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UN should take lead
Terrorism is a familiar word for Indians as we have been its
worst victim since the last two decades. India has been expressing
its concern about this growing menace at all international fora
like the UN, NAM, SAARC, CHOGM etc but none has paid any heed
to us. Now after the attack on the US, terrorism has become
a core issue throughout the world. Is it terrorism only when
it affects the US?
It is highly unfortunate and distressing that the US, in its
efforts to combat transnational terrorism, has taken the support
of a country like Pakistan which itself is a perpetrator and
supporter of terrorism and also the biggest beneficiary of the
Taliban. Now is the time for the United Nations to take a lead
in rooting out this global menace as well as its source.
— B L Tekriwal, Mumbai
Liquor deaths
It is distressing to learn that more than 30 lives have been
lost due to the consumption of poisonous liquor in Tamilnadu.
Just a few weeks earlier, 25 people had died in the same state
due to the same cause. While liquor deaths are taking place
at regular intervals, the government merely responds with announcements
of ex gratia payments for the victims, orders routine departmental
inquiries, arrests a few illicit liquor agents and then forgets
the whole issue.
When prohibition was imposed in Tamilnadu, people protested
by arguing that its lifting was necessary to check the trade
of illicit liquor. But after the lifting of prohibition, illicit
liquor trade has increased. Further, the practice of drinking
has got the sanction of law and therefore the numbers of those
who have taken to liquor has increased enormously across all
age groups. Illicit liquor continues to be manufactured and
traded because it serves the interest of the merchants and corrupt
police and government officials. One cannot blame the poor who
consume illicit liquor since they can’t afford anything else.
The politicians and the police should be held responsible for
these tragedies.
— N S Venkataraman, on e-mail
Share the spoils
It has been reported that the Bank of India has filed a petition
with a debt recovery tribunal against the Madhavpura Mercantile
Coop Bank for the recovery of Rs 137 crore worth of dues. It
is surprising that both the Reserve Bank and the finance ministry
have overlooked Bank of India’s claim, while approving a revival
package of Rs 1,264 crore to MMCB. Does this mean that the Central
Registrar of Coop Societies is the ultimate authority for deciding
which financial institution gets relief out of this revival
package? The Bank of India’s claim should have priority over
other cooperative bank loans which are unsecured.
— Satish Kanchan, on e-mail
Selective grief
Last month when about 6,000 people died in the US in the terrorist
attacks, all our national parties, including the BJP, observed
a two-minute silence. An anti-terrorism day was observed by
our government. Our Prime Minister who belongs to the so-called
swadeshi party appeared on TV to mourn the deaths. Fine. But
I fail to understand, why the BJP does not mourn the deaths
of thousands of Indians who have died in terrorist attacks uptil
now, including the 35 people killed last week in the J&K
assembly attack.
— Bhartendu Sood, on e-mail |
