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This is an archive article published on June 14, 2010
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Opinion Little,too late

These days,there is widespread anger over how former Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson was allowed to get away...

The Indian Express

June 14, 2010 11:16 PM IST First published on: Jun 14, 2010 at 11:16 PM IST

These days,there is widespread anger over how former Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson was allowed to get away and over the light sentence for those convicted. However,this din started only the moment the verdict was announced. This is typical. Anderson escaped four days after a tragedy which is already 26 years old. The sentence awarded was the maximum permissible for the charges. Why was the hue and cry not started when Anderson escaped,or when the charges were whittled down?

Here’s another example of our lack of social consciousness: Manipur. Do we even know that supply trucks have not been allowed to travel on a national highway to landlocked Manipur for two months now by a bunch of hooligans? Hospitals in Manipur have already run dry of medicines. After some months,we will light candles for the sufferers of Manipur.

— Alok Mumbai

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It has been rightly said of the Bhopal verdict that it shows the failure of our country’s criminal justice system (‘Caught in court’,IE,June 10). This will definitely send the wrong message not just within our country but also around the globe about the seriousness and efficiency of our legal system. At least the Law Minister has rightly suggested that we ensure punishment for Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) be of a serious nature.

— Harpreet Sandhu

Ludhiana

Holistic approach?

The article ‘Dealing with Maoism’ (IE,June 9) was very forthright and pragmatic. A holistic approach is needed. K. Subrahmanyam’s emphasis on good governance along with providing security and undertaking development work is logical. Passing the buck while saying that law and order problem is a state subject ignores the enormity of the situation that states face today. A comprehensive intelligence machinery,a well-equipped paramilitary force and a national security council to command the operation are essential. Dialogue can be used only when the law and order situation is under control.

— Mohammed Furquan

New Delhi

Jobs rules

This is with reference to ‘Apple’s solitary genius’ (IE,June 3). Apple might have refused to license its software to other hardware manufacturers and consequently,lost out on sales volume (even though their profit margin remained high),but this exclusion helped it create the brand it is today. The exclusive hardware-software combination made Apple products unique,and thus,a status symbol. Simply,what’s available on it isn’t available on others. In a way this helped Apple justify its price for products,and in the long run this decision of not licensing software has proved beneficial. Financially,it may have taken time to beat Microsoft,but the fact is that for an ordinary user,brand Apple has more impact than brand Microsoft. Steve Jobs is successful if he wanted to create a brand that helped him control the world.

— Vibhav Kamath

Mumbai