This refers to Bhupesh Bhandari’s column suggesting that populism was the cause behind the action against the AMRI directors (“White knight: Bashing the businessmen,” February 3). Perhaps some additional facts would help. There was the case in Bangalore of Pratibha Prahlad, who was robbed, raped and murdered by her cab driver sent by a software multi-national company to pick her up late at night. Then there was the Uphaar tragedy that saw the Ansals passing the blame onto the cinema hall’s manager much like the columnist passes the blame of the accident in AMRI on the people running the day-to-day affairs of the hospital. Or, consider the Supreme Court asking J J Irani, as Occupier, to appear in a lower court in the case of an accidental death in Tata Steel. The Supreme Court then held that society had given Irani position and money so that he ensures the safety of each and every life in the factory, however insignificant it may be. I hope the columnist realises that it is directors who appoint/promote/reward/set the policy on costs and revenue. That they will be absolved is a given because, in India, jail ultimately means bail. We may actually end up blaming victims of the fire for having caused this misery to owners.
Hari Parmeshwar Mumbai
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