Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Whither conscience?

The butchering of four members of the Bhotmange family in full view of the Khairlanji village in Maharashtra does not seem to shock shining India because it is only one of the many recorded atrocities against Dalits. It does not seem to have shocked the conscience of the judiciary either, which takes suo motu notice of more important issues such as those pertaining to the environment. It does not shock politicians who need the musclemen of the `upper' castes. It does not shock the notorious Indian police who are paid from our tax money to protect the culprits and punish the victims. It does not shock the collective conscience of India that vows to `fight to the finish' the cause of Priyadarshini Mattoo and Jessica Lal but not of Priyanka Bhotmange.

Ebe Sunder Raj,
Chennai

Despite the atrocity perpetrated on a poor Dalit family, no one in democratic India seems to have protested seriously. Universities, intellectuals, and organisations protested Saddam Hussein's death sentence but did not seem to care much for the Bhotmanges. The media too played the incident down. Worse, even Dalits all over India have not come together to protest the crime. If Dalits display apathy now, the nation will continue to witness such atrocities.

Ch. Komal Kishore,
Hyderabad

The news of the Khairlanji massacre should have made it to the front page of newspapers, including The Hindu . It is the media's responsibility to expose critical issues because politicians raise a hue and cry only when they have something to gain. Only the media can help readers and viewers become aware of brutal incidents taking place in the name of caste.

K. Balaji,
Chennai

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