L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Not subtle

Reference to the article “Nothing diplomatic about it” by Ashok Tuteja (Sunday Tribune, December 22), mild measures taken by India to make the US see reason will have little effect, and it is not in us to take harsh measures. The US has the habit of treating India shabbily since we keep taking it. Let us also book a US diplomat on the charge of violating an Indian law, even if the US considers it to be a case of retaliation. Why should we not retaliate? Also, we should book the maid and her conspiring family in India or abroad and ask them to be deported back to India to face charges as per Indian law.

Wg Cdr CL Sehgal (retd), Jalandhar

II

The unfortunate episode reminds me of two incidents I faced as a technocrat. I was forced by IAS officers to accept wrong reports/recommendations of the World Bank so they could make a free trip to Washington. In 1999-2000, I rejected the World Bank recommendation to put higher capacity conductor for tubewell connections incurring huge wasteful expenditure. In 2010-11, I refused to accept a wrong report regarding agricultural consumption in Haryana. I was hauled up for not obliging my bureaucratic bosses. This is happening in all state government departments where bureaucrats visit foreign countries as technical experts and make a mess of everything.

AK Jain, Haryana

Do or die

Apropos the article “Delhi election as simple as ABC” by Kishwar Desai (Sunday Tribune, December 22), the fundamental changes demanded by the AAP are actually a tough call, which even it will face once it takes over the reins of Delhi. There is a major population who still trusts other parties and does not want any change. Before the results, the AAP confirmed to the public it will be different from the Congress and BJP and will not form a coalition government. But now its policy is “Be with Congress or die”. Arvind Kejriwal is trying to save himself and the party in case the Congress withdraws its support. And that is why it is seeking public opinion. This will hurt the sentiments of Delhi voters.

Nikhil Sharma, Bilaspur

II

The average voter will be resentful of the AAP, especially those whose second preference in these elections was the BJP and not the Congress. Had the AAP acknowledged in advance that it may form an alliance with the Congress, people may not have even voted for it. Kejriwal’s trump card was approaching citizens for their opinion on government formation. The party had said in its manifesto that it will involve people in the decision-making process. It is doubtful that this model will work every time, giving the time and cost restraints. The AAP, however, has made a paradigm shift in describing democracy.

Prof Sanjeev Bansal, Kurukshetra