So you say

Your editorial, 8216;Lalu8217;s in business8217;IE, February 25, claims that politics it about keeping and nurturing cons...

Your editorial, 8216;Lalu8217;s in business8217;IE, February 25, claims that politics it about keeping and nurturing constituencies. Well said. But consider this: compared to many other states, the Congress got the maximum number of seats in the current Lok Sabha from Andhra Pradesh. Yet, in the past two decades, no railway minister has thought of connecting the important Vijayawada railway junction to New Delhi by a superfast train that takes just 15 hours, to say nothing of any other important railway project. If we accuse our politicians of indulgence in parochial politics, we also need to note that our MPs do not bother about their states8217; interests at all.

8212; M.K.D. Prasada Rao, Ghaziabad

Jessica precedent

8226; Apropos of Suhel Seth8217;s article,8216;The cowards we worship8217; IE, February 24, the acquittal of the accused in Jessica Lall8217;s murder is not just a reflection on our wretched and corrupt system. It is an example of how in India the rich and powerful can get away with anything.This is neither a simple case of inefficiency or corruption of the official machinery, nor is it just another case involving the rich and powerful. Many of the officers who preach to us about the value of truth, courage and ethics were present at Tamarind Court restaurant when Jessica was shot in the head. Let us always remember that.

8212; V. Guliani, Hisar

8226; The verdict in the Jessica Lall murder case is really shocking. This is another example of how the Indian system works. It took seven long years for the verdict 8212; and this is what we get! It is also sad to see the inability of the Delhi police to muster enough evidence to make their case strong.
The whole country is with the Lall family. We hope that the state will act in a responsible manner so that justice is not denied. This particular case has set a very bad precedent of how people with money and power get away.

8212; Aditya Raj Kaul New Delhi

Ban these cowards

8226; With reference to Suhel Seth8217;s 8216;The Cowards we worship8217; IE, February 24, I think the time has come for all like-minded people to come together and act rather than let things be and shed crocodile tears on the death of Jessica Lall. I have no connection with the hapless girl but in death I would mourn her many times over after the verdict was received. The time has come for all of us to act, and not just react. The first step to be taken is to ostracise the cowards who retracted their statements providing relief to the culprits. We should impose a social ban on them. Can we not all ban such individuals from attending public functions and avoid giving them public space in the media, be it newspapers or television? Can we not bring public pressure on them through their peers?

8212; B.R.K. Rao, New Delhi

Wrong-headed call

8226; What the UP minister for Haj, Haji Yakoob Qureshi, has done is a crime punishable under sections 108, 108/A, 115 and 120-B of the IPC 8216;Heading for trouble8217;, IE, February 20. On February 17 he ordered what amounts to the contract killing of a foreign national. He has admitted to making this offer while fully in his senses hosh aur hawaash. UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh8217;s response has been one of silence. The SP leader Amar Singh should exercise restraint in airing his reactions. The Congress and Samajwadi party spokespersons in a TV programme let the minister off, saying 8220;perhaps he did not mean it8221;. This is minority appeasement, plain and simple.

8212; Mookhi Amir Ali, Mumbai