Stalled state

Stalled state

* This refers to 'Simmer, stir and wait' (IE, January 29). Over the years since Independence, India has been divided for various reasons, none of which appear to have helped greatly with socio-cultural preservation, linguistic development or economic transformation. In fact, the consequence seems to be inter-state rivalry in the form of fights over water, boundary issues or demands for the creation of more new states, which often seem to be based on caste or communal demands for political power. In the case of Telangana, the loss of lives, working hours and property in protests for and against statehood is tragic. There is no way to prove that a smaller state would automatically lead to better developmental indices and gains. The Centre's approach, of announcing a date for a decision and then postponing the announcement, seems ineffective. Far more would be achieved if local bodies within each state were given greater autonomy to develop programmes that lead to economic growth.

— Suren Abreu

Mumbai

In spite of context

* THIS refers to 'Call it censorship, not social justice' (IE, January 28). Yogendra Yadav has convincingly established that an argument can be turned on its head if taken out of context. However, in this case, the contextualised, clarified version seems no less dangerous than the decontextualised, distorted version. Rationalising corruption in any form seems fallacious and to equate it with any form of compensatory mechanism or extoll it as distributive justice seems nothing less than outrageous. Every social phenomenon in India ought not be reduced to casteism, regardless of how Yadav interprets Ashis Nandy's statements.

— Suman Lata

New Delhi

Caught on camera

* The video evidence of policemen looting and destroying public property during the recent riots in Dhule in Maharashtra, triggered off by the payment of a hotel bill, has rightly been brought to public attention ('Dhule video unmasks rioters in uniform', IE, January 26). Six people were killed in the police firing. It is unimaginable that those meant to protect us behaved in this manner, looting public property and damaging vehicles. Such policemen need to be given a harsh punishment rather than being suspended and then reinstated after a few weeks, which seems to be the usual practice.

... contd.

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