Speaker146;s cornered

The proposed security screening of Somnath Chatterjee in Australia could have been neither vindictive in its aim...

The proposed security screening of Somnath Chatterjee in Australia could have been neither vindictive in its aim nor discriminatory in its effect 8216;Speaker8217;s pique8217;, IE, April 9. Yet, Chatterjee8217;s outburst at the perceived affront is entirely in character. It reflects the anachronistic obsessions of a class-ridden, class-anchored, class-obsessed bureaucracy where social standing conferred by political high-office is tantamount to exemption from every rule and regulation a common person is bound by.

8212; Ganesh S. Krishnan On e-mail

8226; In your blind, all-encompassing prejudice against the CPIM you have missed the point in Somnath Chatterjee8217;s refusal to be searched in Australia. Why should he allow himself to be subjected to such humiliation? Even a minor official from such countries objects to being frisked at India8217;s airports.

8212; Romesh Bhattacharji New Delhi

8226; So Somnath-da feels insulted! His ego is affected. But he should also not insult others by trying to be superior to his fellow countrymen. These are double standards. This is a good lesson for him.

8212; Ranjan Das Kolkata

8226; While the speaker is fully justified in not going to Australia because he will have to undergo a routine security check, he cannot demand immunity as a head of state or of government. It is his arrogance that he demands to be treated like a head of state or government.

8212; Ashok Raj New Delhi

8226; I applaud Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee8217;s decision not to visit Australia because he will be subjected to a security check at the port of entry. This is unacceptable. Chatterjee represents the largest democratic country in the world. The Australian foreign minister is visiting India soon and he should be subjected to the same kind of security upon arrival. He is not at all above our speaker.

8212; Sheik Wisel Columbus, Ohio

Friends of Sam

8226; Ashok Malik has it all wrong 8216;Sam bharose8217;, IE, April 9. The US is a superpower, it has strong ties with Pakistan. It will never forge a close relationship with India, as with Israel. The US is merely selling arms to India and Pakistan. War and selling arms are most profitable.

8212; Anil Maurya Raipur

Twenty20 vision

8226; Harsha Bhogle has put it nicely in his article about changing expectations from our cricketers 8216;In cricket8217;s Russian roulette, Dhoni8217;s just upped the ante8217;, IE, April 9. I am waiting for the introduction of Twenty20 tournaments in a big way in India as it will lead to more innovative approaches to batting and will improve scoring rates in the 50-over game, just as the 50-over game helped speed up Test matches.

8212; Sameer Rana Rochester