Letters To The Editor

Desperate din8226; Proceedings in Parliament were once again stalled this week, this time over the desecration of Ambedkar8217;s statue an...

Desperate din

8226; Proceedings in Parliament were once again stalled this week, this time over the desecration of Ambedkar8217;s statue and on the Tata project in Singur. This is not acceptable. Members of Parliament are elected to raise issues of national and local importance in the two Houses, not to take the easy route and score political points and draw adjournments. MPs can raise contentious issues by all means. In fact, they must, but they should at least take the time to learn the tools of Parliament to make their point in a more democratic and constructive manner. In this the treasury benches must also learn to be more forthcoming in meeting criticism.

8212; Anita Singh, Lucknow

Belated, but8230;

8226; Apropos of reports that the Rajender Sachar committee on the status of the Muslims has suggested reservation in employment and educational institutions for the backward among them, I think it is a very welcome step by the Centre, though very late. The report gives a very clear but sordid picture of the 138 million Muslims in India. If no steps are taken to rectify the situation, this lag of the community will create immense problems for India.

8212; Ahmad Rais Siddiqi, New Delhi

Which Buddha?

8226; This refers to your editorial 8216;Shown up by Singur8217; December 4. How can you take up the cudgel on behalf of a state chief minister who presided over a massive workers8217; rally on December 3, giving a clarion call to one and all for a total shutdown of the state as well as the country in protest against the reforms initiated or proposed to be initiated by the central government?

Is it not sheer hypocrisy on the part of the chief minister to suddenly call for rejuvenation of heavy industry after all these years of hibernation resulting in flight of capital and industry from the state 8212; not so long ago known as the Ruhr of India and the Sheffield of the East 8212; primarily due to militant labour, who have yet to show signs of change.

8212; Gautam Mookerjee, Kolkata

In AB8217;s shadow

8226; First 8216;Don8217; and now 8216;Kaun Banega Crorepati8217;. Shahrukh Khan has got back-to-back chances to ape the Millennium Star, Amitabh Bachchan. In 8216;Don8217; he could not create the same magic Amitabh Bachchan once did, but the makers of KBC have shown full faith in him and selected him as the new host of India8217;s most popular game show. But critics have started comparisons between the two superstars. Hopefully, the game show will be aired very soon, and all the mystery about the potentials of both stars will be clear soon.

8212; Mohd Mudassir Alam, New Delhi

Selectors8217; call

8226; India continue to lose their way in world cricket. After the comprehensive loss in the one-day series, it will take a miracle much stronger than Sourav Ganguly8217;s induction to rectify matters. One cannot say what the results of the Tests will be, but this much is certain. If India lose once again, the same old excuses will be trotted out. That India does not have pitches to train its fast bowlers and to give its batsmen practice to play the rising ball. That our cricketers are lured into distraction by endorsement offers. That the coach did not get the team he wanted. That the captain did not have a say in strategy.

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This kind of excuse-making is pointless. The point is the selectors must become more attentive to the talent pool beyond the national team.

8212; Sangeeta Sen, Shimla