Questions, minister

8226; The manner in which Minister of State for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy has reportedly...

8226; The manner in which Minister of State for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy has reportedly attempted to abuse his position is shameful. This despite the CVC having drawn to the prime minister8217;s attention such ministerial misuse of the PSUs.
Further, instead of facing up to the facts, Rudy is busy manufacturing lame excuses. That he was on official visit, his bills were inflated, he is unaware of the correct procedure to pay his bills. The questions that beg to be asked are: If his visit was official, what was the role of his wife, and wife8217;s sister? If his visit was official, why could he have not utilised government accommodation, such as Raj Bhavan or the government guest houses? If his bills were inflated, why could they not be immediately rectified, given the enormous ministerial and governmental clout he wields?
Were his ministry director8217;s and PA8217;s wives also part of the official visit? Who footed their bills? When citizens receive inflated bills from government utilities, the government8217;s dictum is 8216;the citizen must first pay the bill and then seek redressal8217;. Does this government rule, applicable to citizens, not apply equally to ministers?

8212; Rozario Menezes Vasco da Gama

This and that

8226; Though the BJP boasts of improved relations with Pakistan, yet it is afraid of sending the Indian cricket team to Pakistan. On the one hand, the party speaks against Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka and Rajiv, yet it is trying to bring two other Gandhis 8212; Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi 8212; into the BJP fold.

8212; Anu Chatrath Chandigarh

Spoilsport

8226; Two factors threaten to play spoilsport in India8217;s upcoming cricket tour to Pakistan. First the BJP8217;s qualms about letting the series take place before the elections. The party feels if any untoward incident happens, it will diminish its chances of winning the polls! How greedy, self-indulgent and power-hungry can a party be! If something can happen to our players now, the same danger may befall them if they go to Pakistan after the elections in May. Isn8217;t the BJP worried about that eventuality? Also, the party8217;s surmise that if the Indian team receives a severe drubbing by Pakistan in the series, it would have an adverse impact on them in the polls is ridiculous. Agreed, the people would be irked against our players for losing to our neighbour. But why would they have any grudge against the government?
Secondly, Saurav Ganguly8217;s reported apprehensions about playing in Pakistan. The plan of having a full-fledged series in Pakistan was mooted quite some time back. Why was the Indian skipper quiet then? Why is he expressing his reservations now?

8212; V. Rajesh On e-mail

Good work

8226; Congratulations to the Indian Express for exposing the atrocities in Gujarat. Your paper has touched the highest standards of investigative journalism. It has been your constant effort to bring out skeletons from the cupboards of killers and murderers. It is high time the apex court intervenes and orders a comprehensive inquiry into all the ghastly incidents. Carry on the good work.

8212; Ejaz Ahmed Aslam New Delhi