Let artists speak

Let artists speak

* This refers to 'As chill sets in' (IE, January 28). Political parties seem to have perfected the art of pandering to various vote banks over a period of time. At the slightest provocation, books, films and songs are banned because they may hurt the sentiments of someone a particular social group. We tend to be sensitive to too many issues rather than allowing the freedom of speech and expression. We ban Salman Rushdie and M.F. Husain, but are unable to address the real issues that threaten our democracy, like corruption or poverty.

— Ashok Goswami

Mumbai

* IT IS disheartening that whenever someone expresses a view that seems to be against a particular group of people, the affected political party threatens to go on a rampage if the speaker does not apologise or is not arrested by the government. It is a tragedy that an individual's freedom of expression is frequently challenged without reason. As the government repeatedly gives in to outrage, it appears to be pandering to votebank politics.

— R.K. Kapoor

Chandigarh

Voice of youth

* APROPOS the editorial 'Future of us' (IE, January 26), the government should listen to the president's warning that the protests after the Delhi gangrape indicate that the aspirations of young India are not being taken seriously. The protests point to a young, socially mobile population that wants to emerge from poverty, illiteracy. The political classes do not seem to have met their demands for economic and educational reforms, or addressed issues like youth unemployment or the security of women.

— M.K. Mahapatra

Pune

Above politics

* THIS refers to 'Whose taxman' (IE, January 26). Politicians and citizens alike are familiar with how institutions like the CBI and the income tax department, which used to evoke admiration, are now seen as tools of manipulation and harassment. While a low or medium salaried officer who is honest and has integrity is punished for slight lapses, those on the higher rungs of the bureaucratic ladder appear to do as they please with impunity. The government must take swift action to reform these institutions and ensure that their officers do not yield to political pressure.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Romance, finis

Hail, rain make a dent in kesar mango exports

tyuty