Sanjay Dutt and the costly hug

Sir, Showing undue familiarity with a convict by police personnel is not in tune with accepted public standards.

The action taken by Maharshtra Home Minister R R Patil reprimanding the policemen, who hugged and shook hands with Sanjay Dutt on his release from jail, has sent the right signal. Police personnel are expected to show certain restraint in their emotions publicly.

They are not expected to get excited, or fawn over any VIP, cinestar or other celebrity. Dutt is still a convict and has been released only on bail. Also, they should not ride roughshod with ordinary criminals. They should know all men are equal under the law.

It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister has deemed it proper to block the action taken against the police. This will definitely send the wrong signal down the line of a disciplined uniformed force. Also, the open backing and sympathy for Sanjay Dutt of Union Minister Das Munshi and State Minister Baba Sidduqui is unfortunate. Ministers should make responsible  public statements.

K Venkataraman
Mumbai

Poor leadership

Sir, This refers to the editorial Terror again (DH, Aug 27). The voices of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy on the involvement of Pakistan/Bangladesh mercenaries shows political chicanery. Reddy’s statement that his state has no wherewithal to control and contain terrorism speaks of his poor leadership.

After the twin blasts, the CM’s Rs 5 lakh compassionate compensation for those dead might also include the suspected ‘human bomb’, if involved. Nobody is wiser even if more attempts are made killing many innocents.

A S Raj
Bangalore

Vote-bank politics

Sir, The series of terrorist attacks in the country, the last of which was in Hyderabad, only a few days ago, calls for an address, to the nation, by the Prime Minister to assure the people that fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism will be put down with an iron hand.

It is time that the PM and his government gave priority to the lives and security of the people over preserving vote banks and garnering more votes for political gain.

Hero Vaz
Bangalore

Restore democracy

Sir, This refers to the editorial New equations (DH, Aug 28). The  Pakistan Supreme Court’s decision to allow former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief, to return to his country will complicate political equations and may even check the progress of General Musharraf, who is in a hurry to complete election formalities.

This is a worrying factor for both the General and the US. Under such circumstances the self-exiled leader Benazir Bhutto may benefit provided Sharief strikes a cordial alliance with her. What is important is the return of democracy to Pakistan which will check cross-border terrorism and benefit India.

Inamdar Ramchandra
Bangalore

Bad judgement

Sir, This refers to We did not field well: Dravid (DH, Aug 28). Rahul Dravid was praised for his decision to bat and finally win the second ODI. But the possibility of winning the third ODI was miserably lost when he chose to field and got thrashed by England. It is time Dravid understood the comfort of batting first to post a good score.

R G Srinivas
Bangalore

Law not enough

Sir, There is more than meets the eye over the suicide of Shylaja, an INGVysya employee in Bangalore. With a plethora of laws to protect women from harassment at workplace and violence at home, the situation is far from satisfactory.

The society is to be blamed. Women are exploited in all possible manner without any recourse to instant justice. A social revolution is necessary to change the mind-set of people. Women should be treated as equals.

V Padmanabhan
Bangalore