Opinion Food for thought

— John Alexander

Nagpur

All for one?

This refers to media reports about the Union government going ahead with P.J. Thomas as the next chief vigilance commissioner,overlooking objections by the leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj. Overlooking the opposition’s views makes her presence meaningless in such high-powered selection committees. The practice should be to achieve consensus on the final selection by picking a unanimous choice from amongst the shortlisted names.

— Subhash C. Agrawal

Delhi

Command,control

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s apparent pique at the opposition’s baiting seems to be the reason he chose to defend himself in the meeting with editors. He talked in clichés even as the country faces a host of problems. The UPA seems to live in the hope that time will solve everything. It can only be characterised as a policy of drift with no focus on specific remedies. Therefore,as much as he tries hard to convey his control,it carries little conviction. The only enduring impression he leaves is that he is a man of integrity and honesty — but what use is that when the country is caught in such political turmoil?

— H.R.B. Satyanarayana

Mysore

Talk in earnest

The hostage crisis in Bihar finally came to an end with the Maoists releasing the three policemen,eight days after they were abducted from Lakhisarai district. The release is a good sign for dialogue to begin between the government and the Maoists. But the killing of the constable Lucas Tete by the Maoists has proved their extreme brutality in depriving a family of its breadwinner.

Before the talks begin,the government must extend the olive branch and the Maoists must stop killing villagers who do not support their ideology. Nitish Kumar,like Mamata Banerjee,Swami Agnivesh and others must take the initiative to solve the problem,and not think of political gain and his own image. If the talks fail,then the government must not shy away from hard action.

— Bidyut K. Chatterjee

Faridabad