Primary faultlines• This refers to Ila Patnaik’s article, ‘What Arjun should focus on’ (IE, May 16). I think it is necessary to see the outcome of the money being spent and the minister should be doing exactly this. Done well, the problem of uplift will then get automatically resolved. But the minister will never be interested in doing this, because it is a relatively tough route and will probably fetch no votes for his party. The minister and the government have simply failed to realise that to take advantage of reservations one should have the minimum required qualification. If things are not improved at the primary and secondary education levels, all this reservation drama will be an empty farce. The benefits will never reach the needy.— Rajesh Kumar, New Delhi• The UPA with its self-defeating actions has at least initiated a much-needed debate on making education inclusive. Now the debate must be carried forward in a dispassionate manner. The problem comes when each side is arguing for its own vested interests, like the young doctors at present. We need strong affirmative action for the people who need it the most, and no quotas. Also, the plight of Muslims should be included in this debate. Affirmative action must start from scratch as with the Sarva Shikhsha Abhiyaan.— Pranav Sachdeva, Delhi• If the government is really serious about uplifting the underprivileged — SC, ST, OBC — it should keep the creamy layers among these sections as defined by the Supreme Court beyond the purview of reservations. At the same time, the economically backward among the forward castes also deserve their share of reservations in admission to prestigious engineering and medical colleges as well as in government jobs.— Ashwini Kumar Lal, New DelhiTamil Nadu movie• The article, ‘An end of Dravida history?’ (IE, May 15) predicts well the future of Tamil Nadu politics. DMK workers must be eagerly waiting for Kalaingar and Co to settle scores with Amma. For the average Tamil voter, politics is nothing short of a star-studded movie, where they have action, violence, sex — with the hero and villain getting changed every five years!— Sujith Madhavan, ThiruvananthapuramNo, Sehwag• Virendra Sehwag is free to express his feelings in full public glare (‘Walk the Talk’, IE, May 9). However, going to the extent of extolling Ganguly as the best captain he has played under was in poor taste. Since he is now playing under Rahul Dravid, such a statement may give the impression that the dashing opener is not as happy under him as he was under Ganguly. This might strain relations between them and, if that happens between two senior players, there could be a dip in the team’s morale. This would be in nobody’s interest, with the World Cup just round the corner.— V. Rajesh MumbaiLook east• Finally we are getting an elected chief minister in Kerala. VS was one person who has always been the CM-in-waiting. But a lot needs to be done. The LDF will have to tackle the issue of infighting between the two factions, which has come into prominence in the recently concluded assembly elections. Further, the government will need to concentrate on development and employment. It needs to get on to the path of economic progress and learn from West Bengal.— K.S. Praveen New Delhi
