Female-only cab services
This refers to the report,”Uber cab rape case: Cops launch crackdown against officials” (December 9). Why can’t the various state transport corporations, like BEST and MSRTC in Mumbai, Maharashtra, start radio taxi services for both men and women separately, if the need be? BEST buses already have women-conductors,so why not have women-chauffeurs and radio cabs? The police can train these lady chauffeurs in self-defence. Transport corporations of other states should also start such radio taxi services. Women taxi-drivers is one of the solutions for safety of women passengers who use taxis. Such a service by the state transport corporations will be welcomed by the people. So far,not even a single state transport corporation has started a taxi service.
Deendayal Lulla
Mumbai
Governance, not Hindutva
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was definitely testing the waters of communal politics when she spoke in favour of declaring the Bhagvad Gita as the “Rashtriya Granth” or the “ National Scripture”. Even though it it was in tune with Sangh Parivar’s not-so-hidden agenda—the revival of Hindutva-based idea of the nationhood and nationalism—the government has shown no interest or urgency to take follow-up action in the face of opposition to the move. It is true that the Gita is an ancient Hindu text written in a war-context with its emphasis on the performance of duty without expecting reward. But this is not a good enough reason to elevate it to the status of the sole “National Scripture” and relegate other holy books in a multi-religious country. BJP must stop manipulating the levers of power to implement its Hindutva agenda to the detriment of national unity and the cherished notions of the ‘multiplicity of the divine’ and the ‘plurality of forms of worship’. Narendra Modi came to power promising to put controversial issues on the back-burner, follow ‘inclusive policies’ and provide ‘good governance’ and ‘development’ to usher “acche din”. But it now appears to think that pursuit of Hindu nationalism will let the government get away with doing very little on the economic front and stem the rising tide of popular disenchantment. Sadly, BJP can only disguise its Hindutva agenda, but cannot dispense with it even in the country’s interest for all its professed patriotism.
G David Milton
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Letters to the editor: Female-only cab services
This refers to the report,"Uber cab rape case: Cops launch crackdown against officials" (December 9).
Written by The Financial Express
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This article was first uploaded on December ten, twenty fourteen, at thirty-three minutes past one in the night.