Date:06/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/06/stories/2007080650061003.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Haneef case

That the Australian police were prejudiced is obvious. It is a pity that Dr. Haneef Mohammed had to endure mental agony apparently for no fault of his. But is the grandeur with which the whole nation celebrated his homecoming warranted? And why does the government offer him a job when there are hundreds of qualified unemployed youth in the country?

R. Radhakrishnan,
Chennai

The media and the people should eschew the mindset of treating such incidents as evidence of racism or violation of human rights without taking into account the circumstances in which they take place. Hundreds of doctors and other professionals of different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds work in Australia and other western countries without facing any harassment. Reckless hurling of charges is likely to be counter-productive and will go against the interests of immigrant workers.

S. Gurumurthy,
Chennai