Opinion Divide & rule

— Sumit Roy

Mumbai

Mayawati’s short-term goal might be to distract voters from allegations of corruption and mismanagement,but her long-term gameplan will be to have more than one state under the BSP which will give her more leverage in national politics. While her motives might be suspect because of the timing of the announcement,there is no denying that UP needs to be divided for better development,resource distribution and governance. The SP,BJP and others might allude to her hidden agenda and speak against it now,but even they will have to agree that this is a decision that has been too long in the making. The state’s reformulation will also reduce a single UP’s seats in Lok Sabha,which leads to a power imbalance. One can hope that petty politics will be put aside both at the state and national level so that this may become a reality.

— Suren Abreu

Mumbai

Mayawati’s intention may be right,but the timing of this proposal makes it a purely political move — as the assembly election is just round the corner. She has diverted the attention of the people and the parties,taking them all by surprise. Though the demand for the division of this large state has been doing the rounds for some time,any decision regarding such division should be made after much deliberation and the consideration of all pros and cons. It should not be an act of political whimsy.

— Bal Govind

Noida

Fie on the fee

The cabinet has finally cleared amendments to the bill on the prohibition of unfair practices in higher education institutes,and these intend to make accepting capitation fees a punishable offence (‘Cabinet’s nod for Rs 1-crore fine for capitation fees’,IE,November 17). This is most welcome. The laws enacted so far by the Union and state governments have not been able to curb the capitation-fee menace. Some institutions accept money under a better-sounding nomenclature. They call it “development fee”.

— Percival Fernandez

Mumbai