Dynasty politics - a feudal tradition
Sir, The leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party has been thrust on the 19-year-old son of the assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto, even when he and his siblings are mourning the death of their mother.

This is reminiscent of Rajiv Gandhi taking over the reins of the country soon after the brutal murder of Indira Gandhi. This practice of political parties thrusting a close relative of a slain leader to the centre stage of politics, to cash in on the sympathy wave, was seen in Sri Lanka and Bangaladesh. This clearly shows that the people of this sub continent have still not imbibed the spirit of democracy but are steeped in feudalistic tradition and mind set. We don’t see  this kind of subservience to dynastic rule in mature democracies where one has to prove themselves to come to the top and not just be carried on the crest of a ‘sympathy wave’.
V V S MANI
Bangalore

Labelling art
Sir, Your editorial “Art Under Attack” overlooks a very important aspect.The acts of Taslima  and  Hussain cannot be placed in the same catergory. The dispute with Mr Hussain’s art is not about the “art” per se but the labels they carry. The same art could have carried names of mythological figures of his own religion. But to label them with the names of mythological figures of a religion to which he does not belong, is not art but mischief. It is the latter that gives rise to vandalism, although it’s undesirable.

Freedom of expression and art must be respected. But in a country like India, it is better if one uses this freedom with restraint.
R N JOSHI
Bangalore

Biscuit is good
Sir, The 30 parliamentarians rightly recommended packaged biscuits procured from reputed companies, recommended by Mumbai-based Biscuits Manufacturers Welfare Association (BMWA) to replace cooked food in the mid-day meal scheme for school-children. There are frequent reports of sub-standard food used for cooking the mid-day meal. Only packaged food (if not biscuits) within expiry date limits should be served in schools to ensure hygiene.
MADHU AGRAWAL
Delhi

 Long-term solution
Sir, BBMP has proposed to widen certain roads where the traffic is too heavy and probably has sought the views of the citizens.

The solutions to ease the congestion on busy roads have to be based on long-term projections. Road widening is not a solution in a much as, by the time the capacity is increased by about 20% by the widening of the road, the traffic will also have increased to that extent or even more.

Planning for giving relief to any road should anticipate a situation for at least 15 years as it is not possible to disturb the activities and the movement of vehicles too frequently. The CDP 2015 should have addressed this issue and it has failed miserably in this regard.
B G RUDRAPPA
Bangalore

Befitting new year gift
Sir, India’s defeat in the first Test against Aussies once again proved its inability to compete with a formidable team. Cricket fans in India were dumbstruck to see their icons dismissed for less than 200 runs in both innings and to suffer one of their worst Test defeats. Will BCCI have the courage to cut 75 per cent match fee of our cricketers  for this humiliating 337 runs defeat in the hands of Aussies as they gave it to us as a New Year gift?
BIDYUT KUMAR CHATERJEE
Faridabad
  
Unscientific design
Sir, BMTC has replaced many of the old buses with new ones in the last few years. The newer buses are unscientifically designed.

BMTC has been making profit by increasing the bus fares very often but has compromised on comfort and safety of the public. There may be some high standard KSRTC buses and Volvo buses but all we need is scientifically designed ordinary BMTC buses of good quality.
GOPINATH L
Bangalore