Instil Confidence in Northeast People
It is most unfortunate that several people from northeast which include many students are fleeing from cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and Mumbai as a fallout of the ethnic violence in Assam.

The governments at the Centre and the affected states need to instil confidence in people of the northeastern states who have settled in other parts of the country. These people should be given all the protection necessary. After winning the bronze medal in boxing at the London Olympics, Mary Kom, who hails from Manipur, had hoped that at least now people from northeast will not feel isolated from the mainland. But unfortunately people from this region have always been looked upon as different from those living in the mainland. The police should track all those who have been spreading fear in the minds of the northeastern people settled in other states by sending threatening SMSs and e-mails. This must be considered as an anti-national activity and the perpetrators of the crime should be dealt with very severely. The government should also control the ethnic violence that has been unleashed in Assam. Unless the violence in this state is brought under control, people from northeast will not feel secure enough to live in other parts of the country.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco

Centre Should Come Clean on Scams
The concept of zero was discovered by Indian mathematicians. Now this concept has become an important tool to tabulate the loss of revenue to the people of India caused by the government in power. You need to add just series of zeroes to arrive at the figure of loss. Though our GDP is not growing, our per capita corruption is growing, thanks to the various scams masterminded by the government. Now Indians count their corruption in terms of lakhs of crore. These figures are luring people because their world revolves around some hundreds or a few thousands (in terms of their earnings). As they say, if you do not have a strong case, shut down your adversary and make personal attacks. Therefore, you are told that CAG has gone beyond its mandate. Fine. But what is the mandate of the government? To allocate the scarce natural resources on a platter with no questions asked? The government is supposed to be the custodian of natural resources of the country. If the same government squanders the resources without rhyme and reason, is it not the duty of some agency to investigate the daylight loot?
S N D Poojary, Miramar

Ban all Addictive Substances
The Chief Minister recently during the Zero Hour assured the House that the government would ban the sale of plastic sachets containing alcoholic drink because such sachets are easily available to children at an affordable rate. Well, if the government intends to ban liquor sachets in the interest of the school students, then there is also a need to ban the sale of all types of alcohol that are easily available in the state. Furthermore, the government should also prohibit sale and distribution of gutka and pan masala as students are also addicted to such injurious products. With ban only on liquor sachets it appears that the government is trying to protect interest of some influential liquor makers. If the government is really working in the interest of students then all addictive substances should be banned.
BABLUIS PEREIRA, Pomburpa

UPA II a Divided House Within
In his Independence Day message, the Prime Minister blamed the Opposition party for tardy reforms and slow progress of India. Why he reserved his observation until now is questionable. If he is under any illusion that he can divert the attention and discredit the Opposition in the eyes of the public, he is eluding himself more than the nation. The popularity of the UPA II is at its lowest ebb with multitude of scams unfolding with regular and alarming frequency. This is definitely not the best way to extricate himself and the Congress from the mess. The UPA II is in a position to move any legislation per se but the contradictions and objections from its own allies rather than the Opposition is hampering India’s progress. The Time magazine’s observation about the Prime Minister is worrying, and discredits his image as the leader in command. Coalgate, like 2G scam, happened under the Prime Minister’s watch. He cannot be absolutely absolved of not looking the other way. If UPA II had no majority then how did it succeed in passing the Nuclear Energy Bill even by risking its stability in power? How did the UPA II manage the election of the President and subsequently the election of the vice-president? How, can then the Opposition be so powerful to thwart any legislation when it is the question of number game. Certainly the UPA II is dreaming while awake to the reality. The Opposition, while playing the role of a ‘watchdog’, has extended its cooperation on various issues albeit with some safeguards, objections and suggestions. The negative role of its allies and their adamant posturing is what affects the UPA II. UPA II is a divided house within. The Prime Minister instead of making ridiculous statements, intending to tarnish the image of the Opposition, should introspect on the functioning of the government. The remarks of the Prime Minister about the negative and obstructive role are not in good taste.
NELSON LOPES, CHINCHINIM