Congratulations for Kiren Rijijus article Too far from Delhi (IE,October 17). You have rendered a national service by publishing the former MPs brilliant piece on Arunachal Pradesh. It is tragic indeed,that the sensitive and strategic Northeast region of our country continues to be neglected stupidly even 60 years after independence.
I have been crying hoarse over the past four decades against this neglect since 1966,when I first visited the region at the invitation of the then governor,Vishnu Sahay,formerly Union cabinet secretary. Hand-picked by Nehru for the key assignment,Sahay gravely regretted the lack of interest in the Northeast not only among New Delhis top rulers but also among the national media,barring honourable exceptions. In fact,he went on to caution: If India ever breaks up,the process of disintegration will start with the Northeast!
Sadly,nobody in New Delhi seems to be honestly bothered about the region,even as government and other leaders continue to wax eloquent hypocritically about strengthening Indias unity and integrity. We ignore Sahays solemn warning at our peril!
Inder Jit New Delhi
Bonus earned
The controversy recently created by the proposal to raise the cut-off percentage from 60 per cent to 80 per cent for IIT entrance examinations now seems to have apparently blown over with the HRD ministry backtracking. The underlying issues raised by both the protagonists of this move and those opposing it have,however,not really been resolved but rather been brushed under the carpet. Perhaps a better way to ensure that students are neither disincentivised from concentrating on their 12th Board examinations nor penalised for achieving marginally lower marks would be to retain the qualifying percentage for the JEE at the present 60 per cent,but to allow certain bonus points to the students for their performance in the 12th Board examinations. These bonus points should be taken into consideration while deciding the final order of merit.
K.L. Arora Pune
Applaud PM
This refers to Dalai Lama Indias honoured guest … (IE,October 26). The prime minister deserves compliments over the remarks he has made to the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. It takes much verve to discuss territorial disputes,Chinese incursions,trans-border river disputes and the hotly debated Brahmaputra dam. Further,cementing the view that the Dalai Lama is a honourable guest,thereby rejecting Chinese demands prohibiting it and Chinese calls and designs over Arunachal Pradesh is admirable.
M.C. Joshi Lucknow
Watch the tag
Given that Congress has won all the elections,one hopes that in the foreseeable future they pay attention to recent price hikes. If inflation is indeed a worry perhaps the government should instruct the RBI towards opting for a more inflation-orientated monetary policy.
Rahul Mudholkar Pune
