Blot on the nation!

Blot on the nation!
No words are strong enough to condemn the incident of a 16-year-old’s modesty being outraged by a mob of over a dozen persons after she came out of a restaurant on a busy road  in Guwahati (Assam mob shames nation, DNA July 14) . This incident brings to fore the fact that crimes against women are growing in all parts of India and need to be tackled with harsher laws. It is a gruesome and heinous crime which requires the  severest punishment and a swift trial. Such types of crimes should be awarded mandatory life imprisonment, ensuring such criminals remain in jail for the rest of their lives. Moreover, what is happening to the collective consciousness of people of this nation when a teenaged girl is being publicly molested by hooligans and dozens of onlookers remain mute spectators?  

—Ramesh G Jethwani, Bangalore.

Sachin stumped?
 Saturday morning, it was good weather and I was sipping a cup of tea while reading DNA (July 14) . I came across your 10 Questions for Sachin Tendulkar and it put a smile on my face. It was good to read the questions that you would like to bowl at Sachin and I was  personally really happy to see your intent of bowling them, since many of those were questions which I, too, had always pondered upon.  Questions 6, 9 and 10 were hilarious. Hope that someday Sachin will face these bouncers without ducking and hook some as well. Keep it up!

—Kiran Khair via e-mail

II
I have been critical about Sachin for some time now but the magic spell cast by Sachin on his fans will not change. The article you have written is too good and well researched and is a worthy critique of Tendulkar.

—Jay Wadhwani via e-mail

III
Awesome article on Tendulkar. After all the media idolising of Sachin and the public treating him like God, it’s wonderful to see someone deviate from the norm. Really glad you wrote that article.

—Natalie Chowdhury via e-mail

IV
It is creditable to see your article about the questions asked to Sachin which thousands would have kept in their minds. At the same time it will certainly irk millions of Sachin fans! But the fact is Sachin is long past his prime, but continues to hog the limelight, thanks to the BCCI and MCA.

—Manoj via e-mail

V
I have always been a fan of your paper and its columns, so the recent column on Sachin Tendulkar came as a huge shock to me. I can understand that writing controversial things about Sachin is in fashion but I am absolutely disgusted with the piece and I hope DNA will take note of that.

—Ayush Ahuja via e-mail

Penalise them!
With reference to the news item ‘Hit by a stone, commuter loses an eye’(DNA, July 13), innocent commuters are becoming victims of a cruel game played by anti-social elements. I have come to the conclusion that those who  stay in slums, situated along the length and breadth of railway tracks should participate in stopping such incidents. The boys who throw stones and hit commuters know very well that they can never be arrested as it is simple for them to disappear into the slums! The only solution is to impose a fine/penalty on the slum area where such incidents occur. Once the nearby slum dwellers are penalised, these residents will be vigilant and alert and immediately catch stone throwers. Alternately, if certain areas are found to be free from such incidents for a long time, that area should be suitably rewarded!

—Bhalchandra P Waghe, Goregaon

Cruel khap
This refers to the news item: “UP khap panchayat bans women from stepping out . . . . and minister endorses it” (DNA, July 14).  The khap panchayats have surreptitious support from the political and bureaucratic class which is deeply entrenched deep in certain states.  Afraid of a backlash in the election, no political party worth the name is prepared to take on or question the archaic or atrocious diktats issued by this extra-constitutional power centre.  The khap panchayats’ arbitrary behaviour is not acceptable in a democratic country like India.  It is the lookout of the government to protect the womenfolk by keeping on leash the bad elements.

—HP Murali, Bangalore

Un-Presidential
The  photo  of  UPA’s  presidential  candidate  Pranab  Mukherjee meeting  SS  chief  Bal  Thackeray  does  not  provide  an  honourable  image   for the  highest  office  of  the  land  for  which  the  meeting  was undertaken.   The  office  of  the  President  is  the  supreme  position  in our country  and  an apolitical  post.   In  this  backdrop  of sanctity,  it  should  not  at  all  be  necessary  for  the  presidential candidates  to  meet  political  parties  to seek votes. This implies  return  for  the  obligation  after  occupying  the  position  of President.   Just  like  Election  Commission  has   directed  that  the issue of  a party whip  is  not  tenable  for  the Presidential  elections,  canvassing  for the  post  also  should  become  untenable.  The  electoral  college  is supposed  to  be  fully  aware  of  the  profile  of  the  candidate  for whom  they  are  casting  their  vote  on  behalf  of  the  people  they  represent.

—R  Sridhar, Bangalore 

PM watch
This refers to the article ‘Welcome to the Club Dr Singh’ (DNA, July 14). Time magazine has dubbed our PM as an underachiever. In this context, the UPA government has tough tasks ahead. To begin with, the country’s security system needs to be revamped to tackle the growing insurgency unleashed by the Naxals and Ulfa. Second, the government needs to put into place urgent measures necessary to set right the increasing food prices and inflation and chart out new and bold economic strategies to accelerate the country’s growth. Third, improving the employment situation needs immediate attention of the government. 

—P Senthil Durai, Andheri West