:: Letters to Editor

Expose fake encounters

Oct 04 : Sir, In the article Close Encounters (October 1), writer Antara Dev Sen has highlighted the need for greater accountability on part of the police forces. It seems that police is inspired by Bollywood movies and vice-versa. It is no secret that most police encounters are fake. Our police uses them as a tool for promotions, "solving" old pending cases, settling scores etc. Police personnel think that they can get away with anything due to their high-handedness. The Central government should encourage "whistle blowers" in the police department to deal with fake encounters.

Mirza Sajid Baig

Via email

Importance of being prepared

Sir, The article On China, talk softly, but carry a big stick (September 22), by Shankar Roychowdhury reminds me of similarly worded West African proverb, quoted by former US President, Theodore Roosevelt. The proverb was "Speak softly, but always carry a big stick". Roosevelt not only believed in this proverb but also practised it successfully; hence his foreign policy was often described as "Big Stick Diplomacy". After all, foreign policy, to be effective, needs to be backed by adequate military preparedness. We failed in 1962 precisely because we were outgunned and outnumbered in the Himalayas, which confirmed our failed foreign policy in relation to China. In the post-1962 period, we corrected ourselves and had good results in the 1965, and especially the 1971, war with Pakistan. Nothing is impossible if we have motivated and visionary leadership and, just as important, motivated people.

M.M. Pendse

Mulund (East), Mumbai

Barking up the wrong tree

Sir, This is with reference to your editorial Firm line with Pakistan was much needed (September 29). Since 26/11, home minister P. Chidambaram has strained his nerves to get Pakistan to act against Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai terror attacks. But India has been shuffling the same pack of cards as it refuses to hold substantive talks with Pakistan unless the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage are brought to book. But we are barking up the wrong tree, really. Pakistan gets its strength from the financial support and military equipment it receives from the US to fight the Taliban but diverts the aid for use against India. The US should ensure that India should not be a target of Pakistan's hostility which is actualised through terrorist acts.

S.K. Shah

Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi

Appoint CM in andhra ASAP

Sir, The past few days have witnessed a sharp rise in infighting withing the Congress Party and confusion over who should succeed late Andhra chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. It is time that the Congress high command acted in a democratic way and not as a dictator. Any more delay in deciding the issue will cause greater disunity in the party in Andhra Pradesh.

Suresh Babu

Via email

The relevance of gandhi

Sir, Come Gandhi Jayanti and the Mahatma is remembered. But he is fading in our memory. Is this not sad? There is no point in just stating that he was a selfless man and fought relentlessly against British rule in India. What is required of us is to follow his teachings and his principles.

K. Pradeep

Via email