Letters to the editor

punishment. Perhaps there may be a provision to issue

‘yellow corner’ notice against the accusers whose effort at getting a red corner notice turns out to be false or is deemed worthy of being

presumed as false. Imagine a situation in which some

Indian politicians — on one of their foreign jaunts — being arrested and arraigned in a foreign country on an

Interpol Yellow Corner notice!

— Sqn Ldr B.G. Prakash, Bangalore

Salam, Sir!

• SANJOY MAJUMDER’s ‘Midnight’s Knight’ (IE, June 19) is a well-knit article. Knighthood for Salman Rushdie and its repercussion in the Muslim world could not have come as a bolt from the blue — it was very much along expected lines. Whether conferring knighthood is relevant in the

present day can be debated, but we must not hesitate to congratulate Rushdie on this recognition. In any case any form of extremism —

including violent protests against the knighthood — cannot be countenanced. The Indian government’s calculated silence on the issue is therefore uncalled for.

— Mohite K. Dasgupta, Gurgaon

Bad exemption

• THIS is with reference to ‘Fatal privileges’ by Keyur Joshi (IE, June 20). Privileges — such as exemption from security checks — only help

to make ministers feel

important. The recent tussle between the minister of state for external affairs and the airport security highlights this. Ministers should remain content with getting kicks from the numerous fringe benefits they enjoy — like free housing in prime locations, cars and the like — rather than claim privileges which could compromise the safety of the people around them. It is shocking to learn that the

government is set to expand such benefits for ministers, fully aware that a security breach can never be ruled out.

— Sumit Nanda, Delhi

Front’s runner

• BY asking President Abdul Kalam to stand as presidential candidate, the defeated chief ministers — Mulayam Singh, Jayalalithaa,

Chandrababu Naidu and Chauthala — seem to want him to be the president of their newly formed United (defeated) National Progressive Alliance (UNPA).

— N. Kunju, Delhi