Apropos the piece, ‘The schoolboy as DM’ (IE, Sept 17), the writer, M.N. Buch, a former civil servant, seems to have written that column out of frustration. He and his brother IAS officers have frustrated the nation more than the politicians. The bureaucratic elite can be seen as the new era feudals in India when they flaunt, at tax payers’ cost, those white Ambassadors with blue sirens, even to pick up their children from school or take their wife for an evening walk. Manmohan Singh and his team are all set to change this and there is no stopping them now. It is the IAS tribe that has to change — and now. — R.K. Dhanvada Allahabad • Apropos the news item, ‘Panel of outsiders will now help pick top bureaucrats’ (IE, Sept 14), the decision to induct outsiders, especially from the IIM, in the new panel to assist the appointments committee of the Cabinet is welcome. The Indian bureaucracy is unable to cope with socio-economic changes. With the advent of globalisation, it is imperative for the bureaucracy to come out of its protective shell. The appointment of senior bureaucrats should be based on merit rather than seniority. — C. Ramesh On e-mail Alexander’s tales • Former Tamil Nadu governor, P.C. Alexander, has demanded a constitutional amendment to protect governors. Gubernatorial posts became political appointments from the days of Nehru. If Alexander now feels that he was a victim of an abrupt decision. But so was his appointment as the governor of Maharashtra by then prime minister, Narasimha Rao, who removed C. Subramaniam as he had committed an “indiscretion” in airing his views on Rao. Alexander did not then ask why Subramaniam was “abruptly” removed but readily accepted the “offer”. So it is not for Alexander to talk of constitutional and political morality after being an “insider”. — V.N. Gopal On e-mail • The Express report (Sept 18) on the book release of P.C. Alexander’s Corridors of Power is a bit short on detail. Almost half of the author’s address to the august audience contained fulsome praise for Indira and Rajiv Gandhi. He dwelled at length on Mrs Gandhi’s extreme anguish over Punjab and her sincere efforts to solve the Sikh crisis created by Bhindranwale. Also singled out for special mention was Sharad Pawar. On Blue Star, too, Alexander does not fault the then PM because it was the generals who had been given a free hand. — Mukund B. Kunte New Delhi Wrong campaign • The VHP has once taken up the demolition of tombs — this time the Afzal Khan tomb in Maharashtra — with an eye on the Maharashtra elections. This will threaten communal harmony throughout India. Instead of mobilising the youth for destruction, it could have channelised their energy for constructive purposes. If the VHP continues on this path, it will only alienate the Hindus and whip up communal passions. It’s time the BJP and RSS advise the VHP leadership not to take law into their hands. — R. Muralikumar On e-mail Writeback • In response to the article ‘Why Laloo is pulling the chain on Cong’s relief train to Bihar’ published in The Indian Express on September 13, 2004, the Railway Ministry says: As per a policy of the Government of India, Indian Railways are doing free transportation of relief material to areas affected by drought, flood and other calamities. Indian Railways are compensated for such movement from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF). Sanction for payment from the NCCF is communicated to the Ministry of Railways by the Ministry of Home Affairs (National Disaster Management Division). Indian Railways have done large scale movement of relief material like water and fodder in case of droughts in the recent years in different parts of the country. Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala, President Indian Youth Congress, New Delhi had made a request to the Ministry of Railways for movement of 5,000 quintals of wheat from Delhi area to Bihar and Assam for loading on August 20, 2004, free of cost. On 16.8.04, he was told that freight has to be paid for this movement as there is no sanction for free movement from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, telephonic instructions were given to Delhi Division of Northern Railway to ensure immediate transportation, as soon as wagon requirement is placed at Delhi Kishan Ganj Station. However, no indents were placed for this transportation. On further representation for free movement of this relief material, Ministry of Railways, on its own, made a reference to Ministry of Home Affairs on August 24, 2004 requesting for their approval for free transportation of wheat to the flood-affected states of Assam and Bihar. The approval of Ministry of Home Affairs was received only on September 9, 2004. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also specifically stated that State Governments of Assam and Bihar will be consignee respectively and wheat will be distributed by the State Governments as gratuitous relief in these flood affected states. Accordingly, Ministry of Railways have issued necessary instructions on September 10, 2004 itself communicating approval for the free transportation of wheat from Delhi to Bihar and Assam. In the Delhi Division of Northern Railway, no indents have been placed till now. Railway wagons will be supplied for loading of the wheat as soon as indents are placed and its further movement to the flood affected areas of Bihar and Assam will be accorded due priority. — M.Y. Siddiqui Director Public Relations of Ministry of Railways
