Do more
That the Supreme Court has suggested harsh measures to curb honour killings implies some state governments are not discharging their duites seriously. Votebank politics is responsible for self-styled outfits like khap panchayats becoming a law unto themselves. Almost all political parities are to blame for their temerity.
Satwant Kaur
Mahilpur
Not altruism
I would like to disagree with Arvind Guptas Mind the R2P (IE,April 22). Indias abstention on the UN Security Council resolution on Libya is based less on pragmatism and more on domestic votebank considerations. If India was really against the resolution,it should have had the courage to vote against it openly. But it doesnt want to offend the US and its allies either. In the past too,India had abstained from resolutions only for this reason. Similarly,NATOs support for the resolution is guided more by its strategic interests than altruism. In international politics,all countries interpret and analyse situations as it suits them. India is not an exception.
Tarsem Singh
New Delhi
Missing Senapatis
It is time for the scions of the Shiv Sena to lead their agitations from the front (Jaitapur protests: Village tense on day of funeral,IE,April 22). Otherwise,such triggering of violence will be viewed as opportunistic,for settling political scores,not ideological differences. Time and again,the Sena leadership makes tactical retreats after unleashing its cadres. The violent turn that the Sena-led agitation at Jaitapur has taken was uncalled for. The Sena is known for making about turns after undertaking agitations,making its motives suspect in the public eye. For a change,maybe the Sena should take a firm stand,perhaps even co-opt Anna Hazare? Or,if they dont want him to steal the limelight,maybe Sena leaders can launch a fast-unto-death? All of which is better than the cadres and violence. At least,it can bargain for a single reactor to begin with,in place of an ambitious six.
J.V.R. Gopal
Navi Mumbai
Hurtling backward
The editorial Love and honour (IE,April 21) was yet another reminder to the concerned state governments of Haryana,Rajasthan,and Uttar Pradesh to rein in the khap panchayats. Born and brought up in Haryana,I am saddened by the fact that these self-appointed bodies are showing the state in a poor light. Honour killings and interference in the marriages of young couples give the impression that Haryana is still medieval. Khap panchayats are out of place. They need to be strictly dealt with by the state government before further damage is done to the states image and its progress hindered. Khap panchayats are still active because politicians are playing to the gallery. The state must also take serious measures to improve its gender ratio and welcome the girl child.
Madhu Singh
Ambala
