You are correct when you say in your editorial ‘Citizenship enhanced’ (IE, February 16) that workers in the informal sector must be registered as well. Because, as you say, they are consigned to an area of darkness, robbed of a decent wage and modicum of security. It is now up to the government to amend the rules in a foolproof manner. Registration of marriage is vital in a country where there are many instances of a man marrying one woman in one house and another in the next. Often, women have been forced or persuaded to agree to their husbands taking a second wife because they need protection for themselves and their children. It must also be hoped that the law can now prevent child marriages. — Bidyut K. Chatterjee Faridabad Good riddance • The recall of the asbestos-laden Clemenceau is a victory for environmentalists all over world, and especially in India. The Clemenceau affair was debated in all quarters on grounds of its legality, the health and safety of workers to be employed in dismantling the warship as well as in terms of its impact on relations between two countries. The UPA government took much too long to respond to the challenge at hand. It came under criticism from all quarters before it showed any modicum of realisation that what was happening was wrong. — Ehteshamul Haque New Delhi Why, Comrades • We would like to know from Prakash Karat why the CPM is taking a position in favour of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic state which is against Communists in Iran and one that has purchased nuclear energy and equipment illegaly from A.Q. Khan. Marx and Lenin must be turning in their graves to see their followers now. Is it because the Left parties are looking for the Muslim Vote? — R.P. Desai On e-mail Act now • This refers to your report on the troubles of the onion farmers. The recent movements of onion prices have worsened the condition of debt-ridden farmers. The farmer’s suicide must press the alarm bell, the time has come to take action. Sadly, the government has learnt nothing from Vidarbha suicides episode. — Mukesh Rana New Delhi No way to go • With reference to your leader ‘That idea again’ (IE, February 14), yes, the Third Front is not politically viable though the reason why the idea has come up in this moment is obvious. The Left finds itself driven into a corner with its demands not being accepted by the otherwise boneless UPA, and in West Bengal the Election Commission means business. The Left parties appear to have found cohorts in the TDP and the SP. While the TDP stands tainted with its hands in the till in the food for work programme in which thousands of crores of rupees and food-grain have vanished unaccounted for, Mulayam Singh has, it appears, not only lost his earthy touch but is also under terrible pressure from the otherwise minuscule Congress party in his state. — M.K.D. Prasada Rao Ghaziabad
