Opinion Racism at home
This refers to More than fatheads (IE,June 14). We Indians have always had double standards....
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This refers to More than fatheads (IE,June 14). We Indians have always had double standards. Our zealously-guarded and well nourished holy cows such as our religion,our culture,our way of life and sundry others are trotted out at one whiff of a perceived insult to any of them,while we merrily trample on the dignity and sensitivity of other cultures. While we lighten our own skins with fairness creams,we use people of a darker colour as clowns,cartoons and caricatures in some of our supposedly harmless and creative ad campaigns. A little introspection on the subject would do us no harm. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves,to take it in our stride,and be more graceful when a bit of fun is poked at us occasionally,while being more aware of what could cause real hurt to others.
Shirin P. Antia
Ahmednagar
Opinion tanks
I disagree with some points made in the article,Tank Trouble (IE,June 17). It opines that the Arjun is likely to get outdated after only ten years in service. But the army doesnt seem to think so,since it plans to spend over Rs 5,000 crore in upgrading T-72 tanks,which are of 40-year vintage,and which are being retired by many armies globally. Even a T-90 does not have all the features that an Arjun has,such as the crucial Battlefield Management System. It is also inaccurate that the T-90 costs Rs 13 crore,as only the bare T-90 vehicle costs as much. Upon addition of various electronic warfare suites and other necessary systems,a T-90 costs as much as an Arjun,despite being smaller and with less armour. Besides,the T-90s too havent had a smooth run in India. Till recently,their electronic systems used to overheat in the Thar desert ranges,much like the Arjuns. Like with Gorshkov,the Russians reneged from the contract to provide the technology to produce the T-90s in India,which led to some delays in their production as also price hikes. Lastly,the Russian army itself operates no more than a token 400 T-90s. The Indian army is its top customer to date.
Abhishek Dwivedi
Thane (West)
MPLADS failure
K.C. Sivarama-krishnan (Constituting the local,IE,16 June) has rightly criticised the MPLAD Scheme. It is deeply flawed in many respects; and it is doubtful that it has any parallel in any other country. It entrusts the legislators with an undeniably (though it has been denied) executive function,as pointed out by the author. It makes for a sporadic,unplanned and un-coordinated application of hundreds of crores of public money leaving it to the whims and fancies of individual legislators. It undermines local self- government and decentralisation. It gives unfair electoral advantage,at public expense,to incumbent legislators over other candidates. The public is entitled to a thorough and independent review of the whole scheme especially since legislators are now for even more money.
Vir Narain
New Delhi
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