Shocking state of affairs 

The news report ‘NDA staff officer arrested by CBI in recruitment scam’ (PM, June 25) came as a shock. It is most appalling that such an incident should happen at the NDA where future officers are trained.

Involvement of their own senior officers in scams will have a detrimental effect and lasting negative impact on the impressionable minds of young cadets. Such unfortunate incidents tarnish the good reputation of NDA and the code of conduct must be strictly enforced in order to obliviate such aberrations.

- Vikram Karve

It is a sad state of affairs that a prestigious institution like the National Defence Academy, where leadership qualities and resistance to temptation are instilled, has become an arena of corrupt practices.

The fact that the accused are members of the principal staff of the Commandant is all the more alarming — for the staff officers are chosen from a select group of officers with immaculate character.

The young cadets undergoing training are unfortunately brought face to face with corruption, indulged in by their own so-called ‘role models’. These corrupt officers who have unashamedly taken bribes should have realised that they have not only brought shame upon themselves and the army, but also shocked and hurt the very moral fibre of young cadets and the nation.

The army can ill-afford such criminal indulgence and must react strongly against all corrupt quarters.

- Major Mathew Oommen

  Kudos, Randhir Khare 

Randhir Khare’s article ‘A smile always wins’ resonated well with me. My personal opinion is that we Indians are loud, undisciplined and care two hoots for other people’s personal space. The strange thing is, the same people behave themselves far better in a foreign, more strict country. Well written, Mr Khare.

- Supriya Deshmukh

  Depths of despair, height of apathy 

The entire country prayed for little Mahi, who fell down an open borewell in Gurgaon on June 20, but our hopes for a miracle were dashed. No words can give solace to the devastated young parents to lose their child under such tragic circumstances.

However, among other things, one much ask how a four-year-old was allowed to venture near the open borewell at 11 pm. What were the parents doing at the time? Will this point be seen as a serious lapse when an inquiry starts? How did the neighbourhood never think of closing the borewell? I also salute the rescue team who struggled for 87 hours to get Mahi out, in spite of a lack of oxygen. May the child’s soul rest in peace.

- Saraswathy Mudaliar

  Good job, snake saviours 

Reading how the Group of Snake Friends rescued eight reptiles that had suffered cruelties at the hands of snake charmers in your article ‘Herpetological heroes’ (PM, June 25) was heartening.

The sad part was that the snake charmers had glued the serpents’ mouths shut. It is appalling that the public encourage these people.

- Jayant Shinde