Fake BPL claims 

It is amusing as well as disgusting to read about people using unfair means for mediclaims, ‘Pvt hospitals band together to fight fake BPL claims’, (PM, August 9). I appreciate the creativity and ingenuity of people in inventing such scams! The touts are also having a ball. I am sure that this chain involves many government officials including district tehsildars and talathis.

The BPL scheme has become a tool in the hand of government officials to fill their own pockets. Of late, the Central government has introduced a free mobile phone scheme for those under BPL category.
 
Barring the beneficiaries, everyone — ministers and officials — will benefit from the scheme. It is just another scam like the 2G or coal mine scams. The government and corrupt politicians have no inkling where they are leading the country.

- M Ganeshan

  Insure BDDS staffers 

This is with reference to ‘Explosive apathy leaves bomb squad uninsured’, (PM, August 9). It is appalling to read about the plight of the BDDS staffers. It was actually surprising to see the policeman in the photograph published with the report try to defuse the IED in a half-sleeve shirt with only a bulletproof jacket and a helmet. Initially, I was wondering why he didn’t wear a bomb disposal suit.
 
Now it is learnt that they are not only illequipped but also uninsured. This is rather sad. Their entitlement in case of death, injury and disability is ridiculously inadequate. They should get special benefits.

- Air Vice Marshal DB Ajgaonkar(Retd)

  Right time for BJP 

This refers to the article ‘Angry Sonia makes Advani swallow his illegal words in LS’, (PM, August 9). It is beyond doubt that BJP veteran L K Advani is a frustrated elderly man whose prime ministerial ambition has been blown to smithereens after talks within the party about projecting Narendra Modi for the position.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is opposed to this formula for the 2014 Lok Sabha election but not completely averse to another BJP candidate.

But there remain doubts over Modi’s acceptance at the national level. Considering Congress’s present weak position, BJP should stop internal bickering and project itself as a fitting alternative.

- N Jayaram

  Check supremacist group 

The mindless shootout at a Wisconsin gurudwara killing innocent Sikhs and burning down of the Joplin Islamic Centre in Missouri points to the rising religious intolerance, xenophobia and utter ignorance of the supremacists in the US.

Though the US Administration and police were quick to respond to the gurudwara massacre, the expatriates there must be reeling under anguish and a sense of insecurity.

Talks of racial cleaning and incidents of ethnic violence against foreigners can damage the social framework of the US. Therefore, the country must check all activities of the white supremacist group.

- Bichu Muttathara