Pull up your socks India

Pull up your socks India
This is with reference 'MSD faces hard Sach, loses Test, Midas touch', (July 26). It's disheartening to see India losing out on the final day of the test match. The touring side was at a disadvantage without their regular opener Virender Sehwag and key players not able to deliver their full potential as a result of injuries, otherwise it would have been a different story altogether. The team cannot be blamed for losing out in the first test. It was good to see Suresh Raina playing a solid innings. India needs to pull their socks to register a win at Tent Bridge in order to save their number one test ranking.
—Sankalp Shukla, via email
 
Launching a witch hunt
The UPA government has pushed the burning issue of rampant corruption into oblivion. It's tactic of witch hunting -going into details of Baba Ramdev's so-called business empire or investigating the technical qualifications of his aide Balkrishna - are nothing but attempts at diverting attention from the main issue. The way things are moving, it appears that the day is not far off when crusader Anna too would be made a target of such political molestation. By the way, who says that Indians are eager to know the names of those who have been hoarding black money? Let the government bring back the billions stashed abroad, the issue of the culprits is of no prime importance.
—Kannan Iyer, Vashi
 
Bad decision
The removal of Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi as vice chancellor by the peer committee Majlis-e-Shura is unfortunate and will give the wrong signal that freedom of speech against an orthodox stand is not tolerated ('Darul Uloom gets rid of outspoken V-C', July 25). The opinion expressed about Gujarat chief minister by Vastanvi was personal than official words of Darul Uloom Deoband. The development in Gujarat is a feather in Modi's cap but Godhra riots will remain an indelible scourge in the history of Gujarat. It is very sorry precedent that the members acted so rigidly in Vastanvi's case. There is a need to understand the pluralism principle and adapt for more accommodative spirit to participate in nation building. The person's merit for service should be the parameter to judge. The entire episode has brought embarrassment to the members of Muslim community,
—Syed Khaja, via email

Indo-Pak relations
The just concluded meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan did not offer any positive outcome for Indians to cheer about ('India needs to look beyond Ms Khar's honeyed statements', July 28). Pakistan still denies the presence of Dawood Ibrahim and other terrorists wanted by India. Also its co-operation in probing 26/11 and 13/7 terrorist attacks in Mumbai has not been satisfactory. Terrorist training camps in Pakistan continue to operate. Many wanted fugitives from India are finding shelter in Pakistan. Such type of meetings only provide a smokescreen to Pakistan to continue with its nefarious designs against India, despite India's olive branch to Pakistan to increase bilateral trade and commerce. India must demand, to start with, extradition of Dawood and company as a precondition for such confidence building meetings in future.
—JN Mahanty, Puri
 
Show some compassion
It was distressing to read 'Cops ignored mishap victims in goods carrier', (July 27). The act of the relatives of Parliamentary affairs minister Harshavardhan Patil who shifted him and his entourage to a nearby hospital in Baramati after the accident on Sunday night, leaving behind the critically injured brothers in the tempo in a lurch, should be condemned. They should have been humane enough to arrange for medical care for them too. Patil should thank his stars to be alive today. However, it is strongly felt that Patil, who would be discharged from hospital soon should now see to it that no stone is left unturned to provide free medical care to the other two injured, as well as provide financial aid to the family.
—Yash P Verma, Pune
 
Picture says it all
Apropos 'A photo for the BMC chief's office', it is a fabulous idea to put a photograph as a reminder of the work that needs to be done (July 26). It is really worthwhile to present a framed photograph of potholes in Mumbai to the BMC chief with a request to put it up in his office. I am sure Subodh Kumar with his penchant for proper work will see to it that the issue is resolved for ever. For every major, recurrent and unresolved civic problem, it will be good idea to present the responsible officer a framed photograph of the problem. Activists, are you listening?
—Nilesh Baxi, via email