I was shocked to read Aman Sharma’s report from Lucknow about some district magistrates in Uttar Pradesh linking the grant of gun licenses to sterilisation targets because ‘‘the family planning programme is lagging behind’’ (IE, August 23). It reminds me of an American expert in India some four decades ago who bought an elephant, put a red triangle on it and paraded it in villages to impress the illiterate people about the enormity of India’s population problem. I had asked my colleague at Delhi School of Economics, Amartya Sen, for his views on this. Prompt came his reply: ‘‘I cannot think of a more asinine solution of an elephantine problem’’. — Ashish Bose New Delhi Question the leader • Apropos of the Karnataka government’s flip flop on Uma Bharati, do the political leaders of the country even realise that they may be wasting people’s money and energies on meaningless issues when much more important ones await their attention? Where is their conscience? Where is leadership? It is high time the people learn to question the motives behind the politicians’ statements and actions, and not blindly accept them, based on partisan loyalty. The media is not exhibiting responsibility and maturity either. — Giri Girishankar On e-mail About federalism • It is outrageous that the Central government should talk of allowing Manipur to raise its own force. If the government gives in to this demand, Laloo’s Bihar, Amarinder’s Punjab and other border states are bound to follow. The federal structure is sought to be demolished altogether. All that Sardar Patel achieved singlehandedly is being demolished by Sonia and Co. — A.P. Ganga Mumbai Wrong war • This refers to the editorial ‘Dangerous Deals’ (IE, September 2). No matter how tough a national policy is on terrorism, it’s not going to cure the problem of kidnapping for ransom. Just look at the tough policies of both the US and Israel. Despite Israel’s tough policies, it goes on. Each time, the evil intensity increases to higher levels with no solution in sight. As for the US, just observe the hundreds of billions of dollars spent to eradicate terrorism. To little avail. To stop hostage taking for ransom, one should look at ways other than getting tough or hitting terrorists with bombs and bullets. Rather than a war on terrorism, a worldwide war on poverty has to be launched. Through development of poor areas, education and providing job opportunities, the world can make a dent in the breeding grounds of terrorists. — Arvind Amin On e-mail Governing Kerala • There had not been any name other than Karunakaran or Antony for over the last three decades in Congress politics in Kerala. There was a fear that Kerala couldn’t throw up other leaders. Fortunately, the Congress high command has ruled out any such mishap with its firm decision to constitute a “new team on merit”. Congress should now show the courage to redistribute the portfolios. In a state with 100 per cent literacy, it is reform in the educational sector that has created the tensions in society. This prominent ministry was always with coalition partners (and not with the main party, Congress or CPM) for over the last two decades. This has created many problems. It’s time the main governing party took up this key responsibility. — Jiji John Thomas Thiruvalla
