• Till the PM’s parliamentary address about the Sharm el-Sheikh joints statement, nobody, even many in his own party, appeared to believe him. He’s surprised the nation by his successful defence of Sharm el-Sheikh. After the PM’s clarifications, Dr Singh appears as visionary a statesman as Vajpayee, and not just a man of statistics. He has rightly alluded to Vajpayee riding the bus to Lahore under much worse bilateral circumstances. Pakistan needs to be engaged, and changed, before it is consumed by terrorism.

— Mookhi Amir Ali

Mumbai

Picture imperfect

• The picture and the story ‘Being tested for rail porter’s job’ reveal the harsh reality of unemployment and lack of job opportunities. Women’s living conditions in Uttar Pradesh are particularly pathetic but the problem persists across the country. Nevertheless, the circumstances of this unfortunate woman are in sharp contrast to the UP chief minister’s lavish spending on statues and memorials. Without expenditure on health and education, there’ll be no development and progress in UP.

— Prabhakar K. Borse

Pune

Sensible approach

• Pratap Bhanu Mehta rightly says that there’s no option but to try for peace. It’s right to be patient and probing and yet appreciate virtue where it lies. It’s a different matter altogether that the opposition and certain sections of the Congress itself raised doubts about the Indo-Pak joint statement. War is not a solution, certainly not for developing countries. Democracy is not deeply rooted in Pakistan, its leaders are unreliable. Thus, people are suspicious about the risk involved in the joint statement. The Indian Express editorials and columns hold out a lesson in responsible and sensible reaction to this sensitive issue.

... contd.