Politicians should open their eyes
Sir, Our former President A P J Abdul Kalam believes that if all our citizens have a vision, by the year 2020, our nation will become a super power.

During his tenure as the President, he had been projecting some of his ideas to realise this dream.

Incidentally, Mahatma Gandhi, father of our nation, had a similar vision, that after independence, India will have Ram Raj. But, even after 60 years of independence, we seem to have more Ravans ruling the country than Rams, and Gandhiji's vision has turned out to be a mirage.

The basic essential for this development may be the condition that the majority of the citizens should be honest and should have integrity. Having spent the last five years in the company of politicians, Dr Kalam will know only a rare number of them possess these qualities. It is high time that our politicians look into these issues.
C V K Moorthy
Bangalore

Irreversible downslide
Sir, An apolitical, intellectual, charismatic Abdul Kalam, given his penchant for scientific pursuits and societal welfare, ably steered the country through space age as it were, towards universal glory. His successor in the Raisina Hill Palace, the alleged pampered puppet of political parties, given the mediocre background and rustic bias, is sure to tread along in a bullock cart and dent the country's fair image in the comity of nations. An irreversible downslide, indeed.
A V Gururaja
Bangalore

Shameful act
Sir, It is most shameful that India has done pretty little to lodge a strong protest regarding the shameful manner in which Dr Mohammed Haneef has been treated by the Australian authorities. Without producing a shred of evidence to prove his involvement in terrorist activity, only an Indian would have been subjected to such objectionable  treatment by a country. Surely if a responsible Australian thought their police were behaving like the Keystone Goofers they could not be blamed.
Reji Cherian
Bangalore

Denial of rights
Sir, It was ironical that while Pratibha Patil was taking over as the first woman President of India, one of the most honest police officers in the country, Kiran Bedi was denied her right. The news that Yudhvir Singh Dadwal edged out Kiran Bedi to become the Delhi Police Commissioner is an insult for  senior police officers. He had faced public ignominy following the revelation of his presence at the site of Jessica Lal's murder.
A VANI
Hyderabad

It is an irony
Sir, It is an irony that on the historic day when India had broken the male bastion to install a woman as the head of the nation, came the news of the denial of the post of the Delhi Police Commissioner to a woman, in spite of the credentials she holds and the seniority she enjoys. What has happened to all the tall talk, claims, prophecies that women in this country have a bright future ?
S Y Ramakrishnan
Bangalore

Political drama
Sir, This has reference to news items,Transfer of Power, wait and watch: HDK and Will Siddu spoil a likely deal?,(DH, July 26) If we dispassionately interpret the verdict of the electorate during the last assembly elections, we find that the electorate wanted all three major players to rule the state for three equal periods of 20 months each.

The  JD(S) should honour the verdict of the people and allow the BJP to enjoy its valid share of power for 20 months.
Mahen Jain
Belgaum