• Raj Thackeray and his MNS have created a scary insecurity over the issue of north Indians living in Maharashtra. One needs to ask the MNS chief: what crime did the north Indians do in Maharashtra, apart from promoting the economy and trying to sustain their lives in the state? They were Mumbaikars much before India became free and are entitled to be there as long as they want.MNS is threatening the very foundation of our Constitution. When our individual futures are inextricably bound to the future of the most vulnerable among us, not being able to counter the threat posed by Thackeray and his ilk should be a matter of great concern. — K.P. UdayabhanuNew DelhiAll in a day’s work• Recent attacks on persons from Bihar and UP in Mumbai are disturbing and unfortunate and endanger the integrity and unity of India. The forefathers of north Indians shifted to Mumbai as labourers or in other capacities to earn their livelihoods. They are taxi drivers and milk sellers. Their contribution to Bollywood is noteworthy. Mumbai belongs to every Mumbaikar who is living there to earn his livelihood.— R.K. MahajanShimlaMedia’s sheen• Over the last fortnight most TV channels have transformed a small-time unemployed extortionist into a leader of the Marathi Man. Will they now please show us the grieving widow, orphaned children, bereft parents and terrorised colleagues of Ambadas Dharrao.Raj Thackeray has unleashed madness on our people with the benign indulgence of stalwarts like Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil. Thackeray and his clever tactics have de-glamourised the media. — Seema GuptaMumbaiUnion India• This refers to your well thought-out editorial ‘Screening images’. More than the people, it is the political class and the media in particular who need to introspect on the questions raised in the editorial. In this context, let us not lose sight of China’s bite vis-à-vis Arunachal Pradesh, more so in the aftermath of our PM’s visit there. Let us stay firmly united in spirit in the face of the Dragon’s breath.— Kedarnath R. AiyarMumbaiMinister’s shot• Mani Shankar Aiyar is right in his comments on the responsibility of sports federations. Of late, it is observed that sports bodies find it easy to blame the sports ministry, to escape from their lapses and yet demand more funds from the taxpayers’ money. This has been fostered over the years by these sports federations, which are headed by self-centred people who somehow manage to be at the helm of affairs. They imagine that they are the only champions of sports development and feel aggrieved if questioned by the government, which provides the money. They should realise that they are spending the taxpayer’s money, and thus are accountable. It is high time the inefficient functionaries in these federations were made to answer. — V.S. Ganeshan BangaloreTwo timing• This refers to he appointment of three Union ministers as chiefs of the Congress Party in their states.How can a person justifiably devote full time to his duty of being a Union cabinet minister after being made state chief of a national party? — Subhash C. AgrawalDelhi
