The organised terror unleashed by our neighbour has catastrophically turned inwards with the bomb attacks on Benazir Bhutto’s cavalcade yesterday. The blasts in Karachi, which killed more than 165 and maimed many clearly shows who is in charge.
For sure Mrs Bhutto would not be able to usher in even the cantonment type of democracy under such suppressing fire which would keep her virtually in house arrest to remain safe from further attacks.
The military in that country has already lost professionalism due to over dependence on terror as instrument of war. Its generals have lost the touch having been too busy in ruling their country for decades. Pakistan terror has already spilled over to our country if attacks even at our holy places are anything to go by. We must be on the vigil and not take events in Pakistan being their internal matter. We should try to douse the flames emerge even from Afghanistan.
RAGHUBIR SINGH
Pune
Intelligence failure
Sir,
It is rather unfortunate that the return of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan was greeted with twin bomb blasts. Though the al-Qaeda had already hinted at the possible violence, cleary an intelligence failure is the prime reason for the incident. Pakistani authorities also failed to assess the situation, and that Karachi street was turned in to a graveyard.
INAMDAR RAMACHANDRA
Bangalore
Pak’s ordeal
Sir,
The arrival of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan has consumed 165 human lives. It is not known whether the new terrorism started against her would continue. However, it is definite that Pakistan has to face one more regular public ordeal resulting from Bhutto’s turbulent political innings in that country.
V S GANESHAN
Bangalore
Widow left out
Sir,
The sympathy displayed by the citizens of Calcutta for the family of the young man Rizwanur Rehman, who died in mysterious circumstances soon after his marriage, confirms their compassion and is welcome. It is however surprising that no mention of his young widow has been made by anybody. The Chief Minister had taken the trouble to visit the house in Tiljala Lane, but he has not bothered even to send a message to the widow Priyanka. Does it mean that the widow isn’t a part of the family?
C V KRISHNAMOORTHY
Calcutta
Disparity in fuel prices
Sir,
Fuel prices are touching the roof and the government remains unworried about keeping the prices low and not bringing it on parity with the international price levels. The short-term (political) objectives seem alright for the time being, but the economic consequences of such actions appear to be immense. Even our economist-PM doesn’t find this important.
V Padmanabhan
Bangalore
Ban ‘sledging’
Sir,
There is nothing to suggest that the antics of the four spectators in the last ODI at Mumbai has any racial slur about it. In fact, many players in the recent past have started misbehaving while appealing for wickets. This behaviour is erroneously termed as being aggressive. Sledging is the root cause of such behaviour and unless it is banned, the game can’t regain its reputation.
H K SESHADRI
Bangalore
Help senior citizens
Sir,
Senior citizens attending marriages/functions in kalyan mantaps and party halls, particularly in first or second floor, find it difficult to use the stairway, as they are lined up with pots containing various plants. This means the railings are far from the reach of the elders climbing long flights of stairs. One way of solving the problem is to lay the railings at the centre, which will enable the elders not only to stand on their own legs, but also climb the stairways without help.
Pakistan’s problems could affect India
