Opinion Welcome move

Mumbai

Dried out

•Scanty rainfall in various parts of the country has evidently hit the agricultural sector (‘Canal plus’,IE,August 27). Drought control measures as yet have proved ineffective and a necessary boost to irrigation has not been put on the 100-days agenda. Canals have no flow and resemble empty or clogged trenches and rivers in certain places have run dry resembling barren land. Furthermore,proper water storage and its discharge for agricultural production are missing. The government needs to pay attention to the conservation of water and it must be allotted topmost priority.

— N.V. Unnithan

Mumbai

Revisit,revise

•This refers to Arun Shourie on ‘Walk the Talk’ (IE,August 26). The RSS would do well if it acted upon Shourie’s suggestion of an entire revamp of the BJP. Naturally,the first step would be to spell out what Hindutva means in a contemporary political context,and whether the BJP would profit or lose politically by it. Shourie’s special position needs to acknowledged as well – he,after all,had joined the party out of conviction and not for securing a high-profile political career. It’s just as well that the BJP is treading with caution after over-reacting to the Jaswant-Jinnah issue.

— Y.G. Chouksey

Pune

Hard climb

• One wonders if the prime minister sincerely believes the CBI and other investigating agencies will go after the mighty and powerful if they are just urged to do so (‘No fear,go after big fish’,IE,August 27). Everybody knows that the CBI intervenes when the corruption and fraud cases involve the

so-called “big fish”. But the CBI is almost always caught up in bureaucratic processes. India’s premier investigative agency works under the home ministry and needs clearances for each step. Political interference is closely associated with the agency in the public mind. Perhaps the PM should look into making the CBI an autonomous institution for it to be truly effective.

— C.S. Pathak

Pune

Just for show?

•One can plainly see that our politicians do not miss an opportunity where a public action can result in electoral gains. The gesture on the part of Congressmen to undergo a 20 per cent pay cut raises other questions too. MPs are perceived to have developed lavish habits: travelling business class,staying at expensive hotels,etc. Should this trend not be curbed permanently?

— S.K. Shah

New Delhi