False claims
Sir — Googling one’s own name or reading Wikipedia entries about oneself are exercises in vanity. Many celebrities have admitted to searching for articles about themselves online. This seems benign when one considers what the Adani Group has been accused of doing. It has apparently been using bot accounts and paid editors to edit Wikipedia entries to show itself in a better light (“Wikipedia Adani ‘puffery’ cloud”, Feb 22). But this is a case of desperation rather than narcissism. Perhaps Gautam Adani believed that he could restore public trust in his company’s stock by tooting his own horn on Wikipedia.
Deepak Awasthi, Gurugram
Suspicious motive
Sir — The arrest of Pawan Khera at the Delhi airport for making insulting remarks against the prime minister, Narendra Modi, seems to be a case of political overreach by the chief minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma (“Tarmac thunder over PM”, Feb 24). This is the second time that the Assam Police have gone out of their way to harass an Opposition spokesperson — Saket Gokhale of the Trinamul Congress was similarly harassed last year. Sarma has added fuel to the speculation that he is willing to use his position to please the prime minister and the Union home minister, Amit Shah. Raising the level of public discourse is not just the Opposition’s prerogative; Modi’s distasteful remark about Jawaharlal Nehru’s surname not being used by members of his family was uncalled for as well.
S.K. Choudhury, Bengaluru
Make exceptions
Sir — While it is true that Aadhaar cards are necessary to ensure transparency in the distribution of mid-day meals and stop the misuse of funds disbursed for the schemes, the Centre must also make concessions for students in remote areas with poor connectivity (“Aadhaar cloud on school meals”, Feb 22). Fears expressed by the social activist, Nikhil Dey, and the public policy expert, Jean Drèze, about disadvantaged students being deprived of their rights if Aadhaar is made mandatory seem justified.
Jahar Lal Saha, Calcutta
Right path
Sir — The appeal by leaders of the Christian community asking it to vote with an “informed and clear conscience” in the upcoming elections in Meghalaya and Nagaland could be a precursor to similar calls by leaders from other minority communities across the nation (“Hate again”, Feb 23). This is the correct path to follow in any democracy. Violence should be shunned and people should use the ballot to express their displeasure.
K. Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam
Strike a balance
Sir — The article, “Sting in the tail” (Feb 23), by Arghya Sengupta rightly cautions against the potential dilution of the Right to Information Act through the activation of Section 30(2) of the proposed digital personal data protection bill. Privacy cannot be an all-encompassing shield that allows public figures to hide their misdeeds. Certain provisions should be inserted in the bill to prevent the withholding of important information.
Amit Brahmo, Calcutta
Slippery title
Sir — It is disheartening that the Ranji Trophy title has eluded Bengal yet again. Manoj Tiwary had delayed his retirement to try and win a Ranji title in his fourth appearance at a final of the tournament but he failed, yet again. On the other hand, Jaydev Unadkat, the veteran pacer, bagged six wickets for Saurashtra in the second innings, playing a vital role in his side’s win. Half-centuries from Anustup Majumdar and Tiwary in the second innings failed to save the day.
Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta
