Opinion Minor key

The country continues to suppress its religious minorities but blames India for doing the same.

The Indian Express

August 22, 2012 02:36 AM IST First published on: Aug 22, 2012 at 02:36 AM IST

Minor key

The article From Pakistan with fear (IE,August 21) was comprehensive but cautious about Pakistans attitude to its Hindu minority. The country continues to suppress its religious minorities but blames India for doing the same. True tolerance means respecting an individual,no matter what his or her religion is. Unfortunately,for Hindus in Pakistan,who have been victims of violence in recent times,legal recourse is entangled in miles of red tape.

Abhishek Puri

Chandigarh

Very Very Special

V.V.S. LAXMAN will go down in cricket history as one of the most elegant cricketers to have wielded the bat (Most graceful batsman may quit next month,IE,August 18). Laxman was a batsman in the mould of G. Vishwanath and former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin,both known for their stylish batting. Of course,VVS is a far better batsman than his career statistics reveal and the inconsistency bug often let him down at critical junctures. Although Laxman scored relatively fast,he has been valued more as a Test player and often left out of one-day internationals his running in the outfield and between the wickets may have been reasons for that. Laxmans on-drive was a masterpiece,his body language always measured and controlled. His long partnerships with Rahul Dravid often clocking in a large number of runs and saving Indias game will be talked about for years to come. Coming so soon after Dravid called it a day,the void left behind in Indian cricket by Laxmans retirement will be hard to fill.

Ganapathi Bhat

Akola

Making timetables

THIS refers to Chidambaram asks top babus: Can you work long hours? (IE,August 7). Instead of asking his ministry colleagues how many hours a day they could work,the finance minister should have asked how sincerely they could work within the schedule. I have spent 40 years in various ministries and I know that many people who claim to work overtime spend a lot of this time in idle chatter. It is also important that ministry staff do not use office hours to finish personal chores.

B. Krishnamoorthy

New Delhi

Rain song

THE report Monsoon 15% deficient,govt lowers growth outlook to 6% (IE,August 4),was informative. Our farmers rely on the rains to irrigate their fields. The government should look for alternative methods of irrigation. More canals should be constructed,for one. In some places,rainwater is harvested on the roofs of houses and then used for irrigating fields. The Central government must provide adequate assistance to drought-prone areas.

Bhupendra Nath Bose

Kolkata