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Mayawati not above law

It is not Ms Mayawati (editorial, “Maya in trouble”, Oct 7) who is in trouble here, but the Indian Republic. Top politicians invariably cock a snook at the law of the land and at the Supreme Court, but neither is the court able to do anything of substance nor is the Centre.

Passing strictures against someone who shakes them off is meaningless.

Wily politicians exploit the stricture to appear before the ‘peoples’ court’ as a hero or heroine, as the case may be.

Newspaper readers, particularly of English dailies don’t qualify as ‘people’ in this game.

If the republic is to be saved, the court backed by the Centre, must ensure that the money spent on monuments and parks is refunded to the public exchequer.

Maj-Gen PUSHPENDRA SINGH, Panchkula

Indeed, UP facing drought and resource crunch cannot afford such wasteful, unproductive and lavish expenditure on statues and memorials, which could have otherwise been utilised for development programmes.

Mayawati government’s defiance of the orders of the apex court shows her arrogance. What makes politicians think that they are above the law? The Indian electorate has become wiser and mature. Only development policies can return political parties to power.

AJAY K JINDAL, Ludhiana

III

The reaction of the Supreme Court against the Mayawati government in UP over its wayward and deliberate flouting of the order to stop the construction of mammoth memorials, squandering away crores of rupees, is right.

Ms Mayawati’s shameless stubbornness in playing ducks and drakes with the state treasury shows her high-headedness. Her political vision is parochial and self-glorifying.

She should not forget that great men are respected and remembered even in those countries which they never visited and which do not have a single statue of them.

People are immortalised on account of rare contributions and glorious actions, not by virtue of memorials.

C L ARORA, Ferozpore City

If UP Chief Minister Mayawati is really concerned about the welfare of the people she should stop misusing the public money on erecting statues. This narcissist approach will not take her anywhere.

ROHAN SHARMA, Jalandhar City

Revamp secondary education
The editorial “Secondary education: India cannot afford to ignore it” (Oct 10) was apt. It is shocking that the gross enrolment rate of India at the secondary level lags behind East Asia and Latin America. The fact that even nations with lower per capita incomes like Vietnam and Bangladesh fare better is more dismal.
Various reasons can be attributed for this. Besides, non-availability of infrastructure, lack of dedicated teachers impedes secondary education.
As many teaching posts remain vacant in remote rural areas, teachers who opt for rural postings should be given extra allowances. The three-fold challenge of equity, access and quality can only be met by sincere efforts of teachers.
Keeping in view the economic conditions of India, there should be separate syllabus for those who want to enter the job market and those who want to pursue higher education. Right to Education should be extended up to secondary education.
HARISH K MONGA, Ferozepore City