In choppy waters

This is with reference to your editorial 8216;Captain as Terminator8217; July 14. There can be no two opinions that the ca...

This is with reference to your editorial 8216;Captain as Terminator8217; July 14. There can be no two opinions that the captain, despite his years, is an immature leader the state of Punjab does not deserve 8212; for the simple reason that he has failed to take into account the constitutional implications of the Termination of Agreements Bill. Even more amazing has been the role of the governor of the state, given the fact that he is a former judge. Instead of appending his signature to the legislation so readily, he could have referred the bill to the president. Further, what has the Union minister of water resources been doing all these days, especially after the Supreme Court order on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal?

8212; M. Ramakrishna Ghaziabad

Teacher8217;s call

8226; I totally agree with the comment that 8216;8216;Rs 5,000 crore for elementary education may go down the drain 8216;if8217; systems don8217;t work8217;8217; in the editorial 8216;Writing on the blackboard8217; IE, July 10. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has levied a 2 per cent cess on income tax. However, it is not so much the lack of money that has hampered the spread and quality of elementary education in the country 8212; more critical has been the lack of will on the part of politicians and bureaucrats to fulfill this constitutional obligation.

8212; Viday Sagar Delhi

States of being

8226; Apropos the article titled 8216;Before Armitage trip India, US try to solve differences8217; IE, July 10. The politicians and top bureaucrats in the external affairs ministry and the prime minister8217;s office need to be more creative in deepening India8217;s strategic relationship with the US while remaining sensitive to the domestic political compulsions of the UPA coalition partners 8212; particularly the communists. Given the presence of the communist parties in the ruling coalition, there is little prospect of the government sending Indian peacekeeping troops to Iraq in the foreseeable future. The key determinant of India8217;s foreign policy should be its economic and strategic interests, not some high flying pseudo-morality. A solution could be to 8220;participate8221; in the Iraq peacekeeping efforts by capitalising on the India-Bhutan foreign affairs and defence treaty. India could participate by proxy in Iraq peacekeeping efforts by inducing Bhutan 8212; to send a contingent of troops to Iraq.

8212;Arun Khanna Indianapolis

Some reservations

8226; The Andhra Pradesh government8217;s move to reserve 5 per cent of all government jobs for Muslims is a most retrograde step 8216;YSR, no sir8217;, IE, July 14. This could create great rifts in Indian society.

8212; Rahul Ganju Singapore

Javed8217;s sixer

8226; After his dismissal as coach of the Pakistan national team, Javed Miandad is an injured tiger and could now be the ideal candidate to coach any state team 8216;Hurt Miandad turns to India8217;, IE, July 15. He would certainly do a good job of coaching, and would also help foster better relations with Pakistan.

8212; Amit Bhadhuri On e-mail