Letters to the editor

The opposition parties do not realise that they are suffering from the 8216;divide and rule8217; policy of the government. The law and order situation is in the hands of CPM hooligans.

8212; Subhendu Hati, Madurai

No House training

8226; The scuffle in the Parliament between Left and DMK MPs over the setting up of a maritime university in Chennai was unfortunate and shocking. The kind of violence exhibited by our MPs is a blot on our democracy. There are many civil methods of protest. Lack of discipline and unruly behaviour of our politicians only shake the faith of the people in the system. Let our MPs and MLAs remember the fact that they are elected representatives of the people and they have no right to waste honest taxpayers8217; money to serve their vested political interests.

8212; Hitesh Parmar, Rajkot

8226; What happened in the Lok Sabha on March 13, when the minister for shipping, T.R. Baalu, was introducing the Indian Maritime University Bill, is not an embarrassment to the ruling coalition, the UPA, alone but to the whole nation. It is not limited to the violation of 8216;coalition dharma8217; but it is a commentary on our parliamentary dharma. Remember, Chennai and Kolkata belong to the entire nation.

8212; Parimal Y. Mehta, Ahmedabad

General cynicism

8226; In the editorial 8216;General principles8217; March 15, you have advised the government 8220;to look at Pakistan8217;s troubles through the prism of peace talks8221;. Will this not be a very narrow angle to view the Pakistani developments? Is the emphasis on 8220;the pace of normalising bilateral relations and8230; a reasonable solution to the Kashmir question8221; realistic and wise at a time when Pakistan is in a state of turmoil and President Pervez Musharraf8217;s position is clearly weakening? At the heart of the current crisis in Pakistan, triggered by the sacking of the chief justice by Musharraf, is the issue of democracy and the functioning of its key wings like the judiciary the independence of which is being smothered by the military ruler. Even if the general is ready to offer us 8220;reasonable solution on Kashmir8221;, will it not be unwise to 8220;embrace8221; him at this juncture in total disregard of the widespread anti-Musharraf mood in his country?

8212; M. Ratan, New Delhi

In Tamil please

8226; I write with reference to the article 8216;Tamil 038; only Tamil? Only for the masses8217; by Jaya Menon IE, March 14. The article will carry greater meaning and impact if you can translate it into Tamil and have it published in newspapers all over Tamil Nadu. The reason for making Tamil compulsory for the masses while the children and grandchildren of the elite and powerful study in English is that the latter do not want competition from the masses.

8212; T.R. Ramaswami, Mumbai

Why Viru?

8226; I FAIL to understand why the selectors have opted for Virendra Sehwag to play in the cricket world cup. What has Viru done to merit his selection? Not only has his form touched rock bottom in the past 15 months, he has also failed to learn from his past mistakes.

8212; V. Rajesh, Mumbai