Land of stark contrasts

India and France signed a nuclear commerce agreement yesterday. Another step forward in international diplomacy. Sadly, while India's control over its nuclear programme is acknowledged, it is also recognized that Indians have no idea of crowd control. How else can anyone explain yet another temple stampede,this time in Jodhpur, right at the start of the festival season, the fourth major one this year to claim more than a 100 victims? Hundreds of small and big holy places are visited by millions of people everyday and yet there are no coherent public laws on crowd management. The next step up in the comity of nations will only come if such basic issues as public safety are addressed.