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Unwanted hype

Sanjay Dutt made headlines on the day he was sentenced. I have no grouse against factual and accurate reporting. What rankles is the sympathetic tone in much of the coverage. Does Sanjay deserve our sympathy? There is clear evidence that he was in illegal possession of an AK-56. This gun can fire many rounds per minute with devastating effect. The plea that such a weapon was obtained by him for self-defence is, well, ridiculous.

Let us not waste tears on Sanjay’s six-year sentence — he perhaps deserved more. A tear instead for those who died in the Mumbai blasts will go a longer way in fighting evil.

Dhananjay Jog,
Panaji

Soli Sorabjee is right in cautioning that no signal of any “celebrity justice delivery system” should go to the people (Aug. 6). But unfortunately, this is precisely the signal the television channels have been trying to send in the last few days. Why is so much fuss being made over one person, when so many are languishing in jails? Why is the Sanjay Dutt verdict being used to portray the picture that the judiciary is favouring the Mumbai rioters when it is executive inaction that is to blame?

K. Aravamudhan,
New Delhi

When we have faith in the judiciary which we believe is independent, why should the media and some sections indulge in campaigns against the judgment? Justice cannot be influenced by signature campaigns and demonstrations.

K.C. Thomas,
Mumbai

While strong public opinion, ably backed by proactive and dynamic media, is a healthy sign of a vibrant democracy, of late we have been witness to the people interfering with the judicial process by either demanding instant justice or criticising the judicial pronouncements in high profile cases. This is a dangerous trend because it exerts undue moral pressure on judges.

V.V.S. Mani,
Bangalore

The media are reacting now more than they reacted when the crimes were committed. The common man is tired. He wants the media to find everlasting solutions to prevent the recurrence of such crimes so that they can be hailed as a true pillar of democracy.

T.S. Gopalakrishnan,
Chennai

Of course, news about Sanjay is sensational like our ‘masala’ movies. But should everything about him form part of ‘breaking news’ in a country where there are many more serious problems? What about the Northeast? The peace process between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M)?

Himan Bayan,
Siliguri

Sanjay should appeal to his Bollywood fraternity to desist from interfering with the due process of law. He has the legal option of appealing in the Supreme Court. Our intelligentsia in the media and filmdom will do well to remember that the supremacy of law is non-negotiable. It is highly improper to organise demonstrations and conduct signature campaigns or opinion polls in an attempt to manufacture “opinion” for or against verdicts.

A.P. Jayanthram,
Chennai

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