Opinion Death knell
The Union cabinet has sounded the death knell for democracy.
* THis refers to An unseemly hurry (IE,September 26). The Union cabinet has sounded the death knell for democracy by clearing an ordinance which protects MPs and MLAs from being disqualified for being convicted by a court of law. Especially in todays circumstances,where scams are crawling out of the woodwork,it was correct on the part of the Supreme Court to have struck down Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act. The SC must take suo motu cognisance and strike down the ordinance if it comes into effect. Failing this,our legislatures will remain peopled by criminals.
S. Hariharan
Washim
* The cabinets decision to clear this controversial ordinance to protect criminal MPs and MLAs highlights this governments scant regard for constitutional propriety and its contempt for the Supreme Court. There is no denying the need for close parliamentary scrutiny of the SCs judgment. This should have been done through a debate in Parliament. The unseemly haste with which an ordinance is sought to be pushed through is disgraceful. There seems to be a larger political calculation at work here. It is essential for the health of our democracy that political leaders restore peoples faith in the system. Currently,the credibility of our politicians and our trust in them are at critically low levels.
Naren N. Joshi
Gurgaon
Futile photo-ops
* This refers to PM to take up LoC violence in talks with Nawaz Sharif (IE,September 26). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should,by all means,hold talks with Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Singh must not bow to pressure to cancel these talks because of the September 26 terrorist attack in J&K. However,the PM must certainly tell Sharif that meetings and photo-ops will be futile and unproductive unless he assures us of the total elimination of terrorists and terror planning from Pakistani soil. If Pakistan is equally afflicted by terror,then why doesnt Sharif do more to control it?
R.P. Shahi
Honest conversation
* This refers to A stilted conversation (IE,September 25). The National Integration Council should be an important forum to take up vital matters concerning the nation. It is sad that vested interests,political motives and party affiliations characterised its most recent meeting. The NIC should be a non-partisan forum to discuss the state of the nation. It should be more interactive,rather than an occasion for stilted speech making.
Anchit Mathur
New Delhi
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