Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Shocking behaviour

L'affaire Rahul Mahajan is an example of youth led astray by unlimited money at their disposal. That Rahul reportedly used a 500-rupee note to snort cocaine shows the utter disdain he had for money, especially considering the poverty levels of our country. The incident has given the people an insight into the life of the privileged class. We hope such a spoilt generation of youth does not enter politics and claim to be our caring leaders.

S.A. Nasser Khan,
Chennai

* * *

The incident has brought to the fore the prevalent drug culture in India. The menace pervades our society and is destroying the younger generation. Scenes of teenage boys and girls taking stimulants and designer drugs are common in Mumbai's pubs and discos. Why do the authorities not crack down on them? Are they afraid of the upper crust of society and its connections? The police are quick to apprehend roadside addicts but when it comes to acting against the high and mighty, they are found to be lax.

Amjad K. Maruf,
Mumbai

* * *

Almost all activities such as doping thrive with the connivance of the authorities. It would be naïve to assume that the local authorities were hitherto unaware of the activities of all those who are being hauled up now for alleged drug peddling. When television cameras can reach peddlers' hideouts and interview them, is it difficult for the police to bust the rackets if they want to? Do they require an accident involving big guns to act? The problem in our country is laxity and connivance coupled with too much political interference.

Nitin G. Gokarn,
Mumbai

* * *

Doing drugs is on the rise in urban India, and the issue needs to be addressed with understanding. The rich, not necessarily young, use it as a means of entertainment. The student community takes to it out of curiosity and ignorance. Either way, it presents a grave threat to the health of the nation and society.

It leads to addictive behaviour, which in many ways fosters crime. It has a direct effect on the nervous system that turns healthy individuals into little more than vegetables. The net result is a stricken and unproductive class of people.

Anand Datla,
Secunderabad

* * *

The happenings culminating in Rahul's admission in a serious condition to the Apollo Hospital are both unfortunate and intriguing. That he indulged in drug abuse on a sombre occasion is very shocking indeed.

It proves yet again that money can buy dangerous substances and there are enough people willing to supply them. A striking aspect of the entire episode is the media behaviour in the last three days. The electronic media have virtually started enquiring into the incident.

K. Sivaraman,
Chennai

* * *

The media hype, marked by a near complete lack of balanced reporting, is indeed disheartening. A television channel even interviewed others allegedly involved in the matter to substantiate the claim that Rahul Mahajan and Bibek Moitra snorted drugs. This is unfair to the people involved and the late Moitra.

Even The Hindu said Mahajan snorted cocaine. Does it accept the word of the three young men as final?

S. Sridhar,
Irvine, California

* * *

In the last few days, the media have been awfully busy covering the Rahul Mahajan case. Incidents involving drug abuse keep happening all the time. One wonders whether the media will pay similar attention to the killing of the retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police by dacoits when he tried to prevent them from robbing train passengers in Bihar? It is an issue that concerns the ordinary citizen more.

T.K. Sarkar,
New Delhi

* * *

The BJP's political fortunes have touched a new low. Even as its Gujarat Government keeps coming up with novel forms of high-handedness much to the embarrassment of moderates such as Atal Bihari Vaypayee, a fiery sanyasin walks out of the party only to take pot-shots at its top leadership, and in a case of fratricide its charismatic leader is eliminated, comes the Rahul Mahajan episode, in which one of its aspirants is stuck in a drug scandal that may be only the tip of the iceberg. Before the party fires its missives at the UPA and its leaders, it would do well to set its house in order.

Suresh Manoharan,
Hyderabad

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