The article, Is There Any Salve in Sight? (February 26), takes us back to the dark days of police brutality. The police, under the guise of ferreting out information and often dubious ‘confessions’ from those under their custody, are inventing newer torture methods to browbeat their victims. Despite public awareness about their right to humane treatment at the hands of their brutal captors, in the uniform of law-enforcers, very little has been done to reform the way the police and paramilitary treat those under their charge for questioning. Third-degree methods are rampant and are being employed on all victims—young or old, men and women. It is time the National and State Human Rights Commissions took serious note of these highhanded methods deployed by law-enforcers. Those responsible for the Tiger Balm ‘treatment’ must be handed swift and deterrent punishment to set an example. This is the only way to make these persons accountable for whatever they do behind the walls of police lock-ups.
D.B.N. Murthy, Bangalore
Not only are the cops who actually rubbed Tiger balm into the eyes of the arrested men guilty of committing this inhuman deed, it is the cop who suggested the treatment in the first place who is the prime culprit responsible for this reprehensible act. He must be identified and suitably punished.
P. Gautampurkar, Kota
his refers to the cover story The Q File (February 26). It is clear that Quattrocchi holds the key to the whole truth in the Bofors affair. How was it that he, who was dealing in cement and steel, was able to influence defence contracts? The answer is an open secret—Quattrocchi could not have reached this level, but for the enormous influence he wielded with the Gandhis. It is high time the Centre brought Quatt-rocchi and interrogated him thoroughly, revealing to the people the entire Bofors story. The Bofors papers already in possession of the Government should be tabled in Parliament and the truth must be told to the people.
L. Rohini, Tiruchy
Troubled Marriage
Your article Honeymoon’s Over (March 5) was very assertive. One needs to read between the lines on the Congress’ stand on issue-based support to the UF Government. The fall of the UF Government is certain. It is not known whether it will see the end of the Budget session of Parliament. The minority Government with 13 constituents is beset with conflicting approaches on every issue. A minority Government cannot be a major guarantee for the people.
R. Sivakumaran, Chennai
This refers to the box item in the article, A Determined Salesman (February 26). The Nuclear Power Corporation is sure to brand your indicting its performance and safety records as "totally baseless and motivated to retard the progress in India’s nuclear power programme". But, perhaps you have been too kind to the nuclear bureaucracy by implying that the delays in completing projects are due to poor funding. Nay, not so.
On May 1, 1995, NPC’s Project Director Tiwari claimed that the rebuilding of the collapsed dome at Kaiga would be started ‘soon’ and that would result in an additional expenditure of Rs 5 crore. Recently, Prime Minister Deve Gowda announced the recommencement of construction ‘very soon’ at a cost of Rs 125 crore. The fact is that NPC is yet unsure of the basic design and is awfully bankrupt of project management calibre.
N.M. Sampath Kumar, Ahmedabad
This refers to Indian Odyssey: 2001 (February 26). The earlier Enron (Dabhol) power project generated a lot of controversy. It was approved without any international tenders. Inflated costs, false environmental assessment, variability and uncertainty of the final tariff were some of the undesirable features of that project.
In the latest Enron $10-billion proposal, the equipment to generate gas will use liquefied natural gas (LNG). Enron has no oil or gas well of its own, so it has to import LNG from other countries and supply it to India at a profit. If the supply of LNG stops, India’s economy will suffer. With the value of the rupee in relation to the dollar going down each year, all profits taken to the US will lead to a large outflow of forex which in turn would affect our balance of payments. India certainly needs development, but it should be through indigenous technology. That alone can lead to sustainable development.
A. Shafiqur Rahman, Chennai
The article on upwardly mobile domestic servants (In Pursuit of Prestige and Pleasure, March 5) was interesting. It’s good to know our labour classes are becoming aware of their rights and want to lessen the gap between ‘employee and employer’. They aspire to a better life and want their offspring to be better off than them. This is a sure sign of progress.
Your article reminded me of an incident. Two years before when we moved to Mumbai, we had engaged a maid, who was well-dressed, had pleasing manners and was also a good worker. The only problem with her was that she was very irregular. Once I lost my temper and told her that she should at least inform me before hand if she was not coming for work. She replied at once:"How can I help that, didi? You people don’t even have a telephone at home."
Latha Vanamali, Mumbai
The dating of your magazine always mystifies me. In your February 12 issue, there is an article on Pakistan polls with an introduction saying: "No matter who wins this week, the next prime minister will have a lot more to triumph over." The issue date is February 12—when the election results had been announced a week earlier!
J.E. Dastur, Mumbai
