Constitutional blunders

Constitutional blunders
Apropos ‘K'taka crisis: Don't worry, PM tells BJP’, (May 17), Bengaluru is full of talk that with HR Bhardwaj in the Raj Bhavan, there is no need for the post of opposition leader. The governor has been committing one constitutional blunder after another, giving the BJP enough leverage to embarrass the government at Centre. Bhardwaj had expected the 11 rebel BJP MLAs to go against Yeddyurappa. But when that did not happen, he decided to recommend President’s rule. This move goes against the well-laid judgment of the supreme court where the court had ruled that the strength of the government must be tested on the floor of the House. If Bhardwaj had any doubt, he should have asked Yeddyurappa to prove his strength on the floor of the Assembly. But he instead wrote to the Centre recommending President’s rule in the State giving flimsy reasons. It is only hoped that the prime minister would not be a party to all this.
—Yash P Verma, Pune
 
II
Karnataka governor HR Bhardwaj’s recommendation for president’s rule in Karnataka is helping the chief minister BS Yeddyurappa get a martyr’s image and his popularity going up. It is better if the Centre recalls him before he inflicts further damage, not only to the Constitution but also to the Congress. His actions in Karnataka look have a feel of propagating Congress agenda. It is good that the governor and the chief minister had a meeting to sort out the misunderstanding.
—Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

III
Apropos ‘SC breather fails to cheer Yeddy as Guv seeks president’s rule’, (May 16), Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj is alleged to be recommending President’s rule. One wonders if he is doing it for toppling the BJP government. In past too, he supported the opposition against BJP. Chief minister Yeddyurappa is prepared to hold the floor test with the rebel BJP members agreeing to support him. If Bhardwaj is not prepared to follow democratic rules, President Pratibha Patil should call him back to protect the decorum of governor’s post.
—Achyut Railkar, Mumbai

Border attack
Pakistan’s ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha has pompously pronounced that they have identified locations in India to be targeted in case India attacked Pakistan (‘India scoffs off ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s threat as ‘tall claim’’, May 16). This is very amusing coming from the ISI chief who couldn’t  even locate the most sought after terrorist living right under his nose. Pasha should bear in mind that the military officers did not give any impression that such an attack was on cards. The democratically elected government only can take this decision. Further, as a friendly advise to Pasha, we would suggest that he locate places in Pakistan from where his country is being regularly attacked before he sets his eyes across the border.
—Anil P Bagarka, via email

Unfair premises 
Apropos ‘Time govt stopped foreign funding of Civil Society groups’, (May 10), the article is clearly written to inflame misguided passions opposed to the NGO sector. The criticism of the site Friends of Narmada looks like a thinly veiled attempt to marginalise one organisation. Even under the Right to Information Act, an organisation must present its most recent financial information upon request, immediately, if request is made in person at the offices, or within 30 days if requested by mail. By his own words the writer did not request the information. The fact that the NGOs are not included in the rights to information definitely needs to be addressed. While I believe that the writer started with a false premise, and arrived at a false conclusion.
—Rohan Williams, via email

Walk easier
The BMC’s proposal to construct a stilted walkway to the Mahalaxmi temple is a step in the right direction (‘Broader walkway for Mahalaxmi temple’, May 16). I would like to make another suggestion.  The steps leading to the temple are rather steep and it is very difficult for senior citizens and pregnant ladies to climb. If escalators can be installed in a suitable location, it will be a great boon to the public. 
—AG Ramasubramanian, via email