Defending Tharoor

Defending Tharoor
This is with reference to ‘Rahul sees Tharoor as an asset’, (DNA, April 21). Every right thinking person knows that Shashi Tharoor is an asset to any political party. But ultimately the intelligent and well-spoken Tharoor was removed from the cabinet by the ugly tactics of the Left and BJP MPs, whatever their reasons may be. A well-experienced foreign diplomat with 30 years of uninterrupted services failed to understand the intricacies of Indian politics. Within a short period Tharoor attracted a large number of middle class youngsters to politics which made others envious.
—K Nandakumar, via email

Unfair politics
Now that the vigorous “Tharoor get out” campaign by the BJP-led Opposition and the media have finally got him out of the cabinet, it is time to ask some straight questions. Was the charge of misuse of his official position proved against Tharoor? The prime minister made Tharoor resign after allegations were levelled against him by Lalit Modi. The media as usual made a mountain of a molehill and opposition MPs rocked Parliament. BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati, who were facing criminal cases in connection with the Babri demolition, were ministers in the NDA government for the full term. Narendra Modi is continuing as Gujarat chief minister in spite of all sorts of allegations being levelled against him for his involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Shibu Soren is chief minister of Jharkhand in spite of being tried in a criminal case for murder. So what moral right do the BJP and the Congress have to ask Shashi Tharoor step down? Tharoor’s fault is that he came from a different environment and mindlessly jumped onto the Congress bandwagon before getting acquainted with the dirty culture of Indian politics.
—MC Joshi, Lucknow
 
Empty promises
It needed an upright AK Antony to come clean on the one-rank, one-pension plan (OROP) after much bluster and statements to the contrary on the floor of the house. At least now it is official that OROP cannot be given due to legal, financial and administrative reasons. Plugging the leakages in our welfare schemes by even 5% and levying taxes on moneyspinners like IPL can yield enough funds to pay for soldiers’ pensions. Administrative problems can always be overcome by proper management. As far as legalities are concerned, justice has always been on the side of ex-servicemen, as has come out in various cases. Very recently, moved by the plight of Capt CS Sidhu, who had fought a long-drawn, one-armed battle (having lost one arm in the service of our nation), the Supreme Court expressed its indignation that army officers were being treated shabbily by the government. Denial of OROP is a continuation of the same beggarly treatment.
—Raghubir Singh, Pune
 
In the right direction
The edit ‘Fit to teach’ (DNA, April 23) rightly endorses the idea of regulating deemed universities and private education. Kapil Sibal has added new meaning to the otherwise hackneyed and primitive ways of working in the human resources ministry. The growing trend of tuition classes has seriously eroded the efficacy and relevance of study standards in colleges and universities. There is strong need to recast our education system and finetune the working of universities to meet world standards. There is a need to safeguard the interests of students and their parents who invest time and money in higher education, only to be let down by the derecognition of the university later on. Sibal should also come down heavily on the issue of capitation fee and get rid of this menace from our education system with equally stringent punishment.
—Ashok Goswami, Mumbai

Success formula
The article ‘The iceberg formula’ (DNA, April 22) on IPL has accurately analysed the ‘real’ reasons for the hyper-success of IPL. The writer has rightly concluded that all hyper-success stories have a lot to do with the subterranean links, be it a political party, or a business house or a religious cult. In the case of IPL they have a great advantage, a critical mass of nationwide gullible followers who have themselves become stakeholders in the addictive format called IPL.
—Arun Mehta, Mumbai