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Journalism of Courage
This has reference to the article, ‘Will Trade Unions wither away?’ (IE, Sept 9). Even after the debacles in the economies of the Southeast Asian countries; even after the massive workers’ rally in France; even after three million stormed the roads in Italy protesting their government’s anti-worker measures; even after the stout resistance by the Venezuelan workers in support of President Hugo Chavez; even after continuous protest whenever the world summits of global financial and trade organisations are held; even after the rejection of the so-called ‘reformist regimes’ in many Latin American and European countries; even after the defeat of the pro-American BJP and even after the Indian peoples’ preference for Left Front candidates was made obvious, if one can still say that trade unions will wither away, then either the writer was born yesterday or is a blind follower of neo-liberalism. For those who say that their kind of reforms are irreversible by quoting TINA (There Is No Alternative) factor, let me counterpose it with SITA (Socialism Is The Alternative).
— C.T. Suresh Kumar Chennai
• This is with reference to the ruckus being created over SC/ST reservations in the private industry. Primarily the onus of uplifting the downtrodden lies on everyone because we, as a state, have failed to bring about social parity. Our so-called bureaucrats and the elite are both corrupt and incompetent. It is time to ponder over where we have gone wrong.
— Bhushan Thackrey On e-mail
Better to desist
• Apropos the article, ‘A fast breeder of danger’ (IE, Sept 7), there have to be a number of uranium reactors in operation before enough plutonium can be bred. A study conducted in Germany has shown that the fast breeder reactor can explode like many nuclear bombs. It is better to desist from polluting the world with plutonium-bred poisons which have half lives of a million to ten million years.
— R. Ashok Kumar Mumbai
Malicious move
• The reported move on the part of HRD ministry of the UPA government to hold in abeyance the Jan Amos Comenius Medal, that was to be given to former NCERT director J.S. Rajput, on the plea that two inquiries were pending against him, is malicious and unwarranted. It smacks of a deliberate attempt to denigrate the former director and to avenge the NDA government’s actions.
— L.C. Kaul New Delhi
Wrong campaign
• Whoever allowed the incorrect information on India’s religious profile to make it to the public sphere does not have peace of the country at heart. An incomplete report has started creating waves of tension everywhere. There are enough politicians in India who want to start a fire, without thinking that it could become an uncontrollable inferno. Don’t we have enough trouble already? When are we going invest our energies to improve people’s lives instead of in controversies of this nature?
— Ramesh Lahoti Navi Mumbai
Metamorphosis?
• T.V.R. Shenoy is fast changing his colours (‘A matter of trust’, IE, June 8). From a spin doctor for a political party to a watchdog (as scribes are supposed to pose). His next posture will be that of a bloodhound.
— Soumya On e-mail
