Poor Performance"It doesn't matter whether it is the BJP or the Congress, it is eventually the common man who is left fighting for survival."Sanjeev Chhettri,DelhiEmpty PromisesIn the ongoing high-voltage election drama of our country, it is the voters who need to be pitied as they are left with little to choose from ("Fighting for Survival", November 23). Despite the tall claims made by political parties in their election manifestos, the fact is that people have given their mandate to almost all the parties concerned - only to be let down by them. In turn, they have been hopelessly inadequate at governance and have played a major role in plunging our country into its present plight. Much to the chagrin of the voter, able individuals often lose out to worthless ones during the elections, leading to a chaotic state of affairs.Nalini V , Thiruvananthapuram The BJP has changed from "A party with a difference" to "a party that is unable to make a difference". The most important function of the Government is to see to the economy, and it is in this context that the BJP has failed to deliver. Coalition politics isn't to blame for this but the faulty edifice on which the BJP is based. It doesn't matter who wins or loses in the assembly elections, it comes to the same thing - we will have no respite from inefficient governance. People are getting tired of waiting for the Government to show results and one thing they are surely running out of is time.Varun Dhir, Delhi On the WarpathThere appears to be no let-up in the ever increasing hostility between India and Pakistan ("Chatting Up Pakistan", November 23). It is indeed pitiful that two countries which have so much in common are sworn enemies. The situation has reached such a state that even cultural exchange between the two countries is prohibited. If Indian artistes cannot perform in Pakistan and vice versa and a cricket match between the two is regarded as war, one shudders to think of what the future holds. The solution lies in both India and Pakistan amicably sorting out the Kashmir dispute. Hopefully other issues will follow suit.Yasir Abbasi, Delhi Wrong PrioritiesThe article on genetically engineered plants brought to light some interesting finds ("Coming of the Super Crops", November 23). The downside is that the pests, over time, may develop resistance even to these plants. Also, the story would have been more complete if it had commented on the possibility of genes being developed elsewhere and only the experiments being carried out in India. In any case, the priorities in a poor country like India should be towards wasteland-reclaiming plant varieties rather than genetically engineered species.Ashish Gosain, DelhiJust Who is Throwing Temper Tantrums?I don't think the situation looks advantageous to the US ("Advantage USA", November 23). The main strategy of the US after Pokhran-II has been to slow down Indian advances in missile development. If India doesn't want to become another Iraq, it has to speed up efforts. The Kashmir issue, feigning ignorance about Pakistan supporting terrorism in India, the sanctions by G-8 - these are all US policies to stop India from reaching a position to stand up to bullies like Uncle Sam.Mukund Kute, Pennsylvania, USATavleen Singh refers to India's criticism of the US' discriminatory approach in the recent partial lifting of sanctions as "whining" and "grumbling" ("Tough Guys Don't Cry", November 23). Singh should know that a major part of diplomacy is predicated on the so-called "whining". In the immediate wake of Pokhran-II, the Americans whined - from the dramatic "BJP is posing a threat to international security" to the downright below- the-belt reference to the BJP as a "fundamentalist cabal".Roy Rampal, on e-mail No ExcusesThe report highlighted the ruinous condition of our national highways, the enormous cost involved in rebuilding and extending them, the inability of the Government to fund such massive investments and the unfeasibility of private sector investments ("Roads to Hell", November 16). But the article gives a negative impression that nothing can be done to have a better infrastructure considering the non-availability of resources. The figures reveal that a transport vehicle travels at an average of 18 km per hour on national highways while it should have been three times higher. If innovative planning and efficient execution devoid of substandard work are adopted, things could look up.V.T. Sampath kumaran, Bangalore Tapping Talent Mahesh Bhatt is one of the few directors of commercial cinema who have managed to get brilliant performances out of all of his "discoveries" ("Never Say Die", November 16). Performers like Anupam Kher and Bhatt's daughter Pooja have done him proud. Movies like Saraansh helped establish actors like Kher, Aashiqui brought composers Nadeem-Shravan into the limelight. Bhatt didn't shy away from making relevant films like Arth which dealt with the theme of adultery and divorce either. This is not to say he hasn't made his fair share of totally forgettable films. But, as the article says, the director was never one to pack up and retire.P. Shetty, Jodumarga, Karnataka Live to LearnThe Race Course Road column poignantly brought out the real reasons for the collapse of administration under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ("Access Denied", November 16). It was because he allowed every minister to treat his department as a personal fiefdom. Vajpayee should have realised that "eternal checks on fellow ministers" is the price one has to pay for prime ministership. Because she kept a confidential file on every member of the Cabinet, Indira Gandhi managed to retain a position of fearful command. The prime minister would do well to take a leaf out of her book.H.B. Gandhi, Faridabad Endless TraumaI am surprised at the naivet?? expressed in the editorial ("Harsh But Just", November 9). Take a closer look at the number of rapes reported and the conviction rate for this heinous crime. Indian laws leave little recourse for women who have been victims of any kind of sexual assault. The courts are still reluctant to accept a woman's testimony of sexual assault but are willing to allow her sexual history to invalidate the charges. A death penalty for rapists may be politically facile but it does little to actually empower women. Unless laws of the country are made more sympathetic to a woman's needs, a rape law like this one is proposed for one purpose alone: exploitation of votes.Shamita Dasgupta, on e-mail from New Jersey, USA"What is left of the Left? In any case, all leftist historians have done is to prove Felson's Law-to steal ideas from one person is plagiarism, to steal from many is research."A.S. Raj,BangalorePejorative PieceDistortion, misinformation and canard have never been INDIA TODAY's style ("Gay Kamasutra", November 9). The Delhi show of Chandralekha's dance production, Raga, was not a "premiere" as the piece claims. It was previewed in Mumbai, premiered in Chennai and performed in Bhopal before being staged in Delhi. Even after that, to claim it is "primarily targeted at the West" is being specious because it is like pejoratively insinuating that all that is written in INDIA TODAY is "primarily targeted at the West" since it also appears in your international edition. The piece refers to "New Wave Festival" in New York while actually it is the "Next Wave Festival" of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The prejudice is apparent as there is no acknowledgement of the fact that Chandralekha's is the first Indian performing group invited to this exclusive world forum. Moreover, at Guru Hanuman'sakhadain Delhi,kalarisin Kerala andayurvedashalas, hamamsand massage centres all over the country you will see male bodies in contact and not think twice about it. It's a movement language. But put it on stage in avilambitmode and you call it "gay kamasutra". Colossal illiteracy in a magazine of your repute. And even this illiteracy does not explain the deep homophobia of the piece.Sadanand Menon,ChennaiThe errors regarding the name of the festival and where the production was premiered are regretted.-EditorSave What We HaveBeing a geologist, it was disheartening to read about the lack of scientific awareness among Indians ("Jurassic Bagh", November 9). The dinosaur remains at Raiholi can only be described as a rare find and it is unfortunate that people have been violating the site for mercenary purposes. Another destroyed site was discovered by the same palaeontologist, D.M. Mohabey, at Warora in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. One only hopes the Government declares such sites protected areas to deter vandals.R. Dani,Ballarpur, MaharashtraClarificationUpon completing one year as a weekly in June this year, the INDIA TODAY dated June 8, 1998, published a statement saying we had sold 22 million copies in 12 months as a weekly, as against 9.6 million as a fortnightly in the previous year.It is regretted that the use of circulation figures for January-May '98 which were yet to be audited and certified by ABC was not in conformity with the ABC rules.The figures, however, have since been certified and found fully correct.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Dec 7, 1998--- ENDS ---
