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Mayawati’s outburst is deplorable

Ms Mayawati (editorial, “Mayawati again”, June 17) should not have passed such disparaging remarks against the Father of the Nation. Her outburst is indeed deplorable. Whereas Gandhiji championed the cause of Dalits and sincerely worked for their emancipation; one wonders how Ms Mayawati is helping the cause of Dalits by making monuments and installing her statues.

She has always been haughty and high-handed in behaviour. After her party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections, she has indeed gone berserk. The manner in which she ordered the large-scale transfers of IAS and IPS officers clearly showed that she had lost all sense of proportion. If she continues with her high-handed ways, it is quite possible that her party is decimated in the next elections.

R KASHYAP, Chandigarh

II

Ms Maywati’s utterances reflect that she has been unable to digest her failure in the recently held Lok Sabha elections. She must introspect and learn to take defeat in her stride. Earlier in an unwarranted move, she transferred IAS and IPS officers as if they were her canvassing agents. By criticising the father of the nation she cannot become the custodian of the nation.

MOOL RAJ SHARMA, Shimla

III

UP Chief Minister Mayawati has surely lost her sense of balance. Imagine her audacity that she has called the revered Father of the Nation “natakbaaz”. She has lost the moral authority to be the Chief Minister of the state.

MOHAN SINGH BAINS, Jalandhar

Apathetic homes

The Tribune investigation “Homes without care” (June 19, June 20, June 21) by Chitleen K Sethi has let us feel the silent cry and agony of juveniles living in squalors of the State government observation homes.

The lapses and dereliction of duties and functions entrusted to the officials of the Department of Social Security (DSS) brings shame to the state. Juveniles are at an impressionable age and if treated in such a harsh manner can turn into hardened criminals. These “sudhar-ghars” seem to be more like institutions for producing criminals, rather than places of care and protection.

Dr SOSHIL RATTAN, Amritsar

Tackle swine flu

Swine flu that originated in Mexico has become a pandemic affecting more than 70 countries. The spread of H1N1 virus in India has increased due to air travel. The government should not show any laxity in dealing with this issue. Till now no vaccine has been developed to control the swine flu virus. Although India has started working on the development of swine flu vaccine, it will take some time and will not be so easy.

The government should take firm steps to tackle the flu. It should provide masks to the air passengers and to those working at the airports. This will certainly help in preventing the transmission of virus. The health officials and airport authorities should be extra-vigilant.

GEHNA VAISHNAVI, Chandigarh

Negative inflation?

By giving out inflation figures that have no relation to reality, the government is befooling the people. Just ask an ordinary person about the price rise and he will hit the roof. The prices of items of daily need are spiralling. Yet the government has the audacity to declare that there is negative inflation.

The so-called negative inflation is based on a price index that includes selected basket of items and does not reflect the true picture.

R J KHURANA, Bhopal

Unmatched sarod maestro With the passing away of the sarod maestro, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, on Friday in the US, the Indian musical world has lost one of its greatest stalwarts. He was the finest sarod player who left a permanent mark on the minds of his audience and was a colossus in the world of Indian classical music. He was a thoroughly introspective musician whose powerful strokes enchanted his listeners. He was spiritual in his approach to music. He was a master of the traditional ragas and created new ragas. His jugalbandis with the celebrated sitar maestro Ravi Shankar became a rage. The internationally renowned violinist, the late Yehudi Menuhin, had hailed him as the greatest musician in the world. Ustad Khan had many firsts to his credit. Although the legend is no more, his music and his inimitable style will remain forever. DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh