Pawar cannot shift blame for price rise
March.03 : Sir, In the interview ‘Fair deal for farmers pushed prices’ (February 28), Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar’s statement that it was fair prices to farmers that pushed up the food prices is nothing but a lame excuse. The real reason for spiralling prices is that Mr Pawar failed to control the prices and is now putting the blame on a voluntary policy of the government.
If Mr Pawar thinks that people are gullible enough to accept whatever he dishes out then he is grossly mistaken. I suggest that you interview Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this issue. Let’s see whether he confirms the reason Mr Pawar has given for his failure to control prices.
R.N. Shanbhag
Mulund (East), Mumbai
Indo-Pak dialogue is a futile exercise
Sir, Only an incurable optimist would have expected a breakthrough in the recent foreign secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan. It was foolish on the part of India to expect any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan given the bellicosity of its leaders who are virtually prisoners of religious extremists and the military establishment in that country. Also their very survival depends on their anti-India posture. It is quite obvious that the Indian government agreed to this charade because of the pressure exerted by the US to engage Pakistan in a dialogue on all contentious issues.
V.V.S. Mani
Via email
What Is India Doing in Afghanistan?
Sir, At least 16 people were killed when Taliban suicide bombers carried out a string of attacks in Kabul. Undoubtedly, this incident was targeted at New Delhi’s interests in Afghanistan. While Afghan President Hamid Karzai has spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and assured investigation into the attacks on Indians in Kabul, India needs to realise that Afghanistan is just using India. If the Taliban demands that Indians be kicked out of Afghanistan, Mr Karzai will have no qualms in doing so. India should not rush to the aid of a country in the hope that it will be our ally against Pakistan.
V. Venkatasubramanian
Govandi, Mumbai
Budget 2010 ignores poor, hungry people
Sir, After strong reactions to Union Budget 2010, the Congress Party would have realised the opinion of the majority of people’s representatives. This Budget rides rough over the overall and long-term interests of 900 million people of India. Why should anybody cheer the Prime Minister for leading India to be one of the three leading economies of the world when his government presides over a country of 300 million hungry and another 300 million undernourished people.
Asim Majumdar
Worli Sea Face, Mumbai
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Save our tigers
Sir, The beautiful and eye-catching front-page picture of a white tiger drinking water at the Delhi Zoo (February 22) is a grim reminder of the fact that the number of tigers in India is dwindling and if we don’t save them they might soon become extinct. The tiger is vulnerable to adversities, both natural and man-made. Besides poaching, forests are being encroached upon by urban settlements. Let’s join the roar to save our national animal from extinction.
Jharna Ghosh
Belgharia, Kolkata
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