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India and China
THE two potential superpowers of Asia can no longer afford to ignore border disputes ("Facing the truth", Part I, October 6). China has found solutions to border problems with all its neighbours except India. In today's globalised economy, nations are largely inter- dependent. These two populous countries can help each other with their expertise in various fields to fasten the pace of growth.
NEERAJ KUMAR SHAH
NAM summit
AFTER a long time a summit of world leaders has challenged the wrongs committed by the United States and taken an independent stand on Iraq, Lebanon, Iran and Palestine, although India tried its best not to offend the U.S. (Cover Story, October 6).
If India really wants to be a world leader, it must cooperate with other developing countries and stand up to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Akhil Kumar
NAM had lost its relevance during the Cold War and was viewed more as a pro-Soviet (or anti-U.S.) lobby of `Third World' countries that chose not to sign formal defence agreements with either bloc.
What we need now are checks on the global influence of one power. NAM members have their own equations with the sole superpower, which have a bearing on their stand at the NAM forum. For instance, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had the `nuclear deal' on his mind while choosing his words at the Havana summit.
Harsh V. Jain
WHAT is the relevance of NAM today? The Cold War is over. The Soviet Union no longer exists. In a unipolar world, what is needed is a strong alliance of like-minded nations to challenge U.S. hegemony.
S. Raghunatha Prabhu
THE NAM's call for restructuring the United Nations Security Council and the demand for a provision to allow Council vetoes to be overruled by a two-third majority of the General Assembly are most welcome.
The unanimous condemnation of terrorism is also noteworthy. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's proposal for a "Bank of the South" against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund should be welcomed by all NAM countries.
V. Rajendran
THE joint communiqué issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to put in place an anti-terrorism mechanism is a prudent step.
By effectively following up on the initiative, Pakistan can erase the impression that its security agencies are fomenting terror.
H. Syed Mathani
Malegaon
PRAFUL Bidwai has rightly stressed in his column the importance of investigating the Malegaon incident with scrupulous objectivity and impartiality ("A litmus test of impartiality", October 6).
He has not ruled out the possibility of Hindutva militants' involvement in the blasts. The Centre seems to be soft-pedalling on the whole issue.
It is outrageous that people got killed during worship and prayers.
R.R. Sami
Nuclear plant
THE size of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) under construction at Kalpakkam and the dimensions of its foundation are awe-inspiring ("Milestone ahead", October 6). It is a Rs.3,492 crore project. Hydro and thermal units would generate power at half the cost.
A.R. Mahendra
Scavengers
IT is shameful that the inhuman practice of manual scavenging still persists. ("India's shame", September 22). I was a student in the senior intermediate class in Salem Municipal College in 1948-49.
While delivering a talk on the anniversary day, the college principal A. Ramasamy Gounder said: "So long as a man carries the excreta of another man on his head, we have not obtained independence."
G.E.M. Manoharan
AS an employee of a public sector bank, I have had the bitter experience of processing the financing of a rehabilitation scheme for manual scavengers in a major township of Karnataka. When the bank offered them assistance to give up the profession, an elderly man of 70 said, "Please make our present jobs secure. We do not know any other work." The situation is not much better now.
N. Divakar
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