At the rate it’s going, Enron will soon become a ‘power broker’ instead of being a ‘power generator’ (Indian Odyssey 2001, February 26). Though the good news is that there may be a spurt of other foreign companies investing in private power projects in India, the extent of control over power generation being given to Enron is mind boggling. It may make unreasonable demands to make maximum profits. The writing on the wall is clear—Enron is seeking a captive market for liquefied natural gas, courtesy India. We are a democracy. Should we allow ourselves to become economically dependent?
Rajesh V. Iyer, Mumbai
Thanks to Rajaram Manohar Chhabria, blue chip companies like Dunlop and Shaw Wallace that were cash cows and market leaders have been brought to financial ruin (No Come -backs, February 26). The constant money haemorrhaging, accumulation of non-performing assets in the form of loans granted to group companies and the inept management ensured the downfall of the empire. We could do without such carpetbaggers.
Suresh Babu, Chennai
The truth about Bofors may never be known (The Q File, February 26), but the more the Government tries to hide the facts, the more everyone is convinced about the involvement of some people. To clear Rajiv Gandhi’s name, the Government must make public the facts so that there is no doubt in the minds of the people.
The CBI also seems to be managed by dim-witted people. For example, had it remained silent, they could easily have nabbed Mr Q. It appears that a fuss was created just before Priyanka Gandhi’s wedding to warn him to stay away. The agency should be answerable to the nation for such acts of omission. Now, no amount of running to Malaysia will get him out. If this is the standard of intelligence of our sleuths, we may as well shut the CBI down and save some money for the nation.
Swati Sharma, Chandigarh
Does anyone keep accounts of the public expenditure being incurred in investigating the Bofors scandal? It is apparent that not even a rupee of the payoff amount is going to come back to the state coffers.
Sq. Ldr B.G. Prakash, Bangalore
The CBI and other intelligence agencies must take the credit for nailing Quattrocchi for the Bofors payoffs. Now, the needle of suspicion points towards Sonia Gandhi, who maintained good relations with Quattrocchi despite Indira Gandhi’s warning. The misdeeds of Rajiv Gandhi’s rule are yet to be fully exposed, and the onus is now on the United Front Government to punish the culprits, not yield to political pressures.
M.K. Huq, Hyderabad
Your correspondent Sunil Narula seems to be ignorant of Pakistani politics and its leaders (Sharif’s Dilemma , February 19). It is foolish to expect a helping hand from Pakistan. The secret of success of a Pakistani leader is based on his/her anti-India stance. There is only one truth: the people of Pakistan should realise that "only a reunion with us" will give them peace. I hope that day is not far off.
Arasavelli Raju, Secunderabad
I am glad you have taken a bold step in addressing Nawaz Sharif as ‘India’s friend’. It’s time India and Pakistan became friends. A generation has already wasted its energies fighting each other. If we don’t end our enmity, the generation ahead of us will also struggle to find a solution. At least for our children’s sake, let us forget the rialism of the NGOs, February 19, was moving. Our government should send some Dr Kotnises to Cambodia to serve the people there, even adopt some villages if necessary. Organisations like the Arya Samaj, the RSS should pitch in too and send some workers there.
Parjan K. Jain, New Delhi
The article, An Unholy Pil -grimage (February 12), lays bare the loopholes in our security system and the blatant violation of human rights. It is disgraceful that the Murshidabad story comes to us in our 50th year of Independence. How did these little girls get past immigration? One cannot rule out an unholy nexus between immigration officials and the racketeers who took the girls on the pretext of a Haj pilgrimage, only to employ them in the begging trade. To top it all, the West Bengal government repeatedly avoided the media and refrained from commenting on the plight of the girls. After 20 years in power, the Left Front government is now denying justice to the people who put their trust in them.
Sumandira Sen, Calcutta
Apropos Tarun J. Tejpal’s Experiments with Truth (February 12), Wolpert is not a reporter of a gossip magazine, so one wonders why he takes so much interest in the personal life of a personality who is no more. If this book is released in India, it will be a shame. How can we forget Jawaharlal Nehru, the statesman? His contribution to world peace, his love for children et cetera? Even if there is a grain of truth in Wolpert’s allegations, he has opted for a cheap way to earn his living—character assassination.
Rohit Raina, Jabalpur
While five girls may have stormed a male bastion (A Different Blend Altogether, Febr -uary 5), it has in no way changed the exploitation in the tea gardens. Tea pickers and other labourers, mainly women, continue to slog and the tea company’s motto, "making a difference differently" is only ironically apt. Men (and women) may come and go but the "exploitative chauvinism" of the system still remains.
Rev. Philip K. Mulley, Kotagiri
The plight of the living Dhrupad legend Asghari Bai (A Song of Penury, January 29) comes as a shock. A country which treats its artistes callously is bound to witness a total collapse of its cultural identity as art and culture are inseparable from each other. The Padmashri winner now wants to sell her medals to feed herself. She also repents over her total devotion to art which left her struggling in her old age. It’s a pity that corrupt politicians are minting money while the deserving are left with empty pockets.
Anand P. Mishra, Gaya
On February 10, outside the Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar, an auto driver was looted of Rs 1,200 by a man in police uniform. The auto driver, Satwant Singh, says a policeman on a scooter (no. DHJ 7606) first asked for his licence. Despite finding the licence in order, he refused to budge until the auto driver handed him all the money he had. A truck driver in the vicinity also lamented the loss of Rs 600 to a policeman. When they complained to an officer passing by in a white Delhi Police Gypsy, he replied: "We are aware about this criminal. He operates in this area once in two months". A responsible answer indeed. Is anybody listening?
Aparajitha R., Asst. Director, SPG, New Delhi
The interview with Sachin Tendulkar, ‘Just give us a year or two, we will be world-beaters’ (February 26), was interesting. However, captaincy is a different ballgame altogether. A captain has to imbibe many qualities and hold the team together—he has to have the nerve of a gambler, the mind of a psychologist and the patience of a saint. Sachin is just a beginner. If he holds on, nothing is impossible in the next two years.
C.K. Subramaniam, Mumbai
