A report entitled, “Strategy for making police forces more sensitive towards minority sections”, prepared by three DGPs – Sanjeev Dayal of Maharashtra, Deoraj Nagar of Uttar Pradesh and K Ramanujam of Tamil Nadu – along with an Intelligence Bureau representative has concluded that there is a trust deficit among Muslims, who see them as “communal, biased and insensitive…. ill-informed, corrupt and lacking professionalism”.
The report was presented during the 2013 DGs’ conference in New Delhi and it is presently with the Central government, awaiting action. The report is basically aimed at providing the framework for a Standard Operating Procedure to prevent communal riots. Believe it or not, there is a trust deficit not only among minorities but across sections of the society because what perception can be drawn if anybody in search of help reaches the police station and there gangraped by policemen or when any innocent is arrested or when the guilty is protected after getting orders from top rank officials or under pressure from politicians. India requires many police officials like Hemant Karkare, Vibhuti Narayan and Sanjeev Bhatt and many more to restore faith and trust of the people.
Habib Khan
Mizoram
Who will Compensate These Victims?
Who will compensate these victims and their families for the mental, financial and physical trauma, they suffered during these 20 precious years. Why not, the persons responsible for preparing the baseless charge sheet should be imprisoned for the same number of years as the victims remained in jail. If these officials are subjected to the same method as they applied to the victims to get the self -confession for committing the said crime, they will also give the same confession statement or as desired for committing the same crime.
Afzal Ahmad Khan
Lucknow, U.P.
Budget 2014 – Falling Too Short to Expectation
Finance Minister Arun Jaitely’s maiden budget has some long term prudence but seems being shaped to meet political exigencies. The budget has not put forth enough initiatives for the economic development of the common man. It has thumbs down to big expectation. Prices of basic consumable goods reached triple times higher but the exemption limit was raised only 0.25 times. This is simply eyewash for a middle class employee. The limit would have been somewhere 3 to 3.5 lakhs, keeping in view the current cost of living and increase in price of commodities.
FM should withdraw all subsidies if he really wants to curb the prices/ inflation and serious is about the poor’s wagon. In fact, subsidy is proving more beneficial to the rich rather than to the deserving one. Minimum wage should be suitably raised first. Rationalisation of subsidies on inputs such as fertilizer and food is essential. The government needs to eventually move towards the income support for farmers and poor households. The tax structure is very cumbersome and one pays all taxes in tandem. The government should really do tax reforms to ensure that people have true value of their hard earned money to push demand and growth. Overall the Budget does focus on accelerating growth rate boosting investment in infrastructure and bid to generate employment opportunities but also hints that Acche Din are still far off – at least for commoners.
Majeed Mulla
Via Email
Importance of Dates
This refers to article, “Dates for Halth” (Radiance 6-12 July). The article was very informative and has highlighted almost all aspects of Dates, their usefulness during the month of Ramadhan and also its other nutrient values which by any meter leave behind any other food stuff in terms of protein, energy and carbohydrates. The display of dates, plants and its comparison with other food material was thought provoking and interesting.
The article was written at the appropriate time which further enriched its contents and usefulness. The best utilisation of Dates happens to be during Ramadhan and that is to end fast.
Atif Hussain
Bangalore