On the streets
* Your recent editorials questioning Anna Hazares tactics miss a crucial point. Civil-society protests arent meant to be the magic bullet that ushers in startling change. This time,what is heartening is that civil society is at least coming out on the streets to engage in an important issue. True,there are issues that the same people will not come out to support but that they are supporting this one is highly symbolic and symbols can be powerful. Governments need messages and citizen must send them out.
Sherna Gandhy,Pune
Peoples might
* The editorial,Rs 100,a sari,a bottle (IE,April 12),unjustifiably projects civil society movements as anti-common man. Anna Hazares statement does not show his contempt for parliamentary democracy,but his frustration with poll tactics. It implies neither disrespect to nor rejection of our democracy. Instead of solving peoples problems,our leaders give them poll sops. Hazares movement could make people aware of their rights and their power to change regimes.
Satwant Kaur,Mahilpur
* The editorial Rs 100,a sari,a bottle is as candid as they come. Anna Hazare has contemptuously dismissed the Indian voter and by extension democracy. An impression has been created that these protagonists are claiming proprietary rights to the anti-corruption movement. A movement like this does not happen everyday,nor can it be a one-man show. It has to be patiently led to a successful conclusion by a consummate leader who has to cast aside his activist robes.
R. Narayanan,Ghaziabad
Balance of power
* Anna Hazare’s fast had raised importance issues like the constitutional validity of the Jan Lokpal bill and the perceived attempt to bypass the constitutional authority of Parliament. Now our attention should be focused on the proceedings of the committee appointed to frame the bill. Though it is necessary that the Lokpal has the power to curb corruption,there must be checks and balances. Also,individual judges can be subject to Lokpal jurisdiction for non-judicial work and misconduct,but judicial administration for rendering justice should be as objective and independent as it is now,because otherwise it will harm democracy.
T.U. Mehta (Retd) Chief Justice,Himachal Pradesh High Court,Shimla
Show case
* As the article Not a very civil coup (IE,April 11) points out,everything in this civil fest was slightly off the mark: be it the purpose of the proposed Jan Lokpal bill,the intent of the players or the level of awareness of the people who joined the agitation. One almost wondered if it was just a filler for television,in the week-long lull between World Cup jubilation and IPL party.
Shahzad Zaman,Lucknow
