Sent to the Letters to the Editor, Deccan Herald on June 27.
Sir,
The Editorial, Clear the Air (June 27, 2008), rightly addresses the Central Government to decide the issue of signing the 123 Agreement sooner than later. But the issue is sure to simmer at least till the next general elections because of the Left parties’ inflexible opposition. They have threatened to withdraw support and precipitate early elections. They are canvassing among the parties inside and outside the UPA to block the government from winning a contingent vote of confidence, and have announced their decision to vote on the BJP side if needed. Do such extreme threats and frenetic activities bode well for the Left parties themselves? Do they believe that the signing of the agreement is a now or never event, which can be blocked permanently if they can block it now?
The fact is that the Left cannot block the agreement now or ever if the government decides to sign it and face the consequences, including the Left’s vindictiveness, as they come. The Left leaders themselves would be knowing that their larger-than-life role and bargaining power in the present dispensation are products exclusively of the 2004 elections, which may not be available after the next general elections. They would also be knowing that the BJP is currently trivializing the agreement only to appropriate it when it comes to power next. It is quite possible that India will sign the agreement if the NDA, or a UPA with no need for Left’s support, gets power next, and the US keeps the offer alive. What will the Left’s present objections come to then? Perhaps, to a big loss of face and credibility. Reality being such, a pragmatic option for the Left would be to take a long term shot at the issue and save some political grace for themselves.
P.P.Sudhakaran
Bangalore.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
What is happening to The Hindu? What follows is self-explanatory. This is not an isolated sloppiness. I shall post more on the issue on a daily basis. This is what I sent its Readers’ Editor on 14.6.08.
Dear Readers' Editor,
The matter I wish to bring to your notice is not an isolated error, but a sample of a pattern of errors the Karnataka - Bangalore edition carries almost every day. I am afraid, the problem is systemic.Here is the sample:The Hindu Online edition, Saturday, Jun 14, 2008Karnataka, Bangalore.
"Chain-snatchers have a field day"
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: In just over an hour on Friday evening, five women, all pedestrians, lost over 200 gm of gold when two motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched their chains, across four police station limits. The incidents took place in Subramanyanagar and Malleswaram police limits in North Division, and Seshadripuram and Vyalikaval police limits in Central Division. The police suspect said [?] that the same duo could have been involved in all the five chain-snatching cases. The police said that the chain-snatching spree that commenced around 7.15 p.m. ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. The police said that both rider and person riding pillion were wearing helmets during the chain-snatching incidents, and in at least three cases, the victims could not identify the vehicle. Miscreants struck on Malleswaram 5th Main, 9th Cross, around 7.45 p.m. when they snatched two gold chains from Saraswani (39) who was returning home with her child. Saraswani lost her “mangalasutra” and a chain, together weighing 100 gm. The police said that the bike-borne duo chose to strike at her at a dimly lit place on the 9th Cross. Two cases of chain-snatching were reported in the Central Division. In Vyalikaval police limits, the culprits snatched the chain of a 58-year-old woman on Vyalikaval 3rd Main Road around 8.20 p.m. The police said that Malathi R. Rao was walking with her husband when the duo came from the opposite direction and snatched the gold chain weighing around 60 gm. Around 8.45 p.m., the culprits snatched a 20 gm gold chain from Kala (21) while she was walking with her mother Susheelamma on Seshadripuram Pipeline Road. “In both the incidents, the victims were unable to identify the vehicle or the vehicle number as they were in a state of shock,” ACP R. Lakshmana told The Hindu. The police said that both the places were crowded when the incident took place, and that no one bothered to chase the culprits. Two cases of chain-snatching were also reported in Subramanyanagar police station limits. Women were robbed of their gold chains in Gayatrinagar and Milk Colony, details of which were not available." As you might have noted, there were, altogether, five incidents, but the reporter could get details of only three. The details mentioned are about the victims, the amount of gold lost and the time of the incidents. The amount of gold lost in the three known incidents add up to 180 gms. but the report begins by saying that altogether over 200 gm of gold was lost. The time mentioned for the three known incidents were 7.45 pm., 8.20 pm., and 8.45 pm., but, the report begins by saying that they commenced around 7.15 p.m. [and] ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. Are these "significant errors"? You may decide. I feel that they certainly do not deserve a formal correction note. But, such errors and sloppy compositions appearing repeatedly may erode The Hindu's credibility with its readers. Should we care? I wish The Hindu family as a whole, that includes the readers, should.
With best wishes,
Suzarin
Dear Readers' Editor,
The matter I wish to bring to your notice is not an isolated error, but a sample of a pattern of errors the Karnataka - Bangalore edition carries almost every day. I am afraid, the problem is systemic.Here is the sample:The Hindu Online edition, Saturday, Jun 14, 2008Karnataka, Bangalore.
"Chain-snatchers have a field day"
Staff Reporter
BANGALORE: In just over an hour on Friday evening, five women, all pedestrians, lost over 200 gm of gold when two motorcycle-borne miscreants snatched their chains, across four police station limits. The incidents took place in Subramanyanagar and Malleswaram police limits in North Division, and Seshadripuram and Vyalikaval police limits in Central Division. The police suspect said [?] that the same duo could have been involved in all the five chain-snatching cases. The police said that the chain-snatching spree that commenced around 7.15 p.m. ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. The police said that both rider and person riding pillion were wearing helmets during the chain-snatching incidents, and in at least three cases, the victims could not identify the vehicle. Miscreants struck on Malleswaram 5th Main, 9th Cross, around 7.45 p.m. when they snatched two gold chains from Saraswani (39) who was returning home with her child. Saraswani lost her “mangalasutra” and a chain, together weighing 100 gm. The police said that the bike-borne duo chose to strike at her at a dimly lit place on the 9th Cross. Two cases of chain-snatching were reported in the Central Division. In Vyalikaval police limits, the culprits snatched the chain of a 58-year-old woman on Vyalikaval 3rd Main Road around 8.20 p.m. The police said that Malathi R. Rao was walking with her husband when the duo came from the opposite direction and snatched the gold chain weighing around 60 gm. Around 8.45 p.m., the culprits snatched a 20 gm gold chain from Kala (21) while she was walking with her mother Susheelamma on Seshadripuram Pipeline Road. “In both the incidents, the victims were unable to identify the vehicle or the vehicle number as they were in a state of shock,” ACP R. Lakshmana told The Hindu. The police said that both the places were crowded when the incident took place, and that no one bothered to chase the culprits. Two cases of chain-snatching were also reported in Subramanyanagar police station limits. Women were robbed of their gold chains in Gayatrinagar and Milk Colony, details of which were not available." As you might have noted, there were, altogether, five incidents, but the reporter could get details of only three. The details mentioned are about the victims, the amount of gold lost and the time of the incidents. The amount of gold lost in the three known incidents add up to 180 gms. but the report begins by saying that altogether over 200 gm of gold was lost. The time mentioned for the three known incidents were 7.45 pm., 8.20 pm., and 8.45 pm., but, the report begins by saying that they commenced around 7.15 p.m. [and] ended at Seshadripuram police limits by 8.20 p.m. Are these "significant errors"? You may decide. I feel that they certainly do not deserve a formal correction note. But, such errors and sloppy compositions appearing repeatedly may erode The Hindu's credibility with its readers. Should we care? I wish The Hindu family as a whole, that includes the readers, should.
With best wishes,
Suzarin
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