Opinion Behind Maoism
Our half-hearted efforts and fickle-minded approach to tackling Maoism has only turned the problem into a national issue...
Behind Maoism
This refers to K. Subrahmanyams Bleeding-heart cynics (IE,May 19) and the editorial A new menu (IE,May 20). Our half-hearted efforts and fickle-minded approach to tackling Maoism has only turned the problem into a national issue,threatening the authority and sovereignty of the Indian state. Its only a handful of misguided ideologues who,with the help of some disgruntled groups,have challenged the power of the state,creating the impression that they can hold the state to ransom.
Politicians parochial interests and the tendency to pass the buck have added fuel to the fire. The political leadership ignored development of these backward areas and allowed the impoverished masses to suffer while funds meant for development were siphoned off by corrupt politicians and Naxalites. Now,when these lawless goons flex their muscle by even destroying the state organs such as security forces,political crocodile tears in the form of appeals and appeasement will have no effect.
Ved Guliani
Hisar
Mamata,missing
Mamata Banerjee is doing a great disservice to the nation by focusing all her energy and time on West Bengal,keeping her eye on the 2011 assembly elections (Rail rant,IE,May 20). Let alone infrastructure development for railways,she is not even attending cabinet meetings. She should understand that declaring an amount of compensation,every time,for families of victims of railway accidents sitting in Kolkata is not the only work a minister is supposed to do. She has failed the nation as a whole and should resign.
Sourav Roy Barman
Tripura
Toll tales
This refers to MPs,MLAs exempted from paying toll for road development (IE,May 20). How is it that we the taxpayers have to pay tolls and MPs and MLAs dont? Did they not profess to want to serve the people when they stood for election? The EGOM are themselves MPs. In other words,MPs have exempted themselves and the MLAs. We,the people,pay taxes to fund the lavish life MPs and MLAs lead,and now the salt on the wound paying tolls while they exempt themselves,even on their personal pleasure trips. Are they rulers and we the subjects?
Ashok R. Tolat
Ahmadabad
Stark indicators
Bibek Debroys Health,wealth,and wisdom (IE,May 18) was a cogent article. Its shocking that when the whole world is talking about climate change and ways to protect the earth,we reflect a shameful picture of more than 650 million people defecating in the open. In a few months,well beckon the world to the Commonwealth Games; can we afford to show such terrible figures to it? The government must take these indicators seriously; instead of hosting the CWG involving huge amounts of money,human resource and infrastructure they could have used that money to curb Indias sanitation problem.
Pragati Ganguly
New Delhi
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