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This is an archive article published on July 12, 2012
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Opinion A class apart

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram allegedly remarked that the middle class was willing to spend on ice-cream and bottled water

The Indian Express

July 12, 2012 12:22 AM IST First published on: Jul 12, 2012 at 12:22 AM IST

A class apart

* UNION Home Minister P. Chidambaram allegedly remarked that the middle class was willing to spend on ice-cream and bottled water but not willing to put up with a Re 1 hike in the price of wheat or rice,which would help poor farmers (‘Chidambaram in “middle class” row’,IE,July 10). However,it is government policy that is responsible for the plight of farmers in the first place. For instance,foodgrains are left to rot in warehouses instead of being distributed among the poor. The interests of farmers have been consistently neglected by the government.

— H. Parshuram

Mumbai

Admit it

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* THIS refers to ‘Making the cut’ (IE,July 10). Niti Bhutani has rightly pointed out the flaws in Delhi University’s admission procedure. A preliminary test,along with the cut-offs,would be better suited to assess the quality of students being admitted. It would also give aspirants from state boards where the marking is stricter a fighting chance of admission in DU. It is time to take stock of the situation and introduce a better admission procedure — one that will help DU attract the best talent and maintain its position as the premier university in India.

— Altamash Aiman

New Delhi

Poor show

* APROPOS ‘TN protests: Sri Lankans training at IAF station shifted’(IE,July 7),the UPA government has shown feet of clay by caving in to pressure from political parties in Tamil Nadu and sending Sri Lankan military personnel training in Chennai to Bangalore. The Central government cannot allow itself to be pressured into such decisions. It should have found a way to pre-empt or halt such protests. Political parties cannot push their vested interests at the cost of India’s relations with neighbouring countries. The Centre should keep in mind that cordial relations with our neighbours are vital to long-term interests.

— Satwant Kaur

Mahilpur

Unkind cut

* KULDIP NAYAR has alleged in his book that former prime minister P.V. Narsimha Rao sat in prayer and did little to stop the Babri Masjid from being demolished (‘Babri: Rao remained a silent witness,says Kuldip Nayar book’,IE,July 6). Such allegations are perhaps unjust and uncharitable. It is also not clear why Nayar chose to break his silence two decades after the event took place.

— Mookhi Amir Ali

Mumbai

Rocking talent

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* THIS refers to ‘Rocking chair design for father fetches city student first prize at national contest’ (IE,July 9). Student Ajay Kale’s simple innovation underlines the fact that there is no dearth of talent in our country. Sadly,it does not often get the right platform to flourish.

— Najmuddin Pata

Pune