:: Letters to Editor

Ministers feel Austerity Blues

Sept.17 : Sir, Austerity to show solidarity with the people of India suffering the effects of drought (as if there is no need of it otherwise) has been questioned by ministers in a childish manner. Your editorial A first-class political debate (September 13) has cited examples of some industrialists who shun lavish and luxurious life, though they can easily afford. When once asked why he travelled in the Third Class in trains, Mahatma Gandhi replied: "Because there is no Fourth Class". Contrary to this, on being advised to fly economy, our ministers asked, "Why should we, when there is a business class?" Obviously, India has come a long way. Around 300 Lok Sabha MPs count their assets in crores when the people they represent can't manage to get two square meals a day. Don't we need to rethink why we are electing such shameless and self-serving politicians as trustees of our hard-earned money that we pay as taxes?

M.C. Joshi

Mahanagar, Lucknow

Keep education, religion Apart

Sir, This is with regard to the judgment by the Supreme Court in permitting the Muslim boy from Madhya Pradesh to keep his beard and continue his studies at the missionary school. The attitude of this school was a sad precedent to intervene in matters of faith. For no good reason it was deviating from the purpose of rendering knowledge to young minds. The Indian Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion to all citizens. The judgment is a caution to other institutions against intrusion into religious affairs. It protects our multicultural mosaic and upholds the principle of sarva dharma sambahva.

Syed Khaja

Old Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi

India not ready for 2010 Games

Sir, This is with reference to the editorial A wake-up call on 2010 Games (September 15). When the construction of infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games falls behind schedule, thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of the bureaucracy, perhaps not much should be expected from sportsmen and sportswomen. The event is tied up with the prestige of India and yet, we see such an irresponsible attitude. Evidently, the fault lies with our management culture. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should crack the whip and save India the blushes.

S. Elangovan

Via email

Plight of jet passengers

Sir, It is good that the Jet Airways strike has been resolved. The company has reportedly started calculating its financial losses. But who is going to compute the losses of thousands of passengers who were made to suffer for no fault of theirs?

Balvinder

Sector 48 A, Chandigarh

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Delhi and the deluge

Sir, With just two days of rain, the nation's capital got paralysed. The roads were jammed and the drainage system collapsed. But, sadly, the Delhi government is not bothered. The next time you want to walk on the moon and visit one of its craters, don't bother applying to Nasa, just walk down Delhi's roads. What is worrying is the fact that next year Delhi is host to Commonwealth Games. If there was a competition of best civic infrastructure, I am sure that Delhi would not even be shortlisted. Bagging a gold medal would be a distant dream.

Prashant Solomon

Golf Links, New Delhi