I have nothing against India’s security potential but it’s high time that we stopped overestimating it. (“IPL: the show must go on” by Rahul K. Bhonsle, Mint, 17 March). Sticking with the thought “let’s get on with it and see what happens” might yield disastrous results. Our first priority at least for the next two months should be to hold free and fair elections without any act of violence. With the kind of political turbulence prevailing in India right now, diverting resources is not justified. Getting on to the backfoot does not mean that you’re preparing to get “bowled out”, but it makes sense to wait for the right ball to play your stroke. Things like IPL can wait.

— Anshul Saxena

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Your Turn To Talk

Rahul K. Bhonsle (“IPL: the show must go on”, Mint, 17 March) is absolutely right when he says IPL must go on to prevent a severe blow to our credibility. But the big question is whether the game is more important than security, which it is certainly not. Our home minister and state governments have shown apprehension for providing enough security as the timing of IPL-II clashes with the general election.

I do agree that there would be huge financial losses if it gets delayed or doesn’t take place at all, but we cannot compromise security. As far as credibility goes, if any untoward incident such as Lahore or 26/11 happens during IPL, credibility would never be restored again. So, in crux, we can say that there is no point taking the risk at the moment.

— Bal Govind

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Prasad (“For a new Dalit social contract” by Chandra Bhan Prasad, Mint, 16 March) meanders between the needs of the poor in general to the problems faced by Dalits, all the while criticizing government machinery for plan implementation.

This is an ancient society that was deeply divided along professional castes— which became hereditary caste. This country has tried several “band-aid” solutions to uplift specific profiles of people—mostly along caste lines or for specific disadvantaged groups. These have created more negative than positive effects. You must remember that this is a zero-sum arrangement—if you treat someone with an advantage over others, someone else gets denied his rightful share.

The only way for a democracy to support its people is by (1) opening equal opportunities for them, (2) treating all equally, (3) creating a safety net to preserve life and health and (4) identifying vulnerable people (not groups) for short-term support plans that uplift them into a group of taxpaying and law-abiding citizens.

— Anand Gupta

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There is erosion of the rule of law (“Creating a credible state” by Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Mint, 9 March). We have legislators, bureaucrats, police and courts to provide voice and justice to the people. But there is corruption. With the imbalance in the world economy, international governance needs to be reformed. Current economic events will now lead India towards a more robust regulatory environment. Other than the prescribed whistle-blower policy, enterprise governance firmly needs internal governance counsellors to whom employees and stakeholders can raise their concerns with confidence, related to the possible violation of integrity standards.

And they must be protected from fear of retaliation and retribution. Embedding universal principles of governance into management policies and operations delivers long-term business value and is rewarded by markets.

—Anil Chopra

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