Sarabjit saga

8226; The poor family of Sarabjit Singh! Don8217;t they know that the Sonia-Singh ...

8226; The poor family of Sarabjit Singh! Don8217;t they know that the Sonia-Singh government is in the thick of peace negotiations with Pakistan 8216;Death penalty for Indian sends ripples in border village8217;, IE, August 24? The death of one or a few Indians doesn8217;t matter to it. After all, India has so many people available for sacrifice on the altar of this peace process, the Indian government can continue with the facade of a peace dialogue even though Pervez Musharraf has already declared that 8220;unless the Kashmir problem is resolved, extremism will continue8221;. What exactly does the Indian government think Musharraf is implying when he makes such a statement? Unless Pakistan gets Kashmir at the end of this peace process, Pakistan will restart terrorism in Kashmir down the road, as Robert Blackwill wrote recently. But then those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it. And India is doomed to do so. Over and over again8230;

8212; Suresh M. Sheth On e-mail

8226; Thanks to the efforts by the media, Sarabjit Singh8217;s case have been highlighted. There could be many Sarabjits in Pakistan who are suffering there through no fault of theirs. So the government should use this case as platform and appeal to Pakistan to release all such persons.

8212; Bal Govind Bareilly

Will it work?

8226; It was heartening to read the announcement recently made by Suresh Kalmadi that, hereafter, inefficient corporators would not be given tickets for the next election. Since the announcement is for the press, it is presumed to be for public consumption. A few questions arise, which need to be clarified at this stage. If it also means that the criteria presently applied is different, then what are those. If there are any prescribed norms to measure the efficiency, what are those? Who will judge and evaluate the performance? What would be the periodicity? Would it be once at the end of the term or at intervals? Would non-performers be allowed to complete the term or would they be asked to pack up even before they have begun? The announcement would be meaningful only if the process is transparent and answers these and similar questions. It should not be yet another smoke-screen.

8212; C.S. Pathak Pune

Applaud the court

8226; I appreciated the Supreme Court for lashing out at the Centre. Our political parties traditionally are short-sighted and with no other thought but to increase their populist measures. It may have long-term consequences. The Supreme Court has 8212; through its criticism of Narendra Modi, and other verdicts 8212; upheld the rights of the citizen. The state, in contrast, has become a 8220;phrase8221; used by greedy, corrupt and short-sighted politicians to further their own interests. I applaud the Supreme Court for refusing to tolerate criticism.

8212; Sumant Trehan Chandigarh

Get to work

8226; Apropos of the editorial, 8216;Test of democracy8217; IE, August 23, whatever Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said about the Naxalite movement is true. But I think the movement may cease to exist if the State works for the people. People keep their faith in those involved in the movement to get their work done 8212; for example, to acquire land. If government officials give up their corrupt practices and work for the welfare of the people, the Naxal movement might end.

8212; B. Curie New Delhi