Opinion EC,at 60
The Election Commission of India should be congratulated for completing 60 years of commendable service to Indian democracy....
The Election Commission of India should be congratulated for completing 60 years of commendable service to Indian democracy (Money and muscle worry parties as EC turns 60,IE,January 26). The EC could achieve this because of the courage of some election commissioners like T.N. Seshan who could make the EC independent and powerful. Unfortunately,the diamond jubilee celebration still showed up blemishes like money,muscle power and criminalisation of politics. I feel though that compulsory voting is the only sharp diamond cutter the EC can use to remove these scratches.
Nagesh Tekale
Cleaning up
The clarion call by the Congress president to decriminalise Indian politics by banning leaders of criminal track record is a welcome suggestion for political reform. It is also appreciated that the oldest political party accepts that Indian politics is still unclean. Parties that participate in nation-building should also endeavour to set right their own house by selecting good representatives to contest and work in the interest of countrymen. Leaders should stand by their word and set a precedent through transforming their utopian articulations into action for better administration and national empowerment. However,it is also a matter of embarrassment that we,the people,abstain from exercising our right to vote and select right candidates.
Syed Khaja
New Delhi
Benign diplomacy
This refers to Choosing R-Day chief guest: Behind the warm welcome,a cold strategy (IE,January 25). The choice of the chief guest for Republic Day every year is indeed dictated by many factors. Inviting the South Korean president is a clear indication of Indias desire to strengthen its strategic ties with Korea. Diplomacy is still the most effective tool to determine the role and position of a country in the global community. With its emergence as a major economic power,India has succeeded in ensuring its distinct place.
India has evolved a likeable diplomatic strategy by inviting heads of state or government as R-Day guests. This has paid rich dividends. For instance,France also invited Manmohan Singh as the chief guest for its National Day celebrations,in reciprocation for India inviting Nicolas Sarkozy for R-Day
in 2008.
Manoj Parashar
Ghaziabad
Blind spot
This refers to the editorial Odd one out (IE,January 25). It was not only hilarious but also a satire on the functioning of sarkaari offices. It is a matter of shame that a government advertisement was found carrying the photograph of a retired Pakistan air chief marshal,Tanvir Ahmed. Surely the ministry that released the advertisement in question is at fault. The Directorate of Visual Publicity is only a medium through which a government ad is released in newspapers. Those responsible for the lapse must be identified and punished.
R.K. Kapoor Chandigarh
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