This refers to He asked for it (IE,December 17). Shantaram Naiks melodramatic outburst in Rajya Sabha was uncalled for. He should know that a rape is indeed rape and the fact that the person involved is a foreigner whose dignity stands violated is no excuse for Naik to sermonise on their easy virtues. Goa has always witnessed a steady flow of visitors round the year. Besides,it is only when you meet people that strangers become acquaintances,and then friends. When the MP and his ilk harp on some rape victims inviting trouble by socialising with strangers even during late hours,they are very clearly exhibiting their reluctance to handle stark realities. Rather than MPs becoming moral regulators it would be in keeping with the ethical standards proffered to have an efficient police force manning the territory. If the media highlights incidents of rape in Goa it is because none of these cases are brought to a rightful end.
Pachu Menon
Goa
Humour us
Across the political spectrum,principles have become hostage to ephemeral ideas yielding to opportunistic demands (Contain the drama,IE,December 17). In Andhra Pradesh there is hardly a political party overburdened by principles. Indeed there exists widespread suspicion among sections of the discerning public that those who have taken to the streets are doing more of a command performance than one of deep conviction. The Congress can be forgiven for trying to win over KCR; but how does one explain the volte face of the TDP and others who now say that the Centre has messed up on Telangana? Prior to the elections in May,both the Congress and the TDP attempted to humour KCR. Now a sudden change has seen parts of the state Congress and the TDP join hands. And the central Congress leadership,having conceded Telangana,is now on the defensive. In this situation,do principles and logic find a place for rational debate?
M.K.D. Prasada Rao
Ghaziabad
Them first?
Given that a stalemate in Copenhagen looms large,the talks could turn into another Doha round. Fundamentally,the debate on global warming is a tug of war between the Norths prosperity and the Souths survival. To some extent,the developed nations are justified as their early industrialisation could not have come about without the efforts of their scientists,engineers and workers. But it is also true that when it comes to natural resources something we collectively share there can be no free rides. Is that not a violation of the principles of natural justice? Why should the poor sacrifice their legitimate aspirations for the continuing consumption of the rich? Developing nations must send a collective message that for them poverty needs to be mitigated first.
Ashwani Sharma
Ghaziabad