Opinion Cold Stone
When so many Indians live below the poverty line,these ventures do not really help answer livelihood questions of the poor...
STATUES generate false hopes among the masses across India (Statue,statue,IE,December 22). When so many Indians live below the poverty line,these ventures do not really help answer livelihood questions of the poor. However,all political parties ought to share the blame for this impasse given that this obviously is a misuse of public funds. Further,
regarding the debate over the book Ambedkars statue should hold,I believe it should be left without a title. Otherwise,there will be
another cause for disrupting Parliament.
Swarup Sinha
Aurangabad
Not the same
Since December 2008,the home ministry has taken several initiatives to improve the management of internal security. The proposal to establish a National Counter Terrorism Centre is yet another step in the right direction (Never before has the Indian State faced such a formidable challenge,IE,December 24). Chidambaram has suggested that the mandate of the National Counter Terrorism Centre should be to respond to violence unleashed by any group… be it an insurgent group in the North East or the CPI (Maoist) in the heartland of India or any group of religious fanatics anywhere in India…. I beg to differ. It is imperative to distinguish between acts of terrorism and an insurgency despite the fact that an insurgency invariably includes criminal,terrorist and subversive activities. A terrorist act however,is a tactic. It constitutes a threat to law and order. Counterterrorism must focus on the terrorist and include prevention,pre-emption,reaction and mitigation. It is the responsibility primarily of the intelligence services and the counter-terrorist forces the state police and the National Security Guard – aided by the allied services fire fighting and medical of the civil administration. On the other hand,an insurgency is a violent politico-military struggle. It poses a threat to public order and the security of the state its sovereignty,unity and integrity. Its focus is the population.
R. K. Nanavatty Delhi
Not alone
The Indian Express should be commended for its coverage of the Ruchika case. In order to administer the law objectively the Ruchika Girhotra case should be reopened (If Ruchika were your daughter,IE,December 24). Further the concerned school bodies and other bureaucracies that attempted to conceal the truth should be held accountable. Also,those in politically powerful positions had no authority to use their position to cover the convicted. In order for the trial to reach its fair conclusion,punishment should be allotted through proper channels.
B.V. Nadgauda Pune
Turf talk
P. Chidambarams proposal of relieving the home ministry of certain tasks,thereby allowing it to focus on internal security of the country,is a welcomed move (Hitting home,IE,December 24). Also,his plan on constituting a National Counter Terrorism Centre by the end of 2010 is praiseworthy. Similarly,his view regarding institutionalising a performance review at 50 for the All-India and Central Services so as to make way for youngsters who may perform better is indeed the need of the hour.
Lokesh Jangid Delhi
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