickets8217; IE, November 12. There is a possible remedy for the menace of electoral tickets being allegedly sold. Why don8217;t our political parties adopt the two-stage voting as followed in the US presidential elections? Let the aspirants first contest primaries in their chosen constituencies and let the electorate itself decide whether they are fit for a nomination. Having said that, one must acknowledge that in a country of billion this would be almost, if not altogether, impossible. But it8217;s worth a theoretical consideration, since it would truly engender grassroots democracy.
8212;Hemant Kumar, Ambala
Chance and intent
Being the general secretary of the AICC, Margaret Alva should have known the consequences of her allegation that party tickets were on sale for the Karnataka assembly polls. Questions are now being raised as to why Alva is not naming the individuals and coteries concerned. Others have also made similar allegations. Internal investigations by parties usually disappoint. The only solution is more transparency in the way parties operate.
Meanwhile, it must be said that Alva8217;s implication that family must come first in politics deserved chastisement more than her violation of party rules.
8212;Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai
Whether or not Margaret Alva8217;s outburst was prompted by frustration or her intention to 8220;expose8221; the practice, if it is indeed so, many of the public would sympathise with her and overlook the other dimension to her words 8212; that her son had a privileged claim to the ticket because of his mother.
8212;Satwant Kaur, Mahilpur
His last bow
Sourav Ganguly stood for leadership, aggression and will. In his career of 112 tests and 311 ODIs, he maintained a healthy average of 40-plus. This shows his commitment to the business on the pitch itself. Then, it was only under his leadership that the Indian team learnt to win by desiring to win and no less. His legacy is big and future captains must live up to the example he set.
8212;Rashmi Mavle, Pune
Glorious dead
Armistice Day has not brought about a change in our attitude and practice 8216;The hell where youth went8217;, IE, November 12. There is a need across the country for memorials to the soldiers who died for India, post-Independence. And the public should be sympathetic to this innocent wish of the families of the dead. If there is a paucity of state funds, will the government allocate plots on land the army holds for armed forces memorials?
8212;Lt Gen S.K. Bahri Retd, New Delhi
