Today's letters
Protecting politicians
Sir,
This refers to “900 NSG men to be out of VIP security” (DH July 2). The very term NSG suggests that the country’s elite counter-terror force is formed to fight terrorists and not to throw security umbrella around the politicos. The country is not using them where their presence is of utmost necessity. Leaders are required to mingle and jostle with the masses and not to shy away from them. It is the common man who requires security. The leaders of yesteryears moved freely without any security cover compared to the present-day rulers, who are swarmed with NSG commandos. What a contrast!
H.P.Murali
Bangalore
Sell off ailing carriers
V.S.Ganeshan
Bangalore
Pranab's legacy
It is unfortunate that Pranab Mukerjee has left behind a very bad economic situation. Tjs wipes out whatever good he may have done during his long innings in the Government. Of course, our political minded MPs,MLA and
others will not bother about this while voting for him just like
our masses during vote for dubious elements during general elections.Voting on past
performance and merit of candidates has got least consideration in
our 'mature' democracy.
V.S.Ganeshan
Bengaluru
Kannada neglected in BIA
Dear Sir,
Since BIA's inception in May 2008, Kannada has been ignored at BIA. Most of the security guards don't speak Kannada. Most of the Announcements are only in English and Hindi. The font size of Kannada on the direction boards is very small. The instructions on how to use a lugguage Cart are only in English and Hindi. Airports should act as a gateway to the city or country we enter by portraying its local culture.It's high time that Government of Karnataka takes appropriate action to ensure Kannada gets the same prominence as English.
Babu Ajay
Bengaluru
Callous attitude
Sir,
It is unfortunate that despite 85 hours of gallant and selfless efforts by Army and
Baby Mahi, who fell into the uncapped borewell, lost her lfe. But what rubbed salt to the wound is the callous statement by the chief minister of Haryana that such accidents happen in all states. It is indeed deplorable that despite strictures by the Supreme court of India holding state chief secretaries responsible, the governments have not moved to stop this recurring tragedy.
K.S.Sundaram
Bengaluru
Sir,
When Chief Minister Narendra Modi presided over the 2002 Gujarat riots, the NDA was busy assessing the possible impact on the Government at the centre. It could have intervened effectively and brought the situation under control but it did not. The BJP is very much in favour of Narendra Modi now as it was then. Riding on the back of the communal sentiments in Gujarat, Narendra Modi has led BJP to successive electoral victories and brought development in Gujarat. No wonder that BJP would like to use both the communal and the development planks at the national level keeping in focus Narendra Modi’s Gujarat model.
But Narendra Modi has equal number of fans and detractors, within the party, within the NDA and in the general public. Though BJP has not officially declared Narendra Modi to be its Prime Ministerial candidate and as a consequence that of the NDA, the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been quick to sense and oppose it by questioning his secular credentials. A break up in NDA and formation of a substantial third front will be to the advantage of Nitish Kumar.
He can position himself as a strong non-Congress and non-BJP Prime Ministerial candidate. The difference will be that he will be playing the development card while wooing the minorities. Amidst the prevailing confusion within the NDA, the Congress led UPA is being let off the hook. The opposition NDA is doing a favour to the ruling UPA by diverting attention of the public away from the damage the UPA has done to the nation through its misrule and misdeeds.
Zulfikhar Akram
Bangalore
BJP Vs JD(U)
Sir,
The BJP’s opportunistic attempt against UPA to exploit Mamata Banerjee’s political one-upmanship has boomeranged on itself. It has not only lost the support of its ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra but it is also on the verge of losing its partner in Bihar – Nitish Kumar’s JD (U).
With the war of words hotting- up between Nitish Kumar and the Sangh Parivar on the issue of NDA’s next PM nominee, BJP has unwittingly started the realignment of political forces in the country on a wrong note for the NDA and that too, two years ahead of the next General Election.
Shahabuddin Nadeem
Bangalore
Nithyananda's wealth
Sir,
It is reported that the cops have unearthed 68 crores in cash pertaining to the Nithyananda Ashram deposited in different banks. If such is the huge amount deposited in banks,one can imagine about the cash and other Valuables stashed elsewhere.The cat will be out of the bag, only when an impartial probe
is conducted by the CID and the IT department. The million dollor question is that will they?
M.Umesh
Bangalore
God and science
Sir,
The article, "Science and belief in faith - are they mutually exclusive?" (DH 21 June) made an interesting reading. ISRO scientists seeking divine blessings before testing their satellite launch vehicle prove their faith in the Supreme Universal Spirit. Louis Pasteur, the French Chemist and Microbiologist said "A smattering of science turns people away from God. Much of it brings them back to the Almighty." Again, the famous French Writer Voltaire, though produced many controversial anti-religious writings, also compiled a Philosophical Dictionary in 1764. He was of the opinion that, "False science creates atheists whereas true science prostrates man before Divinity". It is the same celebrated writer who famously declared, "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him." As we all know science helps us to conqure nature and spirituality, to conquer one's own SELF!
Alice K Jose,
Bangalore
Strategic secular silence
Sir,
The “secular” lobby in India seems to have adopted a studied and meaningful silence about a spate of communal clashes that are taking place in Nigeria. A number of churches have been set on fire by the rampaging fanatic Muslim mobs. Enraged by the mass scale desecrations of their places of worship, the Christians have also started retaliating. The arson and looting has reached such an alarming proportion that a Pontiff has issued a fervent appeal to stop the violence forthwith and tread the path of peace.
Sincerely,
Jorhat Singh
