Letters to the editor

Mohali-based reader, Sangram Singh, read our columnist, Jaithirth Rao, a lesson in South Asian history while expounding on the true meaning of the buffer state 8216;Neighbours hedged8217;. We acknowledge the effort by recognising the letter as this week8217;s winner.

8226;It appears Jaithirth Rao does not have the remotest idea of what a buffer state is or should be 8216;Let8217;s wish them well8217;. Our country is primarily agriculturist. To protect his farmhouse from predators, a farmer earmarks some area around his house for fodder and kitchen gardens and some area for flower beds to beautify his landscape. This he will enclose with a thick hedge, possibly a thorny one. His aim is to keep the hedge thick so that no predator can cross it.

The British were definitely wise. With Nepal, they had a friendship treaty and Tibet was a protectorate. They had a clear understanding that for any problem the Dalai Lama will seek help from India and not look to China. This made Tibet an effective buffer. Pakistan is the result of the wrong policies of our leaders. A clash of personalities created Pakistan. A proxy war has been unleashed on India through the so-called Mujahids who are being trained and financed by Pakistan. A friendly Afghanistan was alienated. It should be clear to Rao that it is Pakistan, not India, which has outsourced the war. Rao needs to be enlightened that Nadir Shah invaded India because there was no government in Delhi8230; Rao should know that Chengiz Khan did not dare to cross Sindh because the government in Delhi was strong!

Bias over blasts

8226;It is incredible that within minutes of blasts, such as the one at the Ajmer dargah, the media and their friends in the police and intelligence services know who the perpetrators are. Such instant judgments preclude fair-minded investigation. Violent Hindu groups are automatically absolved of all blame despite their well-known virulence against symbols of Hindu-

Muslim harmony like the dargah. Sections of the media and the police have yet again demonstrated their anti-national prejudices.

8212; Jawid Laiq

New Delhi

8226;Really absurd that the needle of suspicion always points to some obscure Islamic terrorist elements after any bomb blast. The Ajmer dargah blast is no exception. If the administration knew beforehand that such an attack was imminent why were they unable to prevent it? And if they think that their claims are true, why have they been completely unsuccessful in nailing the culprits? It8217;s all the more outrageous that no one ever suspects the Hindutva brigade to be behind the recent spate of blasts at Muslim religious sites, especially after their involvement in the Nanded blasts has been proved.

8212; Deepak Joshi

Mumbai

Clean treatment

8226;Thanks for the report on the inhumane treatment of sewage workers in Pune 8216;In just over two yrs8230;8217;. In Gujarat we are hard at work to reverse the occupational threats that sewage workers face. Yet workers continue to perish, and this despite the landmark decision issued by the Gujarat High Court on February 15, 2006. From your report it is clear that across the country gross abuses of these workers persist. Our organisation, the KSSM, along with others from across India, have initiated a campaign to fight for the rights and protection of sewage workers.

8212; H.P. Mishra

Ahmedabad