— Niranjan Solanki

Vadodara

After the Maoists

• It’s a relief to learn that the Union government has at last formally proscribed the Maoists. The Centre is right to assert that a violent outfit destroying peace must be banned, and the CPM’s doublespeak will not do. Yet, the Centre and affected states cannot ignore the fact that while the Maoists per se must be defeated by law and force of arms, the question of deprivation and administrative apathy must be addressed. Tribal areas have been the most neglected in most states. Lalgarh didn’t happen out of the blue.

— R.J. Khurana Bhopal

Avoiding Lalgarhs

• The battle between the Maoists and the state machinery in Lalgarh exposes the constant threat to national security posed by the red terrorists and bungling state governments. There may be innumerable explanations of potential perpetual conflicts, but mainstream political parties in Maoist-affected states, such as the CPM in Bengal, must realise that it can no longer use poor villagers to elect themselves to power or use them as cannon fodder. For the sake of the rural poor and national security, every effort must be made to avoid future Lalgarhs in India.

— Amit Pradhan Baroda

When we lose

• There are two lessons to be drawn from India’s ignominious exit from the T20 world championship: first, we must realise that victories and defeats characterise every sport; everybody can’t win. Thus vilifying the players — the same ones who were winning the other day — doesn’t help. Secondly, the real problem with Indian cricket is its administration; it’s the BCCI that has to overhaul the way it runs the game in India.

— Ratan Sharga Lucknow

Flying flu

• Swine flu is now a pandemic affecting more than 73 countries. The spread of the virus increases due to air travel. Since a virus is non-living and keeps mutating, it is resistant to eradication. The government should provide masks to all air passengers and install quarantine facilities at all international airports along with a competent team of medical experts.

— Gehna Vaishnavi

Chandigarh