A new frame-work

This refers to your editorial arguing that civil servants must not bow to the orders of their political masters (‘Rusty s...

This refers to your editorial arguing that civil servants must not bow to the orders of their political masters (‘Rusty steel frame’, September 20). It is easier said than done. It is a bit more complex than that.

Wholesale transfers of bureaucrats, insinuations in administrative and
political circles, playing one bureaucrat against another, sitting on files sent for approval and even verbal abuse are just some ways of intimidating officers.

I am not suggesting that civil servants do not wish to appease their political masters. However, to provide support to those who wish to go by the rule book, the government/ UPSC should consider providing a framework whereby bureaucrats are insulated from political pressures.
— Subhash Mittal, On e-mail

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Babysitters club

You rightly assail the government’s affidavit in the Delhi high court in the case filed for the repeal of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (‘Nanny state’, IE, September 10). The state has no right to interfere in what consenting adults do in the bedroom, and paedophilia and rape should be dealt with by appropriate legislation after repealing anachronistic legislation which facilitates blackmail.
We certainly do not need an Orwellian ‘‘nanny state’’.
— Vinod Chowdhury, Delhi

Art of forgetting

Apropos of Thomas L. Friedman’s article ‘The mad, bad world of France’ (IE, September 19), I have only this to say, that he seems to be suffering from selective amnesia.

Friedman appears very concerned about the threat posed by Islamists who probably may take over if the US forsakes its responsibility in Iraq. Could he please tell us who propped up the Afghan mujahiddin in the first place. Who
provided them with Stingers? Who gave Saddam Hussein aid, advice and chemical weapons in the first place?
— Mohamad Junaid, Aligarh

Stress & strain

The sudden spurt in suicides of paramilitary personnel is worrisome. The cause is probably a high level of stress and long duty hours coupled with extreme loneliness and depression.

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It is imperative that the government come up with a plan to tackle the situation.
— B. Vinoth Raj, New Delhi

There are others

I don’t see the logic behind this exclusive praise for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the grounds of privatisation, especially when many other chief ministers are equally — if not more — keen on privatisation (‘Commending Modi’, IE, September 19). To name a few, Chandrababu Naidu, Amarinder Singh,
S.M. Krishna, even Buddhadev Bhattacharya.
— Amit Roy, On e-mail

Question of words

Do you find it impossible to characterise Israeli action against bombers as action against terrorists rather than as Israeli action against ‘‘militants’’ (‘UN emergency session raps US veto; 2 hurt in Israeli raids’, IE, September 20)?
— Norman Cohen, On e-mail