:: Letters to Editor

Stop targeting religious body

Oct.22 : Sir, This is with reference to the news report Goa sets up SIT on blast, Hindu body role probed (October 19). The Margao incident has once again brought to the fore the game of politicians of appeasing minorities and browbeating the majority. The Sanatan Sanstha, which has been dragged into a controversy, is a religious organisation and it is highly improbable that it is involved. Its mission of inculcating pride for religion among the Hindus has earned Sanatan many enemies. Unfortunately, the police is investigating the matter with a bias. When terrorism is eating into the very core of the country, the media should exercise restraint.

Suryatmaj T.

Kandivali (East), Mumbai

 

Sir, Weary of horrendous pressure from disgruntled minorities who are hounded every time a terrorist attack takes place, the Congress has seized the opportunity of the Margao blast incident to pounce on a Hindu organisation and is trying to brand it a terrorist outfit even before investigations are complete. It is unfortunate that the police has maliciously targeted Sanatan Sanstha — whose main aim is to present spirituality in a scientific language for the curious (Jidnyasu) and to guide seekers.

Arvind D. Tapkire

Kandivali (W), Mumbai

Don’t change IIT procedure

Sir, Human resource development minister Kapil Sibal appears to have said that students who appear for IIT-Joint Entrance Examination must get 80 per cent marks at the intermediate level from 2011 onwards (IIT entry gets tougher, October 20). Previously, 60 per cent was thought enough. Many bright students who are from rural areas will suffer if the criteria is changed.

Damuluri Rao

Via email

 

Sir, Since students from so many different state boards (which have different standards) compete for IIT-JEE, percentile rather than percentage should be the criterion for selection. It will also help if the government shoots for a common entrance test for all engineering colleges in the country. With so many different entrance tests to take, students end up giving only secondary importance to their board examinations. I also hope there are no "external" lobbies or interests at work behind our minister’s "reformist" inclinations.

Ananth Seth

Via email

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Afghan polls: a ray of hope

Sir, The Afghans will have to endure a second round of elections. Afghanistan will hold a deciding round of its problem-hit presidential poll on November 7, pitting Hamid Karzai against his rival Abdullah Abdullah. The initial reports of the first round of elections, which was carried amidst violence, fraud and intimidation, was in favour of Mr Karzai. However, the correction of vote counting has resulted in the second round of elections that will also bring about similar type of violence and intimidation for the voters. As Mr Karzai said, "This is not the right time to discuss investigations, this is the time to move forward to stability and national unity". I hope that this will bring about the absolute result that

will be acceptable to

the people of Afghanistan.

Mohd. Sadullah Khan

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia