Opinion Wrong model
Minxin Peis Bridging the gap was thought- provoking.
Wrong model
* Minxin Peis Bridging the gap (IE,July 19) was thought- provoking. Chinas infrastructure stories are always used to denigrate the tardy pace of infrastructure creation in India. But the principles of social justice are never completely lost sight of in India. Lets take the case of land acquisition and the resultant farmers agitation in Bhatta-Parsaul in UP. Development with a social conscience is now taken seriously by several state governments. The Centre is also keen to push the revised land acquisition bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. The Chinese agenda of mega infrastructure projects at the cost of nameless peasants and small land owners should serve as a grim reminder to Indias policy-makers that big- ticket projects have to be tempered with a generous dose of socio-economic benefit for the masses.
Kalpana Dube,Lucknow
Mumbais alone?
* India was given a brutal reminder at the cost of 19 lives and scores injured of the real and present threat the country faces from organised terrorist groups. The city of Mumbai,mutilated and violated many times over,was again the venue for the latest mayhem. The response from the stakeholders was so predictable that it almost seemed farcical. The ultimate sacrilege was to bandy about the famed spirit of Mumbai and the citys resilience. This absurdity seems only relevant to Mumbai. One didnt hear a whiff of resilience,for instance,on the part of the Delhi-wallah from the media.
Karan Thakur,New Delhi
Keeping promises
* This refers to Warn Dikshit against making promises she cant keep: Lokayukta to President (IE,July 19). Such announcements to fool voters through unrealistic poll promises are common. The only remedy is to make election manifestos legally binding,so that a partys recognition may be cancelled if promises made in manifestos are not fulfilled. The necessity of a strong Lokpal bill,covering all those in the legislature,has emerged because politicians cutting across party lines are careless on recommendations and strictures passed by weak Lokayuktas.
Madhu Agrawal,Delhi
Dream XI
* This refers to Gavaskar,Sehwag voted as openers in Greatest Test XI (IE,July 19). Although an imaginary XI doesnt count for much,if one asks any die-hard cricket fan,he would give his right arm to see this XI playing together. Gavaskar,class and technique personified,and Sehwag,murderer of the cricket ball,followed by the three greatest batsmen and a great all-rounder,followed by possibly the most destructive wicket-keeper-batsman in Adam Gilchrist. With the ball,we have the greatest spinner,then Wasim Akram,who could bowl six different balls in an over,and Glenn McGrath,benchmark of accuracy and discipline. They would be a delight to watch.
Bal Govind,Noida
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