Need of the hour

PM’s test

• Apropos of the H.D. Shourie’s article, ‘How long before justice comes?’ (IE, Dec 10), it does make some wise suggestions on how to unclog the courts. There have been numerous reports of the Law Commission on the issue and even a high school student knows what needs to be done. But it will require both judicial and political will and the desire for judicial as well as administrative reforms. If the original ‘reforms man’, Dr Manmohan Singh, can pull this off, he will surely be India’s most successful PM.

— Pranav Sachdeva New Delhi

Disgusting spat

• I find it disgusting that both Houses of Parliament had to be adjourned on December 9, over the verbal spat between Laloo Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan. Just when the new government looks to have settled at the Centre, taking on the enormous challenges of a developing nation that is India, its very own ministers behave so childishly! It is a matter of shame for all the elected representatives and the public at large to witness such skirmishes. Is there someone who can remind both Laloo and Ram Vilas that we are in the 21st century and way behind our developmental targets? Surely, we should be concentrating on more productive things than engaging in futile tussles.

— Vidyanand Joshi Navi Mumbai

Too many Gandhis

• My recollections of Navy Day over the years (Total Recall, IE, Dec 2) elicited a response from the former Himachal governor, Admiral Rustam Khushro Shapoorjee Gandhi. He writes: ‘As the chief of personnel in Naval Headquarters in 1976, it was my duty to escort the PM around the naval exhibits. As we went around a young officer stepped forward and, noticing the name GANDHI on his name tally, I said, ‘Madame may I introduce Lieutenant Gandhi.’ Quick-witted as Indira Gandhi was, she smiled and quipped too many Gandhis today!

— Mukund B. Kunte New Delhi

In poor taste

• This is with reference ‘Beckham Nativity waxwork tableau outrages churches’ (IE, December 9). I quite agree with those who say that the Beckham nativity waxwork exhibited at Madame Tussauds, London, marks a dangerous trend in celebrity worship. It is perhaps nothing short of blasphemy. It is in bad taste, and the museum authorities must take immediate steps to undo the damage.

— F.S.K. Barar On e-mail