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Hunger deaths haunt Kashipur
Apropos ‘From Kalahandi to Kashipur’ (Sept 15), the acrimonious
debate between those in power and in opposition is reprehensible,
with both sides trying to derive political capital from starvation
deaths. At the most, we get to see high-level delegations visiting
the affected areas, issuing statements and announcing schemes.
The writer correctly points out that the Indian state is unable
to provide for the most basic needs of its citizens.
Two factors are responsible for the above situation. First,
our political leaders remember the public only at election time,
make promises and then conveniently forget about them. The second
is the misuse of funds provided for poverty alleviation or development
works. They are, of course, swindled by those responsible for
implementation of projects in connivance with contractors, traders
and bureaucrats.
We need to ensure that the funds are used only for the purpose
they are intended for. An independent agency could be formed
for monitoring the use of such funds. The area MP and MLA may
also be taken to task if such a tragedy occurs in his/her area.
— Vidya Sagar, Delhi
Margin trading
This refers to the Reserve Bank’s recent decision to permit
banks to finance margin trading. This is purely a speculative
mode of increasing volume of business in the capital market
and will expose not only investors but also the lending banks
to unwarranted high risks.
With so many scams revolving around capital market activities,
the margin trading system — which enables one to trade on the
margin value, rather than the full value — will only fuel irregularities
in speculative business deals, besides necessitating higher
financial commitments in an uncertain future.
Notwithstanding the fact that this is being permitted on a selective
basis, the authorities should think of boosting the capital
market through other constructive and non-speculative means
rather than assisting stock market players in building castles
in the air, knowing fully well that they may collapse sooner
or later.
—R S Raghavan, on e-mail
Big guy USA
USA is all set to invade Afghanistan to get Osama bin Laden
“dead or alive”. Almost the entire world is supporting the US.
But isn’t there something called international law? And isn’t
there something called an extradition treaty, according to which
criminals are required to be handed over to the country where
a specific crime is said to have been committed? The courts
make out a prima facie case against the said criminal and on
that basis he/she is extradited. Has the US done anything of
this sort? Of course, the US is the big guy and international
law does not apply to it. Everyone likes others to support their
strong-arm actions. The chilling graphics of the planes hitting
the WTC are so compelling that nobody is thinking of the rationality
behind America’s decision.
The Mumbai blasts killed thousands in 1993 and thousands of
Kashmiris have been, and are being killed, by terrorists whose
identity is not in doubt. However, at no time has India thought
of attacking the countries who are sending these terrorists.
We know where Dawood Ibrahim is and we know where the patrons
of the Kashmiri militants are. Does India qualify to take action
as the US is planning to? Think about it.
—J M Ovasdi, on e-mail |
