Wrong threats

Wrong threats
Apropos ‘A time bomb for Congress! Anna gives ‘vote-out’’, (October 5), Anna’s threat to the Congress is uncalled for. Congress, as the major party in UPA, stands exposed on various charges of corruption. Even if Congress brings in the Lokpal Bill, Anna cannot support Congress openly in the ensuing states elections. Anna has to go beyond Lokpal Bill — like bringing reforms in electoral, education, health, food (PDS) and shelter policies. Anna’s threat dilutes his image and gives an opportunity to other equally corrupt politicians in other parties to use him politically. 
—KR Anandagopalan, Bangalore

II
Apropos ‘A time bomb for Congress! Anna gives vote out threat’, Anna is wrongly using his popularity by announcing that if the Jan Lokpal Bill is not passed, he will appeal to the people not to vote for Congress. If he is against corruption, then why is he trying to play a political game? India is a democratic country and the Election Commission should take a stand against such people who are trying to add fuel to the fire by asking the common man not to vote against a particular party. Ramdev Baba tried playing a political game and everybody knows how he lost his credibility. Anna should behave in a mature manner.
—Sankalp Shukla, via email

Support common man
This is with reference to ‘Raj blasts serial striker’, (October 5). Congratulations to Raj Thackeray for supporting the hapless commuters who travel by autos. Union leaders like Sharad Rao often hold the public ransom by organising some strike or other. As a leader of the workers union, he should be able to understand the problems of the public who has neither the support of trade unions nor the support of the governmental agencies. The pressure tactics adopted by the auto unions to fulfill their undue demands have really angered the public. The government, which consists of elected representatives, quite often bow down to the unions’ demands, ignoring the common man who has voted them to power. Finally a political leader like Thackeray has dared to challenge the arm-twisting tactics of the auto unions.
—KK Soman, via email

Edu & accountability
It comes as an unpleasant surprise that the State Education Department does not see any merit in conducting even mandatory periodic audits of the aided colleges in Mumbai (‘99 private colleges, Rs3Kcr public money, no audit’, October 5). It is shocking that no audit has taken place since 1995. Apart from auditing their finances, the audit is expected to also cover other aspects such as eligibility for aid, infrastructure, number of professors and other staff in each college and their qualifications and ensure that the colleges abide by the rules and regulations to qualify for the aid. Some night colleges have dubious and fabricated records to suggest a certain number of professors on their rolls and thereby get higher aid from the higher education department. Despite complaints, no one from the department has paid any heed and now with such a huge backlog , it has become impossible to monitor for the education department. So much for
accountability.
—Deepak Agharkar, via email

Hogging lime light
This is with reference to ‘MHA ticks Modi on Bhatt’, (October 5). It is sorry state of affairs that the Centre had to intervene to protect Sanjeev Bhatt’s life, who had apparently lodged a complaint to the home ministry. Prompt action was initiated by PC Chidamabaram. Is it not the duty of the government to protect the lives of every individual? One fails to understand the logic to find policemen ‘protecting’ politicians, and at the cost of tax payers. Now with eyes firmly set for 2014 elections politicians will ensure that they will hog the limelight at every available opportunity. 
—Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai

Quality, not quantity
This is with reference to ‘HC: Privatise to bridge doctor, patient gap’, (October 5). It appears HC has taken into account the ratio of doctors to patients while deciding the case. The requirement of doctors per thousand cannot be decided on quantity but quality should be the criteria because this profession has certain ethical requirement which have to be fulfilled. Increasing the number of medical colleges in private sector and the number of medical graduates is not going to solve the problem. Only a properly qualified medical graduate will prove helpful to the improving health conditions of the public. Taking advantage of the HC ruling, lot of people will come forward to start medical colleges but the exercise will prove to be futile if quality is not maintained.
—RM Deshpande, Navi Mumbai

Clash of the ministers
Apropos ‘The Congress and the art of bickering’, (October 4), Congress president Sonia Gandhi has brokered truce between P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee, who apparently fought over the letter about the 2G scam. Pranab disowned his signature on the note sent to PMO. Many scams like CWG and 2G spectrum are all being well-defended in the house by PM Manmohan Singh. No early polls are to be expected because of BJP’s weak strength as was noticed in Cash for vote scam.
—Achyut Railkar, Mumbai