Letters to the editor

— M.S. Rajagopalan, Ahmedabad

Lawless republic

• WE have truly degenerated into a lawless monster of a nation. The Bihar incident of the police dragging a chain-snatcher tied to a bike is evidence enough of how our laws and law courts exist only in bulky tomes. No self-respecting person would dare visit a police station these days. The police and the political class are hand in glove, and this nexus has sinister implications. The police force is uninterested in targeting terrorists since the evil-doers pay them well and there is no moolah in cracking down on them. In fact, the police are at their glorious best when they are harassing the common citizen, often at the instance of the political class. There is no allegiance of these forces of law and order to the Constitution or the rule of law. We are not a democratic republic, but a republic of the lawless. Only God can save us!

— A. Prasad, Ahmedabad

Speaks of Bihar

• THIS is with reference to your editorial, ‘Bhagalpur syndrome’ (IE, August 30). I agree with your stand that the two cops involved in the brutality on the chain-snatcher must be brought to book. However, the fact remains that the law and order situation in Bihar is grim and residents of small towns and villages live literally at the mercy of the local goons. The anger spent upon Salim Illyas must have grown over the years after the local population was subjected to perpetual harassment from robbers and dacoits. It is just by chance that Illyas got caught by the people who comprised the mob. They tried to lynch him, not just for his own sins but the sins of others like him as well. Prakash Jha, in his film, Gangajal, tried successfully to glorify the Bhagalpur blinding. I’m sure not many in the audience disagreed with the policemen’s act in the movie. The treatment meted out to Illyas must not be seen in isolation. It is a part of Bihar’s bigger, gorier picture.

— Ishtyaque Ansari, Bharuch

Red heavens

• THIS refers to Comrade Bardhan’s quote that the “gates of heaven will not open by inking n-deal”. Permit me to remind him that neither will the heavens fall if the proposed deal is signed! To put it bluntly, everything will remain as it is, except that India will have 40,000 MW of additional power, free access to dual-use technology and many much-needed employment opportunities. And, by the way, since when have the comrades started believing in ‘heavens’?

— Satish Dayal, New Delhi