Letters

Letters to the editor

Support Anna The agitation led by Anna Hazare against corruption deserves full support. There seems to be national support for his agitation going by the crowds waiting to hear him and the support he enjoys across states. Many politicians have taken the people of this country for granted. They have always seen elected office as an opportunity for financial aggrandisement. In the last few years, corruption had reached shameful levels. Some elected officials and government employees had destroyed the hopes of a common citizen to get any work done without having to pay some gratuity. Hopefully, politicians will now wake up from their slumber and start solving the country’s problems. —Rajendra Aneja, Dubai Won’t vote for Sena Looking at the rampant corruption in BMC projects, it is no wonder that Shiv Sena leaders are opposing a strong Lokpal Bill as they don’t want to shoot themselves in the foot. My family has been a strong supporter of the Sena from its inception, but the mishandling of important projects and rampant corruption in filling potholes and cleaning nullahs and gutters before the monsoon has made us think again. This time we will not be voting for the Sena during the civic poll. These leaders should know that they cannot fool all the people all the time. —Vanita Shenoy, Mumbai Dalits vs Anna This refers to the report ‘Dalits join anti-Anna chorus, dub fast anti-constitutional’ (Dec 27). I read what Namdeo Dhasal, founder-president of the Dalit Panther, said, that “Anna’s agitation and his demands are a threat to our Constitution” and the government should control Anna. I would like to tell Dhasal that the RPI capturing Indu Mill land in Dadar is already proving a threat to the Constitution, but the government has been very defensive against the encroachers. Anna is doing everything in a proper manner. He has not encroached upon the BKC ground. The rent for the ground has been paid and permissions have been obtained for the fast as per the law. Also, Anna’s demands are for the nation and not for any particular community. —Akhil Thakur, via email II Noble Indian citizens like Dadabhoy Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Jamshetji Jeejeebhoy and Jamshedji Tata have played at least as pivotal a role in shaping and developing our country as any other, and have made personal contributions towards the establishment of numerous institutions for the benefit of all communities. Yet, the Parsi community has never demanded — leave alone usurped — acres of land to commemorate anyone of them. Meaningful adulation of heroes within one’s community lies not in building memorials for them through dubious means, but in the exposition of worthy character in one’s self. —Phiroze B Javeri, Mumbai Era ends with Bangarappa This refers to the report (Dec 27) titled ‘Ex-CM Bangarappa passes away’. The death of the veteran politician marks the end of an era. S Bangarappa was among the few politicians who have left an indelible imprint in politics. He had an eventful political career spanning five decades. He loved Hindustani classical music and sports and was a popular leader who could mobilise large crowds with his charisma and win elections irrespective of party affiliation. Baptised in politics as a Socialist, he was a known party-hopper who left the Congress many times only to rejoin. His death spells an irreparable loss to Karnataka. —Ramesh G Jethwani Bangalore Cold wave deaths Over 100 poor, helpless people have died recently owing to a severe cold wave in some states, mainly Uttar Pradesh. It seems that neither the UPA government nor the state government nor the media is worried about them. Mayawati, who never forgets to call herself a Dalit leader, is busy consolidating her vote bank. She has spent crores of rupees immortalising herself, Kanshi Ram and Dr BR Ambedkar. What has she done for the poor who died as they did not have even a blanket to protect them from the cold? Where was the media’s darling Rahul Gandhi? He should have spent a few nights with these poor people under the open sky without a blanket. For the last 60 years, we have been hearing the Congress slogan ‘’5 saal mein garibi mita denge”. But everyone knows that garibi is not dying, only the garib are. —Pratap Singh, Mumbai High cost of medicine The Planning Commission’s suggestion that prices of medicines be decided by the Union health ministry rather than the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers is welcome. It is better to shift the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority to the Union health ministry. There are many medicines on which manufacturers cash in on their name and earn huge profits. The same medicines are available at much lower prices when bought in bulk. Fancy packaging is another way of charging heavily for medicines. Drug companies bribe medical practitioners with expensive cars, junkets and other gifts for recommending their products. A normal discount of 10-11% given on medicines by retail chemists reveals the huge margin between wholesale and retail prices. Any price-deciding authority should consider all these aspects. —Subhash Chandra Agrawal, Delhi BEST should intervene There is no BEST bus service for commuters from Turbhe Naka to Mahape Circle. Every day thousands of industrial workers and office staff have to face difficulties as a result. Commuters have to pay additional fares for different bus services. BEST authorities should take note of this and start services at the earliest. —Sanjivkumar Alate, Kharghar