An open letter
Dear chief minister: Every society gives enough warning signals before turning totally anti democratic and fascist in nature. The dream of an equal and just society has always been projected by either the mass movements of ordinary people or has been portrayed by artists. So those whose agenda is to spread disharmony always attack the artists, activists, intellectuals and thinkers. What has been happening in Maharashtra the past few months is an attack on the democratic rights of the citizens. I request you to ensure that Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan are given adequate security, so that there is no disturbance when their films are released or screened in theaters. I request you to ensure that no taxi driver or auto rickshaw driver is harassed for not knowing or speaking Marathi (it’s good that you backtracked on January 20 from a similar unconstitutional stand) and that their Constitutional and democratic rights of working or living in any part of India are not violated by Shiv Sena hoodlums on the roads. I request you to urgently arrest and prosecute those who are behind the recent incidents.
—Shabnam Hashmi, Member, National Integration Council, via email
Use natural energy
I agree with our prime minister Manmohan Singh’s opinion that maximum use of solar energy should be encouraged. Though the irrigation projects initiated by few state governments are helping agriculture, these states are consuming a lot of electricity. To avoid this, the government should take steps to promote solar energy. Places where hydropower is generated can also be used to generate solar energy. In addition, coastal districts can set up small wind power generation units to cater to small areas. These steps will go a long way in generating clean electricity and reducing pollution.
—Hansraj Bhat, Mumbai
Caustic comments
The admonition of the Honourable judges of Bombay High Court to the Government of Maharashtra by seeking explanation for enforcing provisions of MPDA (Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug offenders and Dangerous Persons Act) against Mumbai’s slumlords is a censure of the government (‘Illegal constructions irk HC’, DNA, February 5). The observation of the learned judges that there is mushrooming of unauthorised construction as politicians are utilising the slums as vote banks and caustic comment that MPDA must be applied to slum mafias, not slumdwellers is a mirror to the hold of mafia on the administration. —KRP Gupta, via email
The right balance
You have rightly commented in ‘New mandate’, (DNA, January 29) that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse registering a remarkable victory over the former army chief Sarath Fonseka in the Lankan presidential election does not come as a surprise as a grateful nation has expressed its confidence in the man who has led the successful war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Although the overwhelming gratitude of the predominantly Sinhalese population has translated into substantial support for the president’s continuation in office, it can’t be ruled out that Rajapakse’s confrontation with Fonseka could polarise the post-election politics on very partisan lines. Moreover his term in office will be confronted with the multiple problems for which he will have to have a fine balance.
—Dilbag Rai, Chandigarh
Be an Indian
This is with reference to ‘Walk on alone’ by R Jagannathan (DNA, February 4). The RSS’s statement that Mumbai is for all Indians has come as a breather to many. Its political wing, the BJP, cannot afford to play myopic political alliance of Shiv Sena. Sena is desperate to restore its sagging image by intensifying gratuitous remarks on Sachin Tendulkar and others without realising their ramifications. The RSS support to the migrants has given impetus to the concept of being an Indian first.
—Deepak Chikramane, via email
Comments