Fishy AffairElections have turned into a fish market where every party claims its manifesto to be the best, however rotten it may actually be.-R.B. Saksena, LucknowMockery of DemocracyThe cover story ("still no Clear Winner", February 23) only goes to prove that unless reforms are introduced into our flawed political infrastructure, we will continue to be plagued by similar unstable hung parliaments. Where else in the world does one make such a mockery of democracy by forming new parties simply because the politicians want to indulge their every whim? India's political arena is so easily accessible that today we have hardcore criminals in it and fading filmstars striving to remain in the limelight through politics. Once a contestant gets a foothold in the corridors of power, the trend is to ensure that his or her seat of power becomes a sort of family heirloom to be passed on to their kith or kin. As long as the present state of affairs continues, our future looks very bleak indeed.-Nalinisudhakaran, Thiruvananthapuram.preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}Ignoring CorruptionCorruption, it seems, is a non-issue for major political parties ("Pulp Fiction", February 23). The mere declaration of assets will not prevent the wide circulation of black money. The United Front's promise of punishing the corrupt was not supported by action. Avarice for power far outweighed its intentions. In order to lessen corruption, power has to be decentralised fully.-D.V. Malhotra, GurgaonThe Poll and the Real ThingThe concluding sentence in the letter from the editor on the India Today opinion poll is puzzling ("From the Editor", February 23). Does it mean you foresee a gap between the predictions of the poll and the real verdict? In view of the claim that the poll was the true and exact reflection of the voter's mind, how do you explain the sentence: "This is merely an opinion poll. It's the real thing that counts." Does it mean that the voter does not eventually vote the way he thinks? If that is so, then investigation into what makes the voter change his mind at the last moment would be relevant.-Onkar Chopra, DelhiWhy Protect Offenders?It was shocking to read that urea scam-accused P.V. Prabhakar Rao gave the slip to Enforcement Directorate officials and disappeared ("The Houdini Act", February 16). But it is even more surprising that despite his involvement in a scam, the Government continues to provide him with SPG cover. Why should the nation spend crores of rupees in providing security to a person who has been accused of illegal activities and has charges pending against him in a court of law? It cannot afford this luxury. Let the people who are offenders in the eye of the law foot the bill for their own protection. Why should the honest taxpayer pay for their security?-S.N. Rama Raju,Rajapalayam, TNStem the RotTavleen Singh's article ("land the World Forgot", February 16) speaks for the majority of Indians living abroad. It is frustrating to see that this glorious country is ruled by a bunch of illiterate and corrupt geriatrics. In any other developing democratic country, it would be criminal to allow corrupt buffoons like Laloo Prasad Yadav to decide the destiny of so many people. The country's elite and intellectuals should unite to start a mass movement and prevent the country from going further downhill.-Dipen Limbachia, LondonSpringboard of UncertaintyThe leaders of the UF are all angling to become prime minister even as they stand on a springboard of uncertainty ("Rumble in the Ranks", February 16). Each one's goal to become "king among equals" is rather amusing. Such a motley group cannot govern the country for long, whether led by the Left or the leftovers at their disposal, simply because they take care of only their individual ambitions rather than their collective task as a ruling coalition.-V. C Joshi, Hyderabad"Dynastic perks have been utilised fully by Sonia Gandhi. For the common man of India even the ghosts of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty would be venerable."-O.S. Rakesh Guleria,DelhiBirds of a FeatherIt is a matter of great shame that ministers in Bihar have converted their official residences into cottage industries yielding lakhs of rupees each month ("Milking the State", February 16). It is even more astonishing that Bihar's Governor A.R. Kidwai is running a poultry farm of quails which is a declared protected species. The governor is supposed to safeguard the interests of a state. If he openly flouts the norms, the whole system gets reduced to a mockery.-Bichu Muttathara, PuneMisleading MentionThe article on the santushti complex was misleading ("Elite Welfare", February 16). In the box on glitterati tenants, it said Silloo, wife of Field Marshal S.H.F.M. Manekshaw, runs "Basil and Thyme". Please note that it is not my mother but my aunt Bhicoo Manekshaw who is connected with the restaurant. In addition, my father's initials are S.H.F.J. and not S.H.F.M. Manekshaw as mentioned.-Maja Daruwala, DelhiPandits' PlightIt was heartening to read the unbiased item on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir ("A Sinister Strike", February 9). For once, the trauma and the dilemma of the minuscule Pandit community left in the Valley have been poignantly highlighted. The Afghan mercenaries and their Kashmiri comrades in terror have been working steadfastly to establish an ethnically-cleansed Islamic outpost on the borders of India, Taliban style. The security forces and the state Government seem to be making little headway in thwarting that design. In such a socio-political set-up there is simply no place for the Pandits, who are forced to leave their homeland and reside in refugee camps elsewhere.-Datatreya R., JammuImmature ElectorateTavleen singh's exasperation at the Indian people's fascination for the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is justified ("My Family and its Flunkeys", February 9). Have we as a nation become so incapable of ruling ourselves that we need a foreigner with little knowledge of the country's problems and no administrative experience to govern us? The elevation of Sonia over experienced leaders like Jyoti Basu, I.K. Gujral and L.K. Advani reflects poorly on the maturity of the Indian electorate. No doubt India prides itself on the assimilation of a variety of cultures, but that does not mean the reins of the world's largest democracy should be handed over to a rank outsider and a novice. It's time we liberated ourselves from the longing to be ruled by a dynasty.-Shwetabh Jha, Delhi"It is amusing to see some people blindly ape the American attitude. I guess there is a new sect in India which ought to be called RNIs (Resident Non Indians)."Prabir Roy, New YorkMove Over MediocreMercenary foreign Footballers currently playing in the Indian circuit are the rejects of their own countries ("Winged Heels", February 2). Except for footballers Sammy Omollo and Cheema Okerie, none can match the brilliance of I.M. Vijayan, Baichung Bhutia and Dipendu Biswas. It is high time the All India Football Federation restricted entry of the increasing number of mediocre foreign footballers in India. Otherwise, the very purpose of launching the national league to raise the standard of Indian football will be defeated.-Subir Kumar Sen, CalcuttaPublished By: AtMigration Published On: Mar 9, 1998--- ENDS ---
