Opinion Heritage burning
On Tuesday,Stephen Court one of the magnificent Victorian brick buildings in Kolkata went up in flames,killing at least 24 people....
On Tuesday,Stephen Court one of the magnificent Victorian brick buildings in Kolkata went up in flames,killing at least 24 people. It was shocking that such structures were allowed to wither by the state government which saw in them reminders of foreign rule,rather than assets. If there is intent on the part of authorities,the heritage building can be rebuilt and restored. Several historic buildings of Berlin and London were rebuilt after the devastating aerial bombings and fires of World War II.
Subhayu Saha
Murshidabad
After US exit
The frontpage report After the heat,Hillary turns on warmth: Pak struggles my struggles,IE,March 25) reflects the hypocritical behaviour of the US so far as US-Af-Pak relations are concerned. The US,in fact,is looking for a face- saving exit from Afghanistan. With this in view,the US wouldnt mind handing over Afghanistan to the so-called good Taliban and Pakistan. Taliban may soon be returning to Afghanistan. The US,looking after its own interest,is at the old game of divide and rule. Pakistan is taking advantage of the situation,and trying to extract as much as possible. India has no role in Afghanistan other than rendering services medical treatment,power plants,roads,hospitals,etc. After the US exit,we may have to follow suit.
S. Shankar Singh
New Delhi
Maoist surge
The present surge of Maoist militancy is the result of the deep resentment of Adivasis,Scheduled Tribes and other minorities from backward classes. Socio-economic problems are the main causes of their poverty. These marginalised groups,after losing their livelihoods,forest access and survival means due to ruthless destruction and exploitation have become pawns in the hands of the Maoists. If the state and Union governments can reach out to these people with a concrete development package and protect them from vested onslaughts,the situation will change soon. But let us not forget that violence cannot be condoned in the name
of peace.
C. Koshy John
Bengals ennui
This refers to the editorial Fight fire (IE,March 25). Having burnt his fingers in Singur and Nandigram,Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has lost his drive. He is behaving like a caretaker chief minister. Most of his colleagues do not know what to do,nor do they have the willingness to know. With growing extremism,Buddhadeb is depending more on P. Chidambaram for rescuing him from the quagmire. His partys politburo is mostly manned by coffee-house politicians who have little knowledge of ground realities. People of West Bengal are suffering
from ennui.
M.K. Mahapatra
Pune
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