Opinion In the fast lane

— Bal Govind

Noida

Right to choose

THE proposed amendment to the Representation of the People Act to debar chargesheeted persons from contesting elections is meant to exude righteous outrage against corruption (‘Who’s electable?’,IE,September 14). However,the ruling party may misuse such a law to debar its opponents from contesting. In a democracy,as far as possible,the choice of candidate should be left to the people rather than to the police.

— M.K. Mahapatra

Pune

Think big

L.K. Advani’s decision to go on another rath yatra,this time against corruption,is just a political stunt. Such yatras are of no practical use in the anti-corruption fight. Also,at a time when terror threats loom large over the country,our law-enforcement agencies should be fully engaged in securing peace and harmony. They should not be distracted from that and deployed to keep the yatris safe in their journey.

— Anil B. Naik

Aurangabad

Talking shop

APROPOS the editorial ‘Job talk’ (IE,September 12),US President Barack Obama is trying to address the economic crisis,one that has caused severe unemployment in his country and affected its productivity. His plan to modernise the infrastructure,especially highways and railways,is sure to contain,in the short term,the growing unemployment as well as the discontent among the youth. In the long term,it should help the US attain competitiveness in the global market. This time Obama has also done well by not holding globalisation responsible for the job losses in the US.

— Ved Guliani

Hisar

Blurred vision

The editorial ‘Call it non-violence?’ (IE,September 13) captured the essential difference between Gandhi’s non-violence and what Anna Hazare propounds. Gheraoing MPs and preventing them from leaving their houses is a form of violence. Conducting random referendums and imposing their results as people’s mandate also do not bode well. These activities infringe on the parliamentarians’ right to free movement and free deliberation.

— Suren Abreu

Mumbai