'Anna Hazare is a sore loser'

Public help for the handicapped
World Disabled Day reminds us of our role in the society to help handicapped people in the best way possible. Despite many provisions made for the handicapped, the system does not allow you to follow them strictly. For example seats are provided for the handicapped persons in the bus but nobody gets up to give the seat to them. Public convenience should be user friendly; foot boards are too high even for a common man, leave alone the handicapped. Wheel-chair accessible buses were launched five years back only to be withdrawn at a later date. The Mumbai Metro must follow all the provisions available for handicapped persons in the best way possible. The maintenance of disabled friendly ramps and elevators are not up to the mark and thereby the usage is not available all the time. While crossing the roads the engravings on Zebra crossings should be prominent so as to come to the rescue of the handicapped people.
—CK Subramaniam, Sanpada

Anna is a sore loser
The reported statement of the social activist Anna Hazare that he suspects Rahul Gandhi is responsible for diluting the Lokpal bill draft is meaningless.  From all his comments even if all his demands are accepted by the government, he will not be satisfied as his move is political and he needs a political change. It is strange that except for Bihar Chief Minister, no elected member has taken on the so called social activist and his team. This appears to be the reason for his outburst on day today basis and hurling threats to the government. The attitude of the social activist will pave way for more corruption and misery for the people. He and his team will do well if they limit their activities to anti-corruption without sowing seeds of discontent among people.
—SS Nair, Goregaon

II
Apropos ‘Anna says Rahul does not want a strong Lokpal, Gandhi forced the government  to do a U-turn, ‘FDI is a ploy to delay bill’s introduction’, (DNA, December 3), it is very difficult to endorse any of these reported statements of Anna. If Anna means that Mr Gandhi is against corruption, I think he is terribly wrong. FDI is a part of globalization which in fact was accepted in principle long ago and that logjam is unjust.  If we really analyze it, FDI in retail is beneficial as it makes consumer market competitive enough to help arrest the unjust price rise and our poor farmers struggling to make the ends meet to earn more. This, in fact, will transform the local traders into maintaining quality goods and services resulting ultimately in doing more business by them in big cities. Anna should sincerely try and see that the House functions as scheduled to work out solutions for various national problems like he is doing for a strong Lokpal Bill.
—PL Thomas, Andheri
 
UPA shouldn’t bargain for FDI
This has reference to the article “For Mamata Mum’s the word on FDI”. It is high time the National Congress revisits the concept of coalition Dharma. Unless this is done, its image may be tarnished beyond repair. Time and again its coalition partners have held the National Congress to ransom, but none of them have publicity insulted the prime minister more than the Trinamool Congress. They have obstructed and objected to each and every forward looking step initiated by the PM. In such a back ground it is disturbing to read the following statement made in the article under reference, “back channel discussion between Congress and Trinamool leaders to discuss the outline of a comprehensive West Bengal Package from the Centre as part of the bargain that will seal Banerjee’s support for FDI in Retail”. I wonder how such a bargain can be differentiated from the publicly perceived inaction of the Congress leadership in the 2G spectrum allocation or Cash for vote scandal. The UPA has already got a bad name for what happened under its nose in 2G spectrum allocation. Public reaction to the “West Bengal Package” as a bargain would not be any different.
—Girdhar, via email

FDI needs collective approval
The recent statement of assurance given by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee to Bengal Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee to hold the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI ) for some time is a timely one. It has been observed the opposition parties have not allow the parliament to function for last one week due to FDI and even the Congress allies like TMC, DMK and National Conference have also opposed the move of the government. Given that the winter session of parliament is going to end on December 22, it is necessary on part of the government to keep the FDI on back burner and allow parliament to do its business. It is high time the Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukharjee makes a public announcement to defeat the selfish intentions of the opposition parties and take its allies into confidence and bring the FDI only if they agree to it.
—Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai

Educations needs a revamp
Maharashtra State gets pride of place and is ranked No 5 in Educational Development index where both Kerala and Tamil Nadu top the list. The education standard has to go up and the children must get quality education for less fees.  Who is to bell the cat?  The Education Board has to go in for new system and make the students learn the subject without much stress.  Sky rocketing cut-offs is a cause of worry for students and parents.  It is not in lines with education system with other countries in the world.  Education should not be a medium to mint money. It is indeed a step in the right direction to have a dedicated minister in State Assembly for looking after problems relating to school education.  He will have sufficient time to hear grievances of parents, teachers and children to address in the best way possible without wasting time.
—Jayanthy Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai