Prosecute them

For the kind of criminal goings-on reported from inside the Orissa assembly 8212; the throwing of chappals, the injuries sust...

For the kind of criminal goings-on reported from inside the Orissa assembly 8212; the throwing of chappals, the injuries sustained by the chief minister 8212; mere suspension from the assembly for the rest of the session is too light a punishment. This will not dissuade such misbehavior in future. We must be more unsparing.

8212; C.R. Bhattacharjee Kolkata

Bush is trouble

8226; Apropos of 8216;Vote that8217;ll change the world8217; IE, November 2, I am an Indian living in France and I think the writer has taken a very limited view of the US elections. There are no realists left in the Republican party. In case the writer hasn8217;t noticed, he should read an article by Ron Suskind in the New York Times about 10 days ago. The current Republican Administration does not believe in 8220;reality-based assessments based on facts and analysis8221; since they believe they are constructing history and others will spend time analysing it.

8212; Alok J. Antibes

Vain ceremonials

8226; With anguish one notes the time and money spent by the Tamil Nadu government to felicitate the STF personnel who finally caught up with Veerappan. Indian politicians like to dwell in the colonial times. The chief minister has many more pressing issues to attend. The STF personnel have just done their job. Conducting a function and coining medals will set a bad precedent. One look at the police medallists caught in various scams is enough. Such ceremonials only reflect the grand inefficiency displayed by the police for the past 20 odd years. The fact is the STF failed for so long to catch Veerappan. Now, it suits Jayalalithaa to blow the trumpet for her own personal aggrandisement.

8212; K. Sivakumar Dundee

Remember Shastri

8226; Thank you very much for bringing out the supplement on the former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri IE, October 31. The most humble and charismatic prime minister has unfortunately been eclipsed from public memory. Since my father was intimately associated with him during the freedom struggle, as a child I have heard my father speak about him with great reverence. I had the opportunity of meeting him once when he was prime minister and his two words 8220;beti, khub parho8221; child, study hard have always inspired me. His honesty, humility and compassion for people inspired everybody who came in contact with him.

8212; Mridul Jain New Delhi

On, off, on

8226; This cricket team has shown what is possible when confidence is reposed in them. Even the greatest teams have had offdays 8212; the best example being the West Indians who8217;ve been 8216;8216;off8217;8217; for such a long time that no one can remember when they were last 8216;8216;on8217;8217;. Give the Indian team time. After all, the ultimate aim is to win the World Cup in 2007.

8212; Satish Viswanath Aberdeen