Still controversial

The news item, “Taking the RNAi route to disable genes, control pest attacks on crops’ (October 8) is about something that is fundamentally not very different from the now controversial GM technology and, as such, cannot be considered a “welcome initiative”.

A messenger RNA in a plant cell need not behave as previously programmed. If it were not so, one would not have found so many mutants of plants in the neighbouring GM crop fields with, in many cases, ordinary plants turning into uncontrollable wild weed species due to crossover of pollen from GM crops to non-GM crops.

It is important to recognise that when one dabbles in a particular science, which is at the very periphery of sound knowledge, with so much unknown, the results are likely to be totally unpredictable. This is the reason why one has to separate good science from commercial science, and the latter, unfortunately is the current thrust in agribusiness.

KP Prabhakaran Nair

Email

Sand shortage

The construction industry is facing a shortage of sand. Expert engineers can think of ways to convert building debris for re-use as a substitute for sand. This might bring down pressure on the demand for sand.

Mohanprakash DV

Mysore

Droning on

With reference to the article, “All you wanted to know about drone deliveries” by K Venkatasubramanian (October 7), being optimistic is fine.

As a technician working on drone models, I would like to say that this article and more such in the media are all a hype. The writers lack the technical knowledge. Even in the US and other advanced economies their viability is daunting due to many factors. Defence use is a different story. Most drones at present, including those used by Google and Amazon, will be easily lost in innumerable freaky ways.

Saktivel Periasamy

Online

Right view

The Karnataka High Court has rightly viewed that graft cases cannot be tolerated at any cost. Jayalalithaa’s application for bail was on medical grounds.

It is true she is a diabetic patient and has low BP. Had she not been convicted in the disproportionate assets case or had the disposal of case been postponed for a longer period, she would not have stepped down as Chief Minister on the grounds of health.

Remaining in jail without stress or strain is easier than running a government with diabetes and low BP troubling her in her day-to-day work. The diseases of politicians play a destructive role only when they are jailed. The same diseases remain dormant so long as they enjoy positions of power. In the interest of her own health, Jayalalithaa needs rest. For that, jail is the ideal place.

The fans of Jayalalithaa are protesting too much against the court judgment. Do they mean the Constitution of India has issued a carte blanche to her to amass as much wealth as she wants? Is it wrong on the part of the court to convict her even when she is proved guilty of amassing wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income?

KV Seetharamaiah

Hassan, Karnataka

The conferring of the Nobel Prize in medicine to the “awesome threesome” of John O'Keffe, May-Britt and Edward Moser is a fitting reward for an outstanding discovery. The trio are credited with discovering an “inner GPS” that helps the brain navigate. Their toil took over three decades to fructify but it was worth the time and effort. The amazing discovery will not only help us in better understanding the brain but could also help explain complex matters like why Alzheimer’s patients lose their way and cannot recognise the environment. The discovery could go down in history as an important milestone and come as a shot in the arm for medical research.

NJ Ravi Chander

Bangalore

Erratum

The word ‘philosophy’ was misspelt in the article headline “Taking the 5S philosophy to the CIO’s office” in The New Manager page (October 8). The error is regretted.

Welcome statement

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s exhortation to the people of Tamil Nadu not to resort to violence or closure of shops in the State in the wake of Jayalalithaa’s bail plea being rejected by the Karnataka High Court is welcome. One hopes OPS will maintain the tempo of the administration provided by Jayalalithaa, and also never allow law and order problems to affect the State’s smooth functioning.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Ranipet, Tamil Nadu

Don’t undercut

This refers to the news item, “Taxman’s sword hangs over e-commerce firms” by KR Srivats (October 8). No industry should be allowed to undercut prices so as to make a loss now and by this act hope to profit when the competition is reduced. The Government should have been ahead of the e-commerce industry in regulating it properly. A friend who owns a hardware shop complains about the way these players bill the product in zones where taxes are very low. That is the reason he says he has lost around 30 per cent of his business because he cannot match the prices offered by these e-commerce players.

Predatory pricing is not possible in Europe because of good regulation. The Government should regulate this industry in a way that they play by the rules of business and pay their fair share of taxes. Any industry with a disruptive idea has its place in the market and if you break this rule it paves the path for its own destruction. The Indian e-commerce industry will do well to serve society with good practices, not the other way around.

CR Arun

Email

Stupid behaviour

Throwing missiles to hurt or hurling shoes to shame someone seems to have become a fashion among disgruntled persons. Treating such misdemeanours lightly will only encourage such behaviour. The Government may ponder over making it a cognisable offence to send strong signals to the people. Uncivilized behaviour has no place in civilised society.

HP Murali

Bangalore

Act on policies

This refers to the article “We need a sharp policy intervention” by V Raja (October 8). Though the previous government framed the policies most of them were still on paper and not implemented. The Government needs to see that policies become reality in a phased manner. Constant monitoring should be done. If these policies are well implemented then direct and indirect employment will be generated and also more revenue. Similarly, universities should also develop new courses suitable to the industries.

Vedula Krishna

Kakinada

Tharoor’s leanings

It is hard to find a more ardent admirer of Narendra Modi than Shashi Tharoor even in the BJP. Tharoor cannot be unaware that his fulsome praise of Modi would give the impression that he shares his worldview and legitimises his political style. The subtext of Tharoor’s adulation of Modi is not lost on the discerning public. To say that people do not understand the nuances is to insult their intelligence. It is just not credible that a man of such great discernment has unwittingly used the issue of sanitation to undermine the importance of secularism. Tharoor cannot say that he has given no thought to the political dimension of his association with Modi's programmes like Swachh Bharat. Where he now stands in the ideological battle between the forces of secularism and those of sectarianism is not clear enough. Simply put, Tharoor cannot keep a foot in both camps.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

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