General facts

One had thought that at least the think-tanks and intelligentsia in Pakistan had their heads on their shoulders. But here we h...

One had thought that at least the think-tanks and intelligentsia in Pakistan had their heads on their shoulders. But here we have an official as senior as director general, Institute of Strategic Studies, Pakistan, who also views all the ills of Pakistan through a myopic prism and blames India for everything (‘Pakistan: The siege within and without’, IE, October 9). The author compares the Israel-Syria situation with the Indo-Pak situation, similarly US failure to establish peace in Afghanistan and the inability to stamp out the Al-Qaeda is linked to hot pursuit by India into PoK.

Pakistan needs to “see within”. It is a failed state by all standards which is living on the intravenous drip administered by the World Bank and the US. The percentage of people living below the poverty line there has more than doubled between 1988 to 2003. Its impoverished population rose to 33 per cent in 1999 from 17 per cent in 1988. Furthermore, the madrassas have become breeding grounds for terrorism. Thus, it’s not a case of Pakistan being a whipping boy for frustrated India, but a case of frustrated Pak having little control over its domestic situation and blaming
India for everything.
— Chhaya Ambike Delhi

Who’s he kidding?

Apropos of ‘Hindutva rate of growth’ (IE, October 13), when Madhavrao Scindia was asked a few years ago about the achievements of the Congress government for the better part of India’s independence, all he could come up with was “at least we are still a democracy”. First there were experiments with Nehruvian socialism, and then Indira Gandhi’s nationalism. Finally it took someone other than “India’s First Family” as Mani Shankar Aiyar likes to call the Gandhis to bring about Indian awakening. However, Narasimha Rao has been relegated to the dustbin in Aiyar’s own party! Now to counter the point he makes about the Indian economy not really growing. Manmohan Singh has himself lauded the BJP government’s achievements in the economy. Things are not all rosy, but it is ridiculous to say that the Congress was way better.
— Santhosh, On e-mail

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Non-issue

It is surprising that Sharad Pawar, who was for many years was a staunch Congressman and even worked for a year and half under Sonia Gandhi’s presidentship, is now raking up the issue of her origin. On this issue the Supreme Court of India has already ruled in favour of Sonia Gandhi, so it is a non-issue now.

It may also be stated that persons of Indian origin have held the position of head of government in foreign countries such as Fiji and Guiana. Then take the case of the wife of our former president, K.R. Narayanan. Although a foreign national at birth, she assumed Indian nationality by marriage and her husband rose to occupy the country’s top-most post.
— Mahindar Singh, New Delhi

Can’t trust him

Kalyan Singh is in politics to have his kalyan with money. He cannot be trusted anymore as he flip-flops as per the situation (‘1992 mandir poster boy gets his face read the night before’, IE, October 14).
— Dilip Patel, On e-mail

Chaitanyananda Saraswati, accused of sexually harassing 17 women, held in Agra

Cities3 hr ago

A self-proclaimed 'godman' was arrested in Agra for sexual harassment and misappropriation of funds. He was accused of sending inappropriate messages and photoshopping pictures with politicians. The Delhi Police traced him to Agra and froze his accounts and fixed deposits. He was previously booked for harassing 19 women at a private institute.

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