Letters to the editor

Beyond metros• FIRST it was Balasaheb Thackeray who tried to stop immigrants in Mumbai who attacked immigrants from neighbouring states...

Beyond metros

• FIRST it was Balasaheb Thackeray who tried to stop immigrants in Mumbai who attacked immigrants from neighbouring states. Now Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has observed that solving Delhi’s basic infrastructure problems like power, roads, and water, is extremely difficult given population flows into the metro. But there are some basic question here. Why have metro cities emerged as the only magnets of power? Why must citizens move into these cities alone in order to earn and live well? Why must Mumbai alone be made into a Shanghai or why must Delhi alone emerge as the “best city to live in”? I think it is time to consider providing financial incentives to people who work in less-developed regions and cities/ towns. Only through such a measure will we be able to ensure that there will be economic independence for all Indian citizens, and not just those who live in the metros.

— Mahesh Kumar, New Delhi

IST is best

• THIS is with reference to your Page 1 anchor of May 7 about time zones. Some countries have 11 time zones and some others six as mentioned. But given the problems the country already faces, Indians should be spared more complications in their lives by the introduction of different time zones. We don’t need to change the time zones in various regions, we just need to work schedules with the early sunrise in the Northeast. Say, if the sun rises at 5 am, the normal working day can begin around 8 am and end around 4 pm. As for other regions, we can work on variations of 10 am to 6 pm working day to maximised daylight savings and address winter and summer variables.

— Mohite K. Dasgupta, Gurgaon

Sense on Sam

• THE editorial, ‘Sam deserves better’ (IE, May 9), was thought-provoking. All great men have their shortcomings and Sam is no exception. But, as you rightly pointed out, one is entitled to one’s own opinion. As for Sam, he has done what he had to do and proved himself to the world. His silence speaks for itself. But it is also true that he deserved better than to be treated so shabbily. After all, he is ill and could soon bid adieu to this world.

— Behram Aga, Mumbai

Going soft

• THIS is with reference ‘Yasin Malik writes to Vajpayee’ (IE, May 10). I am surprised you have mentioned Yasin Malik as a separatist leader. The Express correspondent should know that Malik hardly commands any respect or following among the Kashmiri masses and it is an open secret that he has changed sides. How else does one explain the government dropping several charges against him, including those of murder.

— Rubiya Bashir, Anantnag