Intelligent cues

In 8216;Mind your IQ8217; IE, August 5, K. Subrahmanyam has drawn our attention to the shortcomings in intelligence assess...

In 8216;Mind your IQ8217; IE, August 5, K. Subrahmanyam has drawn our attention to the shortcomings in intelligence assessment mentioned in the US in the 9/11 report and the need to review the working of our own intelligence agencies. In 1962 although intelligence warned us in advance about the Chinese threat, our political mind-set was friendly towards China. Suddenly the war was thrust on us. Similarly in 1965 due to a transition in power it took time to take stock of the situation. We have not learnt lessons from the intelligence failure during the Kargil conflict and the Parliament attack on December 13. Now, like in the US, our intelligence agencies have to cover our neighbouring countries as Pakistan is facing internal threats from insurgents and Nepal from the Maoists. There is need for proper assessment of reports.

8212; K. Venkatakrishnan New Delhi

Double standards?

8226; Your editorial inveighs against strikers, describing them as the 8220;perpetually disgruntled8221; 8216;Strike out strikes8217;, IE, August 18. I am rather surprised. When the FIIs and speculators withdrew their money from the Sensex in May in an effort to pressure the new government, your newspaper attacked the Left and the government for being 8220;irresponsible8221;. When stockbrokers threatened protests over the turnover tax, you and other newspapers called it 8220;ill-advised8221; and told the government that it shouldn8217;t force the brokers into protests. So is it that the government should 8220;stand firm8221; against union-led 8216;8216;blackmail8217;8217; but should roll over at the slightest sign of Dalal Street-led 8216;8216;blackmail8217;8217;? Seems like a blatant double standard.

8212; S. Gopalakrishnan London

Speed up the court

8226; Well, everybody worries about criminalisation of politics, but Somnath dada makes a valid point 8212; 8220;what if a tainted minister is acquitted8221; in the Walk the Talk interview, IE, August 18. So, the problem and the solution lie in the judiciary. We may be a great democracy but we have a very slow and time consuming judicial system. Reforming the economy cannot be successful without reforming the judiciary. More courts and more judges are needed, higher salaries must be earmarked for judicial staff, and we should create a corruption free judicial system. Then Somnath Chatterjee and the country would never have to worry.

8212; Vikram Sood Mumbai

Congress8217;s crimes

8226; The Congress is bound to feel happy about the Supreme Court8217;s stinging indictment of the Gujarat government. But it has forgotten that the seeds of such communal riots were sown by the Congress itself. Can any one forget the killing of thousands of people of one community in 1984 and the episode of Blue Star. The accused are now ministers and patronised by the Congress. Even the Supreme Court has not taken any step to reopen the cases of 1984 and Operation Blue Star to secure justice.

8212; Tripat Singh New Delhi

Why Sonia?

8226; What is the official status of Sonia Gandhi that she should issue a stamp in honour of Murasoli Maran by the postal department of the government of India?

8212; P.K. Ramakrishnan Bangalore