Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Quota straitjacket
• The news of the resignation of two brilliant men from the National Knowledge Commission will sadden all those who have the good of the country at heart. It is nobody’s case that social justice to the weaker sections of the society should not be denied. But the methods (and the associated time scales) involved in meeting different levels of social justice are not governed by the Law of Equipartition! As Andre Betaille pointed out recently (‘Not everything that is lawful is wise’, IE, May 23), there has been a cynical misrepresentation of the provisions of the Constitution: these are merely sufficient (enabling), not necessary (mandatory). Unfortunately the politicians, with an eye to vote bank, do not want to see anything beyond a straitjacket answer: reservation and quota, irrespective of its relevance to the solution and, more importantly, of the hazards of a possible misadventure.
—A.N. Mitra, Delhi
Where were they?
• The brouhaha over reservation makes one wonder where our visionaries were when the 93rd Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed (nearly unanimously) in Parliament. That people would oppose it on the streets was obvious. Sam Pitroda, N.R. Narayana Murthy and others should have aired their opinions when the bill was being debated. Had the political parties been warned against playing vote bank politics in January, the amendment may have been shelved.
—Brig V.V. Gupta (retd), Noida
United for votes
• As the death knell on higher education in India is sounded (with the government implementing its new reservation policy), the stoical silence maintained by all political parties, including the UPA government’s worst critic, the BJP, has made it clear that when it comes to personal gain (as the passing of the Office of Profit Bill proved) or vote bank politics, all political parties stand united.
—Abhishek Law, Kolkata
Shadow over J&K
• The fiasco at the Congress rally in Srinagar has once again put a question mark on the security of Kashmiris. Within a month of the attack in Doda, the militants are once again back with their diabolic deeds under the canopy of an anti-terrorism rally. If the militants can surface amidst such security, it is obvious that the fear of death looms over Kashmiris in everyday life. But the fact that they still participate in the political rallies and meetings is a demonstration of their courage amidst great turbulence.
—Joyeeta Dey, Kolkata
Leave Sachin alone
• While millions of fans of Sachin Tendulkar are disappointed like him, one has to consider this an opportunity for him to recover fully. It is better for him to nurse himself back to normalcy before taking on the rigours of a tour. Slowly and steadily he can make himself fit to face the next set of matches. He should prepare himself both mentally as well as physically to meet the World Cup challenge. Now we should leave him alone.
—Vasudevan, Mumbai
