Sir, The news that the Pakistan government has deferred the execution of Sarabjit Singh, convicted for his alleged involvement in the 1990 bomb attacks by a month, may come as a respite for his forlorn family begging for clemency from President Pervez Musharraf. There are rumours that the hanging is being hastened up to retaliate against the death of a Pakistani national, Khalid Mehmood, in Indian custody.
But the Pakistan President’s tight lipped stance over the pardon suggests that gestures on the life and death of a prisoner are dependent on various “external stimuli”. Perhaps Pakistanis feel that India has taken a lenient view of its generous temperament. That Sarabjit is being used as a mere pawn in the high voltage game of Indo-Pak “cold war diplomacy” is evident from the Home Ministry’s resolute stand that no Pakistani prisoner would be released in exchange for Sarabjit unless he could be lawfully set free.
PACHU MENON
Goa
Bus stops Sir, The bus stations at Silk Board, Ring Road, BDA Complex junction etc are not well designed and not at all traveller friendly. At HSR Ring road junction, people wait precariously on a thin strip of land at the edge of the Ring Road, carefully balancing themselves from falling into the adjacent water drain.
The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation authorities should provide properly designed bus stops with shelters at these locations and at places where there is a requirement.
P R V Raghavan
Mumbai
Union territory
Sir, Mumbai was carved out of Gujarat during the reorganisation of States based on administrative considerations. To refurbish this metro city on the lines of Singapore and Hong Kong, the first step is to declare it into a full fledged union territory under direct central administration. This will bring the mega city out of the clutches of Shiva Sena and its off shoot, Maharashtra Nava Nirmana Sena whose one point agenda is to target and trouble the non-Marathi speaking people.
B N BHARATH
Bangalore
Govt, a puppet? Sir, In your editorial Cause for concern (DH, Mar 22), you have rightly said that the departure of Taslima Nasreen from India is a serious set-back to our country’s image as a secular state. It is very sad that the the Centre did not make any efforts to retain Taslima and instead yielded to the pressure of religious fundamentalists. By sending her to exile in the guise of providing her security and thereby curtailing her freedom, we have driven Taslima out from India.
Harikrishna S Holla
Bangalore
Unfortunate
Sir, The decision of the Chinese government to block the international media form visiting Tibet is really unfortunate. The Chinese government has adopted a tough stand to crush the ongoing unrest, which will necessitate interference from other countries at the earliest to resolve and diffuse the unrest. India cannot keep mum on this and must show some initiative on humanitarian grounds.
Inamdar Ramachandra
Bangalore
Smoking fine
Sir, This is with reference to, Smoking at work to be costly for all (DH, Mar 22), the news item makes interesting reading about the steps taken by the government to stop smoking. But the measures on the anvil are draconian considering the amount of hike in the fine and the hefty sum an organisation employing the smokers is forced to pay as penalty.
H NARAYANAN
Bangalore
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Sarabjit and Indo-Pak cold war diplomacy
