:: Letters to Editor

26/11: drag pak to world court

Sept.22 : Sir, This is with reference to the news report Pak makes empty gesture on Hafiz (September 19). The US pressure might have forced Pakistan to file two FIRs against Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks, but it will never punish its men who were aided and abetted by the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Pak Army. Islamabad’s dilly-dallying and nonchalance shows that Pakistan is not serious in taking action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage. Even if Hafiz Saeed is arrested, the courts may release him for want of evidence as regards his involvement in the 26/11 terror attack. It is time India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, taking Washington into confidence.

Ramani Avantsa

Via email

Mamata’s big gameplan

Sir, In the recent decision taken by Union railway minister Mamata Banerjee that there will be no forceful acquisition of land for railway projects, lies her ulterior motive (Mamata’s hard land line to cost railways much more, September 17). Ms Banerjee wants to win the 2011 West Bengal Assembly elections. She had no ideological problems in the past with the Right-wing economic and political agenda of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). She made a show of resigning from the Union Cabinet after the Tehelka expose of the then defence minister George Fernandes, but returned to the NDA on the persuasion of Mr Fernandes, the NDA coordinator. Within months of driving the Tata Nano project out of West Bengal, Ms Banerjee began to woo industrialists. We, the public, must not be fooled by a politician’s tactics.

Asim Majumdar

Worli, Mumbai

Aussies’ colour obsession

Sir, Racism is still raising its ugly head in Australia. World leaders should condemn this. Today, it is the Indians who are under attack, tomorrow it may be the Pakistanis or the Sri Lankans. The white people seem to be obsessed with the colour of the skin. The Asians have been very tolerant so far. They may retaliate if they are subjected to racism anywhere in the world.

K. Pradeep

Via email

The runaway tongue

Sir, This is with reference to the news report PM says Tharoor comments a ‘Joke’ (September 19). To call Shashi Tharoor’s sarcastic "cattle class" remark a mere joke is itself a big joke that is difficult to digest. People in responsible positions should be careful when they speak. The stature of politicians depends on how guarded they are when they speak in public.

R.K. Viswanathan

Via email

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A flawed analysis

Sir, This is with reference to the editorial Bypolls: Warning sign for Congress (September 19). The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, Mohan Bhagwat, blamed Rajnath Singh and L.K. Advani for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) debacle in 2009 Lok Sabha elections. In the recent by-elections, the BJP has performed well in places like Bihar and Delhi. In the latter, it is not the ruling party. Mr Singh and Mr Advani continue to be at the helm in the BJP. What is Mr Bhagwat going to say about the by-election results?

Sanjana Sukumar

Via email