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a pplaud the writers for highlighting the
dedicated service of G. Bhagawan, a
teacher at a government school in Tamil
Nadu’s Thiruvallur district, ‘People’s
DGP’ Rupin Sharma in Nagaland,
Kailash Chandra Das, who works at a
health centre in Odisha and sub-inspec-
tor Gagandeep Singh of Uttarakhand,
who saved a Muslim man from a mob
last month. It’s only through their dedi-
cation to duty, sense of selfless service,
motivation and determination that they
have been able to find a place in people’s
hearts. Outlook must publish more such
inspiring stories.
Strongman With Ties
CHENNAI K.R. Narasimhan: After
his re-election, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has emerged as Turkey’s president,
head of government and head of the
ruling party (A Turkish Rondo, July 9).
FIST PALM Erdogan greets supporters
Though he’s seen as the strongest
Turkish leader since Ataturk, compari-
sons should end there. Ataturk was
fiercely wedded to modernity, den
ounced fanaticism as an obstacle to
progress and advocated secularism. By
WHERE
TO FIND
Green Kill
FARIDABAD Bidyut Kumar
Chatterjee: To Hack a Smart City (July 9)
is an eye-opener to all that we do in the
name of development, for which future
generations will curse us. While the PM
promotes yoga for good health, is there
anywhere in the NCR except his resi-
dence where one can breathe fresh air?
More trees are needed in this city plagued by pollution, but instead more pro-
jects to build up the concrete jungle are set to take a toll on Delhi’s tree popu-
lation. And this is nothing new—the felling of 1,713 trees at Pragati Maidan
was approved earlier. NBCC chairperson A.K. Mittal sought to reassure peo-
ple by saying that “We plan to start compensatory planting in these places as
soon as the construction work is over, and make them lush green like at New
Moti Bagh.” A simple question to Mr Mittal: is he unaware of how many years
it took for those trees to grow to their p
resent level? Until the new trees grow,
will the aam aadmi enjoy the p
ollution in the affected area?
contrast, Erdogan has pushed in
Islamists in leading Turkish institu-
tions, while carrying on a purge of pro-
fessionals allegedly close to exiled
Islamic preacher Fetullah Gulen, inc
luding assault on the free press. He has
also sold a leading media group to a
crony. Turkish people would rather fol-
low news on social media than believe
pro-government media outlets. The
Turkish economy is in the doldrums;
infl ation is high and its currency uns
teady. The country badly needs to boost
trade and investment. Worse, Turkish
cities are open to attack by Kurdish
separatists. Despite all this, the US and
Russia court Erdogan.
Dark Cloisters
MARUTHANCODE, TAMIL
NADU G. David Milton: This refers to
Sin In The Box (June 9). Two incidents
connected to sexual abuse by a bunch
of orthodox priests and a bishop in
Kerala have recently come to light.
These reported cases could well be only
the tip of the iceberg. Sexual abuse by
‘men of God’ should not be hushed up.
Catholic priests and Bishops are
human like the rest of us, let’s bring
them down from the pedestal. They are
not asexual to not need some sexual
outlet. Repression breeds perversions.
The priests involved in the sex scandal
are said to have taken advantage of a
housewife’s confessions. The sacrament
of confession gives the priest informa-
tion about personal transgressions and
can be used for prurient pleasure.
Hearing confessions remains the exclu-
sive preserve of priests. A thought: nuns
could have been allowed to perform the
penance for women. The theological
explanation for women devotees con-
fessing to priests and not to nuns is not
enunciated adequately.
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23 July 2018 OUTLOOK 5