Opinion Bridge the Gulf

The Arab Spring has redefined stereotypical notions of governance in the region.

The Indian Express

December 31, 2011 01:05 AM IST First published on: Dec 31, 2011 at 01:05 AM IST

Bridge the Gulf

The Arab Spring has redefined stereotypical notions of governance in the region. The NATO incursions that are in direct conflict with Russia and Chinas pro-regime stance have created a bipolar space. Here Indias ambivalent attitude would not satisfy. India should provide humanitarian relief to refugees and improve literacy and technology penetration in the region,similar to the Pan-African e-Network project. It can be a humanitarian third force in the largely polarised region.

Sudipta Das,Kolkata

Caste no bar

The caste of corruption by Shekhar Gupta (IE,December 24) has posed a big question is there a caste or communal link to corruption and crime? He has also given a few examples to prove his point. I dont agree with him on this. Corruption or crime has nothing to do with caste,colour or creed. However,he is right in saying that Team Annas abhorrence and ignorance of politics and lack of respect for the political class have marred their so-called movement. Both Gandhis and JPs movement made inclusive politics the vehicle of their revolution,which Annas movement has not.

Sanjay Saksena,New Delhi

Deep reservations

Apropos The caste of corruption (IE,December 24),from day one you have been against Team Anna,but then it is your privilege to hold that opinion. However,now you have come out with the wonderful suggestion that one should not do anything about the Lokpal bill because action is taken only against OBCs/ SCs/ STs,and upper castes are spared.

You have cited the example of A. Raja in the 2G spectrum scam,but what about the corporate bigwigs? Are they also from the reserved quota? Would you recommend that in corruption cases,exemption should be given to those in reserved categories?

R.C. Desai,Vallabh Vidyanagar

Farce pavilion

What happened in Rajya Sabha on Thursday does not strengthen anyones belief in Indian democracy. The governments bad floor management was in evidence. Instead of the prime minister,MoS Narayanasami replied to the debate.

The Congress utterly failed to gauge the reactions even of its allies. Political parties have proveds the apprehensions of Team Anna right. Though Anna Hazares fast in Mumbais MMRDA grounds was a flop show,now his anti-corruption campaign will get a shot in the arm.

N. Ramamurthy,Chennai

Thanks,Metro man

Apropos Life in a Metro (IE,December 30),all those who travel by the Delhi Metro owe a big thank you to E. Sreedharan. The Delhi government should consider naming a station after him. Perhaps Dwarka Sector 21 station,which is a terminating point for the Airport Metro Express,should be named as the Sreedharan Terminus.

T. Sampath Kumar,New Delhi