No fightback

8226; The Naxalite invasion of Jehanabad has exacerbated the simmering frustration and embarrassm...

8226; The Naxalite invasion of Jehanabad has exacerbated the simmering frustration and embarrassment caused by the total lack of a hard-hitting government response to the Naxal menace. One wonders how many more such outrages are needed to awaken the government. Naxals challenge the authority of the state in more than 200 districts. The response of the government is not at all proportionate to the enormity of this threat which equals if not exceeds the threat posed by Pak sponsored terrorism.

8212; Hari Thampy Trivandrum

It8217;s the timing

8226; Generally, no one would argue with the Supreme Court8217;s prerogative to decide the timing of its judgments. But its historic verdict on the illegality of the dissolution of Bihar assembly creates a piquant situation. The prime minister and his party, after owning responsibility for the fiasco, are using the fig leaf of 8220;waiting for the detailed judgment8221;. They have receded into the inaction mode in a matter where guilty heads should have rolled immediately. No specific action has been taken even after a month of the judgment though there was a grave breach of constitutional and moral propriety on part of the government.

8212; Y.G. Chouksey Pune

House rules

8226; Ministers and MPs are illegally and forcefully occupying prime land in Delhi, to which the administration is an looker. How can there be two sets of rules 8212; one for VIPs and another for the others? They undoubtedly qualify for being driven out after being served notices.

8212; C.R. Bhattacharjee Kolkata

8226; The Supreme Court has once again asked overstaying VVIPs to vacate their government bungalows in Delhi by January. The government has told the Supreme Court that despite the eviction notices, the VVIPs continue to occupy government bungalows. If the government cannot evict unauthorised people from its posh bungalows, how can one expect it to evict terrorists from their hideouts?

8212; V.S. Venkatavaradan Salem

Shah of mascots

8226; I hope Shah Rukh Khan will accept the government8217;s invitation to become the anti-smoking mascot for the Ministry of Health. If he takes on that responsibility, it may have a positive effect on millions of youths. Let us hope more celebrities will come forward to support similarly healthy causes.

8212; K.V. Shamsudheen On e-mail

The Red Fort

8226; Congratulations for your excellent editorial 8216;Little Stalinists8217; November 16, carrying frank comments about JNU 8212; the Red fort of independent India.
While the little Stalinists were shouting at the PM inside the campus, the big ones outside were warning him to yield to their diktat on the Iran policy or be ready for the worst. We believe that in a democracy, deciding policies is the prerogative of the elected government. But now we are witnessing a never-seen before model of Marxist democracy where the Leftists deliberately sitting outside the government and even their license holders in JNU are dictating to the government on national and international policies. To the Left Front8217;s unwarranted interference in government business and persistent threats, the PM8217;s answer should be a mid-term poll.

8212; M.C. Joshi Lucknow