POLL GIMMICK?

PUT on the back foot after the poor electoral performance in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP government now seems to be in an overdrive mode, considering that general elections are round the corner. The 10% job quota for economically weaker sections in public employment and educational institutions points

towards that (“Modi plans job quotas for less well offs,” Jan.8, The Gulf Today).

Besides that, I don’t know how this move will stand judicial scrutiny because if enacted it will breech the Supreme Court stipulated 50% limit on reservations. The opposition has called the government bluff with some pointing that it is too far-fetched. Like former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha saying that the proposal is “nothing more than a jumla” and there is no time for getting it passed in both the Houses of Parliament.

The other Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi was even more vocal. “The government is only misleading nation. Modi, BJP clearly think Indian public eats grass.”

There is also another contentious Issue AND that Is THE inancial CRITERIA.

The 10 per cent quota is for people with an annual income limit of Rs 8 lakh. Reservations were extended earlier to undo injustice suffered by people over a period like the Schedule Caste and tribes ETC. Now It Is BASED on inancial income. Do I smell a rat, too?

Nitin Nair

Sharjah

LOVE SHINES

THE story about Wojtek the bear is a very interesting, humbling and Heartwarming one (“ANIMATED ilm to spotlight bear that served in WWII,” Jan.14, The Gulf Today).

The stories of animals’ innocence always have many lessons to teach. They teach about humbleness, about being helpful, and nonjudgmental. They also teach about love and loyalty.

The needs of all nature are very basic, happiness one of them. The story shows how this bear enjoys his honey marmalade, showers and eating cigarettes and being at the beach. He also has love and care for his fellow brothers.

Like the producer Harvey says, magic is real. And with the story of this bear, like every animal story (even the rare unpleasant ones) one wants to look forward to watching such movies. The lesson here is love and loyalty. It is about learning to be humble and simple. To have needs that are far from greedy and most of all, respect for nature and all forms of life, in living in harmony and peace. Luke Foster By email