“Apex court revokes ban on iron ore mining in Goa” (April 22) is a good decision at last, after long 18 months. That said, the cap set should have been at least 50 per cent that of previous year, when mining was banned, in order to provide better business for the barges and trucks. Something is better than nothing, however.
Subhash Phal
Caste obsession
“In a season of bigotry and hate” (April 22), Rasheeda Bhagat says that ‘non-vegetarians’ is also a euphemism used by upper castes to discriminate against other backward castes, especially scheduled castes and tribes.
In this context, it is recommended for everyone in the country should read Annihilation of Cast e by BR Ambedkar for his incisive analysis on caste issues in India. The growing religious divide only ensures that India will perennially remain a developing country where serious governance issues are ignored. It is high time this changed.
Askme
Chennai
Needless controversy
This refers to “Akali Dal protests in Delhi” (April 22). Former Punjab chief minister and candidate contesting the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, Capt Amrinder Singh, has invited unnecessary attention and criticism by giving the 1984 Sikh massacre accused Jagdish Tytler a ‘clean chit’.
Singh has virtually given his critics and opposition parties a stick to beat him with and his remark is fodder to their election rhetoric.
When the case is still pending in the courts, nobody other than the erudite judges are empowered to give a judgement, as the matter is sub judice . This will be used as an election issue by his political rivals to push him into a corner.
It is surprising that people who are so critical of the 2002 riots are silent about the 1984 mayhem. Why the selective amnesia, one fails to understand.
HP Murali
Bangalore
Post bank
I am in agreement with the author of “Why not a Post Bank of India?” (April 18).
If objective of financial inclusion is to ensure that more and more citizens use bank accounts, we must find out why common people are still reluctant to use banking facility.
If a National Bank of India Post is set up it will be a positive step towards improving the banking network as India Post has a wide network of post-offices in the rural areas.
It is time people’s fears regarding bank accounts were addressed. One common fear is that using a bank account would lead to people getting caught in the tax net.
A second apprehension is that money gets locked up in the bank account. Obviously, there is an urgent need to educate the aam aadmi and remove their misgivings about bank accounts.
A well-designed public education campaign can achieve good results. The Reserve Bank of India and the Central government must re-examine how the network of National Bank of India Post can be used to achieve the objective of financial inclusion.
Apte
Online
Train to Bangladesh
This refers to “India Bangladesh Railway line to boost connectivity” (April 21). The talks should hopefully bring out firm ideas for railway projects between India and Bangladesh. It is hoped that after the proposed conference more details will be available to the public. This forms an essential part of our Look East Policy.
The Maitree Express from Kolkata to Dhaka should be extended to connect the capitals of other south-east Asian nations to strength regional cooperation and development.
The incoming government should inspire infrastructure experts and civil servants to pursue pending and new projects that will certainly usher in a strong North-East.
If in the course of the next few years, relations between India and China improve, we could also think of a Kolkata-Kunming rail connection, further strengthening bilateral trade and commerce.
S Subramanyan
Navi Mumbai