LETTERS TO THE EDITOR No junk food in schools
SC increases Lalu’s woes
The SC verdict on the fodder scam has added to Lalu Prasad's woes because his purported telephonic conversation with MP and don Mohammad Shahabuddin is already doing the rounds. The charismatic, but controversial, Lalu's dream to rule the roost by remaining in the background seems dashed by the SC judgment. That the SC has asked the trial court to complete the hearing in nine months only means Lalu's fresh journeys to and out of courts
will begin. The powerful Lalu was forced to assume the role of kingmaker after the people of Bihar handed the state to the RJD—JD(U) alliance on a platter. Being barred from contesting polls due to the conviction, Lalu was seen as a dominant hand in the ruling alliance with the "honest and efficient" Chief Minister Nitish Kumar compelled to induct Lalu's two sons in the cabinet. Will it be advantageous Nitish Kumar has to be seen because the maverick Lalu Prasad Yadav has the uncanny ability to bounce back. — Ganapathi Bhat
Fairness creams must be banned
Advertisements for fairness-cream can be misleading because there is no guarantee of complexion becoming fair after use so-termed ‘fairness-cream’. Otherwise also, media-reports indicate that Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSR), an undertaking
of Government of Delhi affiliated to University of Delhi, has determined that facial creams advertising for bringing fairness contain excessive quantity of mercury which is very harmful for kidney and lever apart from causing other harms to human body. India ranks second in the world after Nigeria in use of facial cream for increasing fairness with as much as fifty-percent of Indian population being misled by advertisements of fairness through facial creams.
— Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Hail Supreme Court!
It is laudable that the Supreme Court is taking a very serious view on cases relating to corruption and accumulation of assets disproportionate to one’s income. This is evident from the very pungent remarks passed by the bench against corruption while delivering their verdict in the DA case against
former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, her friend Sasikala and two others and declaring them guilty of offense and sentencing them to jail terms and imposing penalty. We are sure the Apex Court would also maintain same stand while disposing off the review petition against conviction in graft filed by Sasikala and the other two. — Tharcius S Fernando
The lucky fifteen
Team India is in the process of defending its ICC Champions Trophy title in England next month and the selectors do not want to take any risk in picking the side. The first match is against Pakistan and the action will begin straightaway. Indian Team is in group B and the moot point is that whether India will become champion again is a thousand dollar question. The stakes are very high in International cricket and each and every team is trying for top honours. There is no short cut to success and only hard work can pay rich dividends. So, the selectors did not want to take risk and go in for tried tested players instead of going in for a young lot.
—C K Subramaniam The state government's ban on selling and serving junk food that contain fats, salt and sugar in all school canteens is welcome. A wide range of items come under the ban like, chips, burgers, pizza, cold drinks, sweets like gulab jamun and rusgulla which contribute to obesity, hyperactivity and other lifestyle diseases as pointed out nutritionists. Instead, the schools have been asked to go in for rotis, paratha, rice, dal, idlis and the like. One hopes the parents will appreciate that the ban is in the interest of their children and refrain from putting these banned items in the lunch boxes.
— V Subramanyan Iyer