Caste-wise survey, a retrogade exercise
Sir, It is unfortunate that the state government is embarking on a caste-wise survey to gather data to ensure “social justice” and also “reservation for the backward classes”. It is said that more than one lakh people, including 58,000 teachers, would be involved in the daunting exercise covering at least one crore households. Caste-wise survey is an expensive and retrograde exercise. It is a deliberate ploy as part of vote bank politics to perpetuate caste system, which breeds mutual distrust and hatred among people. It is no longer the criterion to decide one’s occupation and backwardness. Now reservation needs to be made on economic basis. The best way to help children of lesser gods reap fruits of economic prosperity is to create educational and employment opportunities. Secondly, teachers’ duty is to help children acquire knowledge and face the challenges in an increasingly competitive world dominated by the private sector.
B H Shanmukhappa
Davanagere

Unfortunate clash
Sir, The BCCI, under the presidentship of Sharad Pawar, is on a collision course with the Indian Cricket League, founded by the industrial house ESSEL. The dispute, which is unfortunate and unwarranted, is sure to reach the courts and a final resolution will take years, jeopardising the talent of many budding sportsmen.
The stand taken by the BCCI is, patently not in the interest of the sport and bound to discourage the current and potential players. Cricket is, after all,a sport and any one who has the talent should be free to play when the right environment is available.
A V GURURAJA RAU
Bangalore

BCCI is no better
Sir, Sharad Pawar has commented that Indian Cricket League is a commercial organisation. We are glad that the BCCI President is able to recognise a commercial organisation since he will then find BCCI is blatantly and an out and out commercial organisation.

The first thing BCCI recognises is money and then cricket and lastly the cricket lovers and finally the television viewing public. Otherwise just to take a recent example, why is it that BCCI gives rights to TV channels without first establishing whether they have coverage across India so that a maximum number of cricket lovers can be covered?
S Kamat
Goa

PM’s remarks
Sir, After three years’ of dancing to the tune of Left parties, the PM has finally put them in their place. Not that he had any choice. Just like Budhdhadeb Bhattacharjee cannot go back on Singur Tata project, the PM can never go back on the nuclear deal.
The Left overestimated their clout with the UPA and put their foot in their mouth by going to the press, on their opposition to the nuclear deal, without consulting the PM.
P S Prabhu
Bangalore

MLA’s act
Sir, I refer to the editorial Shocking behaviour ( DH, Aug 11) which displays how our so called MLAs behave towards the guests of our country. When our Constitution provides right to express opinions and preaches secularism how can religious fundamentalists, that too MLAs of the ruling party, behave like this?
The most funniest thing is Taslima is charged and being punished for expressing her views which are accepted globally also. The actual MLAs who threatened her attacked her and the media are left free on bail. If she had committed any mistake, this should have been taken up with the judiciary instead of resorting to illegal means.
B S GANESH
Bangalore