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Provide clean trains

I recently travelled by the Jnaneswari Super Deluxe Express (12102) in third AC from Kolkata to Kurla terminus (LTT) and was shocked to see the poor condition of the train. Firstly, no one came to clean the compartments at any time during the journey. There were plastic bottles, cups, newspapers, tissues papers and other trash below the seats. When the train was introduced, the compartments and toilets were regularly cleaned. When we pay for a rail ticket, we should have at least good service and a clean, safe travel. I request the railways to look into this matter. —Probir Kumar Bose, New Panvel `4cr mega plan to upgrade CR stations This is in reference to your story “Rs4cr mega plan to upgrade CR stations” (December 24). It was pleasing that the Central Railway authorities have made a provision to overhaul the stations between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Kalyan. It was long overdue, as it is a major contributor to the national exchequer. CR should consider its priorities to be upgrading basic medical facilities, availability of stretchers, wheel chairs, ambulances etc. It is critical that each station should have a small medical store, possessing medicines that treat common ailments. Instead, it should do away with the numerous stalls retaining few on each platform. Commuters have observed that most of the foot-over bridge has steep steps, making it increasingly difficult to climb, especially for passengers suffering from respiratory problems. —Deepak Chikramane, Mumbai Not the right decision The government has not done the right thing in including Sports for the awarding of the Bharat Ratna. The coveted award of Bharat Ratna should be awarded only to persons who have made a difference in the lives of people V Kurien, father of the White Revolution, Anna Hazare, who is leading a movement against corruption, Homi Bhaba, who put India in the prestigious nuclear club, Vikram Sarabhai, who put India in the Space League, and so on. The only reason to include sports amongst the category was to accommodate Sachin Tendulkar. The Khel Ratna should be the highest award for any sportsperson. It may not be out of place if I mention that Cricket is not an Olympic sport, and is played only by 11 countries. Further, cricketers are not under the WADA(World Anti Doping Agency), though even sports like Billiards & Snooker are included in it. —PB Srinivasan, Bangalore No hooliganism for memorials That the Bombay high court had to push the government into action over the illegal occupation of Indu Mills by Dalit activists demanding the entire property for an Ambedkar memorial, indicates the lack of political will in the Maharashtra government. The protesters’ response that they will vacate once the Central government agrees to hand over the land was rightly condemned by the court as manipulative and coercive. An illegal act should be sternly dealt with and the government should have lost no time in ensuring their eviction. This is no way to obtain land for a memorial to a national leader. Any more delay of action by the government will strengthen the opinion that goondagiri and hooliganism are the best way to get what one wants. —Suren Abreu, Mumbai What of the Lokpal Bill? Though the Congress claims that the Lokpal Bill presently under debate is the single most powerful anti-graft law, the Bharatiya Janata Party and a few other political parties say that the formation of the bill was disappointing and has not fulfilled people’s expectations. Anna Hazare and his team claim that this bill will not discourage corruption as there are a number of loopholes. Since the powers to appoint and remove members are still with the government, it will weaken the purpose of a strong anti-graft law. Moreover, the CBI is also to be included in the Lokpal Bill. Since the government as well as Team Anna is still in opposite directions, there is no chance the Lokpal Bill will come to shape with the concurrent satisfaction of both the parties. They have to work together, understanding each other on the importance and necessity for a strong Lokpal Bill to eradicate corruption from our country. —V Venkitasubramanian, Thane Anna should stay away from politics It is unfortunate that the great apolitical movement against corruption initiated by Anna Hazare, and supported by the masses, has now turned into a political battle. It is very clearly a battle between Team Anna and the opposition parties (including the corrupt politicians) on the one side and the Congress party on the other — as if only the Congress party is corrupt and all the other parties are clean. This great movement took on a political turn and lost its focus the day Team Anna asked people not to vote for the Congress, instead of asking people not to vote for a corrupt candidate. It is also unfortunate that the opposition parties are trying to score political points. It is very ironic that the very political parties who shared the dais with Hazare and spoke passionately in his favour spoke strongly against him in the parliament — this is hypocrisy at its worst. They have jumped into Hazare’s band wagon in order to foster their own political agendas. Hazare should see though their gimmick. —Dominic Savio Fernandes, via email The editor welcomes your views and feedback: inbox@dnaindia.net