Opinion Working relations
The UPA government blinking on the JPC inquiry into the 2G spectrum scam is nothing but capitulation to the unrelenting pressure from the opposition.
Working relations
The UPA government blinking on the JPC inquiry into the 2G spectrum scam is nothing but capitulation to the unrelenting pressure from the opposition (Keeping House,IE,February10). There are no takers for Pranab Mukherjees facile statement that no price is high enough to make the Parliament function. If it was so,why did the government shilly-shally for so long? The editorial has well advised the opposition to be magnanimous now and called upon both sides to conduct the JPC probe in a transparent and non-partisan way. The suggestion to reform the anti-defection law so that important issues can be debated openly and freely by MPs is also worth considering.
Tarsem Singh
New Delhi
Lost time
Assuming the government would constitute a JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam,Parliament should learn a lesson and avoid such wars of attrition in future. The debate on a JPC should focus on its scope in the context of parallel committees (like PAC),modalities,timespan and desired outcomes. Political parties should take a secret ballot from their MPs before taking the final decision. Parliament should be made to work extra days to compensate for lost time,without MPs claiming remuneration and leave of absence.
Y.G. Chouksey
Pride or prejudice?
Praful Patel sanctioning himself the privilege of being driven up to the aircraft by virtue of his last portfolio is nothing short of abuse of power (Tarmac class,IE,February 10). Our elected representatives have a sense of neither humility nor propriety before demanding or sanctioning themselves privileges which they dont deserve. How does Mayawatis shoe episode defend her ideals? Doesnt driving up to the aircraft prejudice security as Patel appears to presume? Is it necessary for our ministers to have elaborate security surrounding them on public thoroughfares?
Prasad Malladi
Nidadavole
In foreign papers
In her article The true colour of bigotry (IE,February 9),Mehmal Sarfraz has painted a grim picture of how Pakistan is being overwhelmed by radical Islamist forces,using the blasphemy law to subdue liberal opinion. This zealotry seems to have gone deep into the Pakistani psyche; its not confined to the clergy. However,judging from the fearlessness of the writer in attacking such bigotry,one wonders whether she is able to do so in her own newspaper to influence middle-class opinion. Other Pakistani journalists have also been expressing similar views against the blasphemy law in the Indian press. Is their constituency expanding? Or is it that these liberal voices are an isolated and hopeless minority?
M. Ratan
New Delhi
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