• It is distressing to note how whimsically public money has been wasted in conducting the so-called probe against former NCERT director J.S. Rajput (‘UPA attack on former NCERT boss Rajput full of sound, fury and some farce as well’, IE, May 28). Had politicians themselves conducted the inquiry and found that Rajput, as director NCERT had ‘‘worked as a ruthless academic terrorist’’, the findings would have merited only ridicule. Since the findings are credited to a retired IAS officer, they should not be dismissed out of hand. But on the whole, as you have said, they read like a mountain, but are, in fact, little more than a molehill. — Balram Misra New Delhi Self goal? • Soli J. Sorabjee's‘Midnight’s misadventures’ (IE, May 28), if anything, strengthens the case for President’s Rule. Sorabjee himself accepts that (a) “ground realities of mustering the requisite numbers are not static but ever changing”; and (b) Nitish Kumar, in this case, could have become CM ‘‘by hook or crook’’. The LJP members contested the election against NDA candidates and defeated them. Now they cannot support the party they fought the election against. — Alok Kumar London Just you wait • This refers to the report on Goa’s plans for a world class airport. Don’t be surprised if the airport is still not ready by 2014. They only talk. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole project is abandoned when all the five star hotels lobby against the airport in Mopa. — Renoir Goa Out of business • There was a time when India and Pakistan ruled in the hockey field because of green grass-playing conditions that demand skill and artistry. Now that hockey has moved to the European conditions — astroturf and a faster pace — we are out of business. We have not been able to adjust. We still live in the 20th century. — Ajaya Gupta On e-mail Only hyperbole • Rajeev Shukla is once again singing paeans to Congress President Sonia Gandhi (‘Front Foot’, IE, May 28). He feels that she has bound the party together against all odds for over a decade. Is this true or mere hyperbole? Sonia Gandhi may have kept the party together, but she has kept governance by the Congress-led UPA at bay. Her strong points are non-availability, arrogance, greater-than-thou stance and ability to hoodwink the media. — F.S.K. Barar Jodhpur Some more bans • Thank the lord that the moral government of Maharashtra is not banning the sale of liquor as well in bars or the ‘‘bewada’’ culture of Mumbai would have met with a sudden death. But while they are on their current spree, consideration may also be given to issuing ordinances to ban sex filled films, contests like Miss USA, Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss India and telecasts of Baywatch. Of course, exemptions should be granted to 5 star hotels, clubs, resorts since their patrons are highly scrupulous persons. — S.C. Dutt Noida
