Hostile neighbours

This refers to the report, 8216;Tip of Sikkim is latest India-China flashpoint8217; and the editorial, 8216;To deal with China8217;.

8226; This refers to the report, 8216;Tip of Sikkim is latest India-China flashpoint8217; and the editorial, 8216;To deal with China8217;. They clearly underline the Chinese duplicity of a show of friendship and expansionist territorial claims. Unfortunately, the Nehruvian ideal of Asian solidarity still seems to determine our policy towards China. The editorial8217;s observation on Pranab Mukherjee8217;s high-sounding talks with the Chinese in Moscow, even when the People8217;s Liberation Army was displaying aggression over Sikkim, points to the gap between diplomatic rhetoric and reality.

8212; M. Ratan

New Delhi

8226; India appears to be hemmed in by a quartet of nations. Pakistan is back to its old tricks with the unprovoked fire from its border troops. Nepal could well tilt towards China with the Maoists in power. If China gains a firm foothold there, India has reason to be alarmed at what might happen in Bhutan. Then there are Bangladeshi extremists, increasingly linked to terror strikes in India. None of this can be isolated from the broad machinations of China against India. Even if China doesn8217;t invade Indian territory it claims as its own, it will at least use the sub-continental neighbours to contain India.

8212; Pachu Menon

Margao, Goa

Stitch in time

8226; Manvendra Singh8217;s 8216;Logic of Jaipur8217; was simple and made sense. We still have in place a 19th-century imperial police structure that politicians expect to deal with a 21st-century menace. India suffers frequent terrorist attacks because the terrorist8217;s brain keeps ticking while the policeman8217;s is not allowed to. Those who cause such unmitigated damage desire the implosion that Singh worries about. There is need for a new blueprint to tackle terrorism, and politicians should have nothing to do with it. The police force too should be reformed and freed from its political stranglehold.

8212; Kedarnath R. Aiyar

Mumbai

Disunited front

8226; Thia refers to the editorial, 8216;Fly in ointment8217;. The public spat between the deputy chairperson of the Planning Commission and the civil aviation minister was unnecessary. The two must realise the folly of their 8220;war of words8221; and stop washing their dirty linen in public. Perhaps the PM ought to be more vigilant about the differences within his administration. As it is, the Delhi airport8217;s reforms appear to be lagging behind. One is disappointed by the present chaos at this airport. Will the private company 8220;reforming8221; it deliver within the stipulated timeframe, keeping in mind the project costs and the inconvenience to passengers? In fact, the civil aviation minister should personally monitor the project.

8212; S.K. Gupta

Delhi