Opinion New old friends

nations,even prior to our own Independence. Today,as an emerging economy,we are happy to be part of Africa’s growth story,which is still in a nascent stage. India’s concern is genuine and goes beyond just keeping up with China. China’s flirtation with Africa is recent and has its genesis in its appetite for raw materials born out of its economic boom. India’s approach to Africa must continue to be predicated more on our old ties and less on commercial concerns.

— R. Narayanan

Ghaziabad

Wrong footed

ANNA HAZARE’S accusation that liquor flows more freely in Gujarat than milk is based on hearsay. When he went on his fast-unto-death,he praised Narendra Modi’s Gujarat. Why the U-turn now? — Harischandra Parshuram

Mumbai

The rot within

THANKS to Sanjay G. Dhande for his robust defence of IIT faculty in ‘The class of 2011’ (IE,May 26). But in listing a series of achievements,he forgets to highlight two major handicaps the faculty has to operate under. First,the government Pay Commission-mandated principle of equal pay for unequal work means the institutes have neither a carrot nor a stick to motivate anyone to do anything outstanding.

Second,the RTI-proof business processes that the institutes have acquired through their sarkari DNA means any innovative initiative by the faculty has to be executed not as a simple process but as a heroic project. No wonder,many new and interesting ideas are lost in the “dreary desert sand of dead habit”. None of the world-class institutes that we are being compared with suffers from these handicaps.

— Prithwis

IIT Kharagpur

Cat out of the bag

THIS refers to the editorial ‘Out of the shadows’ (IE,May 25). David Headley’s trial in Chicago points to the ISI’s involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks . The Lashkar-e-Toiba has all along had an anti-India agenda. This trial will perhaps expose Pakistan’s support to terrorists to wage a proxy war against India.

— S.K. Gupta Chandigarh

Measured talk

RAHUL GANDHI may have to pay a price for his Bhatta-Parsaul statement. He had alleged that the heaps of ash he saw there contained human remains,of people killed by the Mayawati government. A sample sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Agra showed nothing incriminating. Rahul’s charge stands invalid.

— R.J. Khurana

Bhopal