Deep-rooted corruption

Deep-rooted corruption
For once I agree with the civil activist Binayak Sen that the Lokpal will not eradicate corruption because it has now become an integral part of our system (‘India is on verge of a famine, says Binayak’, May 31). All those who believe in the magic of Jan Lokpal Bill are living in a fool’s paradise because, first, the wily politicians will not allow the bill to be drafted and second, the main culprits will be kept out of the gambit of
the bill.
—Vanita Shenoy, Mumbai
 
II
After the initial excitement on addressing the most talked about ills in our country, namely corruption in high places in the government and the fact that all were quite gung-ho about introducing a Lokpal Bill, it is seemingly turning out to be a damp squib. The honeymoon seems to have gone awry. After five rounds of meetings on the subject, at least that is what the impression one gets when the government is looking towards a very watered down version of the original draft. Things are not at all hunky dory for the Lokpal Bill for which the deadline is June 2011 end for a final draft.

And the way things are progressing, the ruling party seems all set to torpedo this Bill. What a waste of time and resources.
— Deepak Agharkar, via email

III
Manjul’s ‘Irregular’ (May.31) was simply superb. The way the government is exempting all and sundry from the purview of Lok Pal seems to suggest that it is determined to scuttle the Lok Pal Bill. The home minister’s contention that the PM’s position would be weakened if there were allegations levelled against him every day is absolutely untenable. In the last two years PM Manmohan Singh has been bombarded by charges of tolerating corruption. Even the Supreme Court had cast aspersions on his integrity. But these distractions do not appear to have deterred him from holding on to his office tenaciously.
—V Rajalakshmi, Mumbai

Creating hype
Apropos ‘Shopian victims’ kin seek asylum abroad’, (May 31), by seeking asylum in Islamic countries Shakeel Ahmad Ahangar is communalising the issue. The Islamic countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh have the worst track record for ‘law and justice’. How can he expect justice from a country like Pakistan? He wants asylum in a Muslim country, simply because he is Muslim, He is not only blaming the investigating agencies but, more importantly, India. There are thousands of people from other communities who have been denied justice but no body wants to leave his/her motherland. The media shouldn’t create hype.
—Pratap Singh, via email
 
Political plays
The Congress party has been able to hold on to power at the Centre with the help of the regional parties because Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has not been able to project itself as an alternative to the UPA coalition (‘Even Priyanka can’t arrest Cong decline’, May 31). Inspite of the ruling party being bogged down by various corruption charges, the principal opposition party, BJP has not been able to benefit from it. The BJP has been finding it tough to manage differences among its leaders. If the situation remains the same for the next three years then it is quite possible that the country may witness a hung Parliament at the next general elections.
—Ketan R Meher, Thane
 
Laudable effort
In the mast head on page 17 (May 31), there are two mistakes. The word for welcome in German must read as ‘willkommen’ instead of ‘wilkommen’. Also the German chancellor is a lady and the correct term is ‘Die Kanzlerin’. ‘Der Kanzler’ refers to a male. Mistakes apart, your effort is laudable.
—GV Shankar, Thane