A UN team should unearth truth in Lanka

A UN team should unearth truth in Lanka
I have been reading a spate of letters in your columns with interest. When Mumbaikars remain indifferent to the beating or even killing of a man on the streets, the media lambasts their selfishness and insensitivity to the event. But when a similar situation is played out in the neighbourhood and a country votes against it, the same media pounces on the good samaritan with vehemence. Having stood as a silent spectator when thousands of Tamilians were killed in cold blood, India got the opportunity in Geneva to make amends. Better late than never! A hue and cry is being made about China and Pakistan making inroads into Sri Lanka because of our action. Did we worry similarly when India sent its troops into East Pakistan disregarding the threat posed by China as well as the US Seventh fleet? For a country which aspires for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, several such occasions will come in the future when hard decisions have to be taken in accordance with our principles. It is time we shed our phobias for our own good. I wish to remind the readers that the Sri Lankan government covertly helped the LTTE to fight the Indian Peace Keeping Force, which was sent to protect the Sri Lankan forces. Even after the LTTE was vanquished, the promised devolution of power to the Tamils and their rehabilitation have not materialised so far. The atrocities committed on the Tamil population has been well documented and shown on British channels. A Sri Lankan minister has dubbed this film as “morphed”. If that is so, he is at liberty to sue the British channels for defamation. If the Sri Lankan government does not have anything to hide, they should have allowed the media from all over the world to report on the war on terror. There are reports that Sinhalese are systematically being settled in northern areas to make the Tamils a minority in their own land. An independent study team should be sent by UN to unearth the truth.
—V Gurumoorthy

What is derogatory?
This has reference to ‘MPs unite to hit back at Hazare’ (March 27). When certain derogatory remarks were made against late Shri Ramnath Goenka in parliament, he challenged those MPs to make the remarks outside the parliament since they have immunity inside the house. Now these MPs want to use their “privilege” to hush up a common man from voicing his protest outside the parliament. What is “derogatory” in calling spade a spade? The normal style of a politician — “media has distorted my words” — is used in a different manner by accusing that Team Anna has made derogatory remarks on the parliament. Arvind Kejriwal has commented on only those 20% parliamentarians who are facing criminal allegations. Birds of a same feather flock together.
—Haridasan Mathilakath, Navi Mumbai

II
Since it could not get the Lokpal bill passed in parliament, Team Anna is behaving like a spoilt brat that could not get its favourite chocolate. Some of the team’s members are prestigious award winners; hence, they should be reminded that they cannot behave like they are doing. I am happy that parliamentarians, cutting across party lines, are up in arms against Hazare’s team. It’s preposterous on the part of Team Anna to say that parliamentarians have lost people’s faith. As for Team Anna’s demand to get FIRs registered against 14 Union ministers, what’s preventing them from filing them?
—KP Rajan, Mumbai

Taxing time
This is with reference to ‘Brace yourself for a taxing time’ (March 27). It is a yearly ritual for deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar to rake in revenue for the state from the hapless citizens. Hiking service tax seems to be the new mantra of minting money. It is shocking that there is no relief at all for senior citizens and strange that the government has forgotten to hike taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. Taxing on sand reminds us of the freedom struggle when the British Raj started collecting tax on salt. Where are we heading with no specific schemes  forthcoming?
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai

Shame all around
I fully agree with your editorial ‘Shame all around’ (March 17). The General, VK Singh, who is on the verge of retirement, does not appear to be free from blame. What did he do apart from merely reporting the matter to the defence minister? It is evident that the minister did not take any cognisance of his so-called report. Why did Singh kept quiet on this inaction on the part of the minister? He could have reported the matter to the prime minister or gone to the media instead of doing it now. In the intervening period of about two years, Singh should have focussed his attention on the follow-up of this matter rather than the controversy regarding his date of birth. Procurement of substandard vehicles for the Army and attempting bribery for the same is definitely much more serious than any controversy regarding anybody’s date of birth, including that of the Army chief. Actually, instead of just reporting the matter of the offer of bribe for clearing the tranche, he could have himself approached ACB (CBI) officials and caught those who offered the bribe “red handed”. Secondly, the timing of Singh’s revelation also creates doubts about his real intentions/grudge. Had the so-called controversy about his date of birth been settled in his favour, would he still have made this revelation?
—Sapathwardhan