No inquiry against me, clarifies former Navy employee

No inquiry against me, clarifies former Navy employeeThis is with regard to ‘Another Pirate in the Indian Army’ (April 1). I wish to clarify that I was never and am not the owner of Applied Nutrition Science as alleged in the article. Further, I had never donated Rs2.2 lakh to the Yachting Association of India. From 1982 to 1996, when I served the Indian Navy, not a single inquiry was held against me and, therefore, the question of my resigning from the Navy because an inquiry does not arise. The Board of Inquiry which inquired into various financial improprieties in the year 2005-2006 had not found it necessary to summon me on any count and since I took premature retirement from the Indian Navy in 1996, the allegation that I donated Rs2.2 lakh and resigned soon after from the Navy because an inquiry found me guilty is completely false.—Farokh Tarapore, via email

Fundamental right at stakeThis is apropos ‘Didi makes a cartoon of herself’ (April 14).  Just a day before Ambikesh Mahapatra, the professor at Jadavpur University in Kolkata was teaching his students. Today he is behind bars for sending the e-mail making fun of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and has been charged with sections of the IT Act. I would like to ask where our right to free speech is? Since when was criticizing someone grounds for arrest? Is Mamata Banerjee so insecure about her position that dissent in any form begins to take on the guise of a threat? Are cartoonists - among the last brave souls still walking where few members of the media tread these days - now supposed to toe the line drawn by whoever happens to be in power? The Emergency ended in 1977. It appears that precious little can now be said, done, or discussed, without it attracting the ire of some political party or groups with a vested interest of some sort. Living in this sort of environment can be catastrophic not just for artists, but for the spirit of democracy in which our founding fathers created an independent India. A fundamental right is at stake here.—Bhagwan Thadani, via email

IIThis is apropos ‘Didi makes a cartoon of herself’ (April 14). After her massive mandate, the West Bengal CM has started ‘official terrorism’  - first it opposed UPA government in its various policy matters, then the newspapers ban in the libraries and now to the arrest of the cartoonists. Is this what the citizens of West Bengal hoped for when they voted her into office? People are stunned that since when does Mamta Banerjee get time to govern after poking her nose in all sorts of trifle matters? Or does she think this is proper governance? It’s ironic that the people of West Bengal have got a replacement that seems to be not much better than the previous regime.—Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

IIIThis is apropos ‘Didi makes a cartoon of herself’ (April 14). The Supreme Court and National Human Rights Commission should take suo moto cognizance of attack on Freedom of Expression, a right provided by the Constitution. The West Bengal police was duty-bound to arrest those goons who attacked the Professor and his associate. It is a matter of concern that nation and its people are to bear such dictatorial attitude of rigid-minded political rulers like Mamta Banerjee. The West Bengal government should exhibit such dictatorial courage by accepting challenge of renowned cartoonist Sudhir Tailang to arrest him by deliberately airing a ‘derogatory’ cartoon on Mamta Banerjee in the prime time show of a prominent news-channel, and subsequently publishing it in a morning newspaper.—Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi Cut railway spendingThis refers to the DNA Exclusive ‘Let’s cut salaries: Rly GMs’ (April 14). The salary cuts and holding up allowances will not bring back the ailing Indian Railways into the right track.  The roll back of the fare hike was politically motivated.  The projected revenue on this count has gone down the drain, which otherwise would have contributed to make up the deficits. Travel through any other public transport system became dearer over the years and a moderate hike in railway fares is unlikely to hit the common man severely.  Amongst all, safety of commuters must be given the top priority as discontent among the employees is likely to endanger lives of millions.  The railways must ponder strategic ways to curtail extravagant spending rather than pinching the pockets of it employees.—NV Unnithan, Navi MumbaiWomen cops not safeThis refers to the news of two cops being suspended for sexual harassment of their female colleague (‘CP boots 2 out for harassing lady cop’, April 13). The behaviour of these two cops is shameful and unforgiveable because it will send a wrong message to the people that when a female cop is not safe in the police station how can any woman enter the police station to seek protection from the keepers of the law. Both these two cops should be dismissed forthwith so that it will act as a deterrent to others because there may be many female cops who are silently suffering the harassment. Now they may be able to muster up courage if they see the administration taking action against the offenders.—Vanita Shenoy, MumbaiHawker troubleThis is with reference to ‘Remove hawkers from rail bridges: RR’ (April 12). Maharashtra home minister RR Patil diktat to remove illegal hawkers from the foot over bridges and rail bridges is laudable. It has become a nuisance to the commuters and pedestrians alike to be able to walk freely on the bridges. Vendors keeping wooden board to sell wares are risking hurting commuters. Most of the stations areas are occupied by the hawkers who are in cahoots with railway officials or railway police. RR Patil must keep up doing frequent surprise checks.      —Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai