Why this good feeling for a hostile neighbour

Why this good feeling for a hostile neighbour
Apropos of ‘Separating pilgrimage from the separatists’ (April 8), one is not able to read too much into the Pakistani president’s decision not to meet the separatists, a tradition established by his predecessors since 1995.

On Hafiz Saeed, he has come with a ready, recorded answer that the matter would need “more discussions”, in line with the oft-repeated rejoinders from his ministers that “more evidence” would be needed to stop the Islamic scholar in his tracks.

The hard but bitter truth is that he represents the face of Pakistan in its entirety since he is on an avowed mission to re-establish the Mughal empire of yester years in India through jihad and this suits everyone there — the establishment, the militia and the people by and large. So, one wonders why we are still goody-goody with a hostile neighbour who derived a lot of sadistic pleasure from our 26/11 loss of lives and property brought about by their men.
—V Subramanyan

II
The one-day pilgrimage to Ajmer by Asif Zardari is nothing but waste of time and tax payers’ precious money, since he has already clarified that his visit to India is of a religious nature and there will be no discussion about Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of 26/11, on whose head America has announced a prize money.

I strongly feel that all the evidence given by India, PM Manmohan Singh must raise the issue of Saeed and put pressure on Zardari to hand him over to India to face trial. It is most urgent that India handles this visit by Zardari as an opportunity to raise the issue of terrorism exported from Pakistan.
—Bhagwan Thadani

III
I am unable to understand why our media and citizens are getting so excited about Zardari’s visit. The Pakistani president had already told reporters that his visit is of a religious nature and he did not expect the Indian prime minister to harp on the issue of Saeed during their meeting.

Interestingly, though the Pakistan foreign office continues to maintain that India has not given “any solid and significant evidence” against Saeed, it’s everybody’s knowledge that it is the contrary.

Now with the the US decision to announce a 10 millions dollar bounty on him, the ball is certainly in India’s court. This is the right time to pressurise Pakistan over Saeed. However, no one is expecting much from this meeting. Moreover, when Zardari’s days seem to be limited, why should he displease his political opponents, the army and the ISI? To think that Pakistan will punish Hafiz Saeed is utopian.
—Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee

Heartening trend
This has reference to ‘Now a better life for married muslim women?’ (April 8). It is heartening to note that a consultation on codification of Muslim family law is likely to offer Muslim women a better deal with respect to marriage age, mehr, polygamy and maintenance during the marriage and iddat, divorce and irregular marriage.

Muslim women are put to trouble because  of the prevalent triple talaq system by which the divorce is made more simple. For no reason, a male can divorce his wife. Even if a triple talaq is uttered in a dream or told over phone and expressed in an intoxicated  situation, it stands.

Drinking is unIslamic. But talaq pronounced in an intoxicated mood stands. So, such laws which erode the life of many women in the Muslim community cries out for modification.
—Sravana Ramachandran

Road safety
This has reference to all the news reports about road accidents and road rage. A long-term solution to these problems in Mumbai should be framed by the traffic police, commuters and senior citizens after forming a group.

The traffic police have the know-how of all the accidents in the city, the travelling public the practical experience and the senior citizens have seen various types of accidents in their lives. All together, they should be able to suggest solutions for the same. The state government has rightly amended the Motor Vehicle Act 188 to make provision for a huge fine.

Earlier, a meagre fine amount did not deter drivers from skipping signals and driving rashly. If required, this should be increased even further. There are several danger spots on the Mumbai roads. They should be identified properly and suitable road rules may be made to bring the number of accidents down. The licence allotting authorities should have more stringent tests for aspiring drivers.
—CK Subramaniam

Fish for thought
This has reference to ‘Fish becomes too rich for our diet’ (April 8). Instead of standard of living, the cost of living in the city has escalated considerably and it’s fast going beyond one’s reach. With such exorbitant prices, fishes of all varieties have become just like the expensive alphonso mangoes in the beginning of their season.

Since the cost depends upon demand and supply, the fisherfolk catch fishes to such an extent that they do not allow them to breed. Fishing or fish exports should be banned temporally to enable to meet local demands. Even aam aadmi’s fruit banana costs Rs30-40 per dozen.

With insufficient increase in income, tax payers will have a tough time feeding their family members with as nutritious a food as fish.
—Deepak Chikramane

II
The increase in vegetable prices has already made lives of people tough. Now it’s the fish prices which are skyrocketing. Fish, which is said to be one of the richest items in our diet, is actually becoming rich.

With the rise in prices of pomfrets, it will become mandatory for people to depend on other types of fishes. But it won’t be too far when other fishes too become pricey. I fail to understand why everything is becoming so expensive. I wonder how the lower-class people would survive this price hike onslaught in our country?
—Simrin Manwani