Breaking Colonial Shackles

Readers’ Forum :Breaking Colonial Shackles

Readers’ Forum

(Organiser, 15.6.2014);The editorial ‘ Breaking Colonial Shackles’ in Organiser was interesting and to the point. In administration we use frequently use the word ‘avoid’, when we really mean don’t. Why can’t we say don’t employ your son-in-law , brother-in-law in your office? Why say ‘avoid’ employing? Let us say exactly what we mean and do exactly that. Unless we are clear and mean what we say and say what we mean , we shall not be effective in governance. Perhaps it needs certain moral courage, which is not common.
CBD RAO, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru

Why this discrimination?

The UP budget for 2014-15 earmarks a whopping sum of Rs. 556 crore for two foreign languages, viz., Arabic and Persian, and Rs. 1.50 crore for Urdu, whereas a meager sum of 20 lakh has been allotted to four State-level languages- Brij, Avadhi, Bhojpuri and Bundelkhandi. The most objectionable thing is that India's classical language Sanskrit has not been given even a paisa. Everybody knows that the lion's share meant for Arabic and Persian will go to Azam Khan's pocket.
AY K MITTAL, 97 Khandak, Meerut City:250 002.

Leader of Opposition

The LoO has become a subject for debate and several issues, laws, conventions and past history have all been quoted. However there is only one question to be answered. If alliances, even post election, are permitted to form government, then surely alliances should also be allowed to form a combined Opposition. In fact the latter is more justifiable. The present largest party(the Congress party) does not have the numbers to get it alone. In fact even if it had 55 or more members there will be issues. What if two or three other parties get together, have more members than the largest party (even if it has above 55) and say they want to form a combined Opposition, will vote en bloc and that this person will be their LoO? So why can’t any party who wants their leader to be the LoO, get all the Opposition parties to agree? Problem solved and there would be no debate. The largest Opposition i.e. the Congress does not want to do this as it has a big ego and thinks that it has some sovereign right for everything. So how about an election of the LoO by all members of the Opposition? That will be transparent and unquestionable. Perhaps the government should suggest this?

T R RAMASWAMI, A-601 Gokul Concorde Towers, Kandivli(E), Mumbai – 400 101

Why can’t Muslims show a big heart?

I was watching a TV programme where a Pakistani anchor was advising India that since India is a big country it should show big heart while dealing with the issue of Kashmir. I have a question, Muslim community is thousand times bigger community than Jews why don't they show big heart while dealing with Israel.
VIVEKANANDA SHETTY, vd4shetty@hotmail.com

Practice what you say

Whenever the term Pratigya i.e. pledge is used the pledge taken by Bhishma Pitamah during the Mahabharat War comes to our mind. We talk of pledge but do we really practice in true sense. In this context two latest instances can be given. One is the pledge taken by Jnanpith awardee, Kannada scholar Dr. Ananthmurthy and the second one is of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda. Dr Murthy had taken a pledge that he will quit India if Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister of India while Deve Gowda had said that he would take political retirement provided BJP should secure majority on its own in the Lok Sabha polls. Even after a lapse of one month after Modi became the PM neither Dr Ananthmurthy has quit the nation nor Deve Gowda took political retirement as per their pledge. On the contrary Deve Gowda took an oath as a Member of the Lok Sabha that too in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without any shame.
SRIDHAR V KULKARNI,
Maharashtra: 421 301

Be Cautious

The Congress, being in the habit of enjoying power, is feeling like a fish out of water. The “secular” Party is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to create as many hurdles as possible in the path of the ruling NDA led by the BJP. They can go to any extent to achieve their aim, constitutional or otherwise. The Saffron Party must always remain alert to guard itself against any Congress ploy to dethrone it.

VINEET PHADTARE, 56, Ashok Van, M. G. Road, Borivali (East), Mumbai: 400 092