Opinion Whose hand?
The prime minister implied Team Annas agitation is being orchestrated by external forces.
Whose hand?
* The prime minister implied Team Annas agitation is being orchestrated by external forces. This is sadly reminiscent of the bogey of the foreign hand Indira Gandhi used to invoke whenever her authoritarian style was challenged by a popular upsurge like the JP movement. The Congress suffers from a siege mentality. It should realise that the days when you could run the government with bluff and bluster are gone.
Arun Chandra,Mumbai
Good show
* Watching the live telecast of Rajya Sabhas proceedings when the House was debating the impeachment motion against Justice Soumitra Sen,one was overwhelmed by the eloquence of the members who took part in the discussion (Upper House rules,IE,August 19). They were fully prepared not only on the facts of the case but on the law as well. They argued with precision and demolished the bold defence put up by Justice Sen. The proceedings showed that on a point of principle,political parties can cut across party lines for bettering the system.
Anil B. Naik,Aurangabad
Ways out
* A way out of the present Lokpal impasse is possible if all stakeholders are ready to work for a compromise. There should be no difficulty,for instance,in evolving a national consensus on the thorniest of all issues the PMs inclusion within the ambit of the Lokpal,especially since the incumbent,Manmohan Singh,has indicated his willingness to be included. The only problem would be differences that may arise between government and opposition on the safeguards necessary to protect the PMs office from mischievous and frivolous complaints. If the two major parties could iron these out,the governments bill would acquire the much-needed solid support base.
Rasheed Talib,Pune
Big picture
* Apropos the editorial No more seventies (IE,August 19),while arm-chair intellectuals may argue the propriety of steps taken by the Union government vis-à-vis Team Anna or Anna Hazares image,the crux of the matter remains that corruption is not an isolated issue to be tackled separately with new laws and norms of governance. Its the product of an overall social and politico-economic malaise that has seeped into Indias body politic. So long as our economic reforms are not pushed forward at full steam and our government doesnt adopt a far-sighted and coherent political strategy,no movement or fast will succeed in curbing corruption in administration.
Ved Guliani,Hisar
Tough law
* Anna Hazares Lokpal draft is a tough measure against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Considering that all political parties,without exception,are steeped in corruption,its unlikely they will support it even if its tabled in Parliament. They will bring in many amendments that will make it toothless and no different from the governments bill.
S. Venkataraman,Mumbai
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