I write in response to the letter by V.K. Natraj from Mysore (Oct. 26). The heavy rains and floods in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh rendered many homeless and took a toll on human lives. The trauma suffered by people there was tremendous. But one wonders how appropriate it is to cite the assistance rendered by the people of Mysore to the people of Tamil Nadu after the tsunami under the leadership of the Suttur Math pontiff to argue that the latter have not reciprocated the gesture by the former. The tsunami was an international calamity and people from every part of the globe extended help to the affected but they did not ask for assistance during the post-tsunami calamities suffered by them.
S. Irudaya Selvaraj
Chennai
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Floods, fires, cyclones, and landslides — all these lead to a loss of human lives across the country. The governments at the Centre and the States take appropriate measures for relief, rescue and rehabilitation. People belonging to the States other than the affected and the international community have always responded to calamities by extending all the assistance possible. It is certainly not the time to draw up balance-sheets on tragedies and response from neighbouring States. Naming a State is particularly dangerous.
R.K. Murthy
Coimbatore
