Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Attack on Mahajan

The attempt on the life of BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan by his brother is shocking. But the way the incident is being highlighted is amazing. The media seem to be doing nothing other than keeping a watch on his condition, which is unnecessary. Why sensationalise a family dispute?

Vishaal Vyas,
Kochi, Kerala

* * *

The shooting incident has sent shock waves throughout the country. But the manner in which people cutting across political ideologies and other affiliations have reacted to the news, expressing solidarity with the family and praying for Mr. Mahajan's recovery is commendable.

B. Madhava Murthy,
Hyderabad

* * *

Normally in hospitals, visitors are not allowed to see a patient who is in a critical condition. Why then should hundreds of VVIPs and VIPs descend on the Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai to mark attendance in front of television cameras? They only cause hindrance.

K. Venkataraman,
Mumbai

* * *

The minute-by-minute live coverage of Mr. Mahajan's condition in the electronic media is deplorable. Instead of confining themselves to reporting authentic medical bulletins, the television channels vie with one another to give details of his condition without any sense of responsibility. Creating sensation based on half-baked medical knowledge should be discouraged.

S. Kannan,
Chennai

* * *

Mr. Mahajan is fortunate in that he was admitted to a reputed hospital and doctors started treating him immediately. Had the victim been a common man, no hospital would have even touched him, let alone treat him, until a police case was lodged and a formal nod received from the law-enforcing agencies, the time taken on which could have well made the difference between his life and death.

V. Rajesh,
Mumbai

* * *

I sympathise with Mr. Mahajan's condition. But I am also perturbed at the media hype over the incident. His life needs to be saved and the efforts of all concerned in bringing expert doctors from across the world deserve praise. At the same time, I regret that the media did not highlight the plight of Javed, the 18-year-old high school student who saved 15 children from the fire in a Meerut fair and died for lack of proper treatment. No serious efforts were made to save his life.

K.L. Narasimham,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

* * *

This has reference to the photograph of Pravin Mahajan, with his face covered (April 23). It reminded one of similar pictures of terror suspects in the Abu Ghraib prison. Pravin is not a hardened criminal. He committed a crime in a fit of rage and surrendered to the police. What was the need for the police to treat him like that?

Y. Collison,
Chennai

* * *

Whatever Pravin's motive or provocation, the incident shows the violent ways into which our society has degenerated. It calls for more of moral schooling as in the old gurukuls. Our schools should make children better citizens. The need of the hour is to inculcate the values of tolerance and non-violence in the young.

R. Sendhil,
Coimbatore

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