Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Regressive

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's instruction to officials concerned to ensure that enforcement of the helmet rule did not cause hardship or harassment to the people (a day after the rule came into force) is a forward step in the backward direction. There can be no question of the police causing hardship or harassment in implementing the helmet rule. Either one is wearing a helmet or not wearing one. It was not as if the rule was imposed overnight. The government gave enough time, ensured that helmets were available, conducted awareness programmes, and so on.

It is distressing to hear that women and children have been given the option of not wearing helmets. Unfortunately directives to "go soft" send wrong signals to the end user. Compliance can be ensured only when there is a stick. One has to be cruel to be kind.

Dr. K. Ganapathy,
Chennai

Does Mr. Karunanidhi's instruction mean that the rider can choose not to wear a helmet?

N. Gopalan,
Bangalore

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