:: Letters to Editor

Chavan govt put to test

Oct.30 : Sir, Now that the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has come back to power in Maharashtra, it would be interesting to see whether the new government, under the chief ministership of Ashok Chavan, would give priority to installation of a 309-foot-tall Shivaji statue in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai’s Marine Drive and the construction of free houses for slum dwellers or will the chief minister first deal with water shortage, transport woes, and the slow metro construction. The Opposition will try to create law and order problems in Mumbai to demand more jobs and housing for the Marathi-speaking people. It would be interesting to see how the government tackles the emotive issue.

George D’mello

Via email

Stop preaching treason

Sir, There can be nothing more pathetic than a young "radical" preaching treason and airing seditious views. Arundhati Roy’s views on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Muslims are warped. Recently in an interview she said, "What the Muslims were to BJP, the Maoists are to the Congress". Ms Roy should know that more Muslims live peacefully with Hindus in India than Muslims live with Muslims in Pakistan. But we digress. Some time back Ms Roy had asserted that "India needs azadi from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs azadi from India". It’s proof of appalling denigration of nationalism and faith in the nation. Various political parties unabashedly proclaim their "secular" credentials that encourage Ms Roy and her tribe.

Hemavathi A.

Via email

The BJP needs democracy

Sir, It was unscrupulous of the BJP to have secured the resignation of Vasundhara Raje Scindia as the leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. Senior party leader L.K. Advani tried to ward this off, but to no avail. This development speaks of the lack of democracy in the party. If such vengefulness continues, people will lose confidence in the BJP and it can never come to power.

R. Prahlada Rao

Via email

Garner support for a free tibet

Sir, I agree with the views expressed by Nyima Gyalpo in her letter India must talk straight on Tibet (October 29). India provided shelter to the Dalai Lama and thousands of other exiled Tibetans who were forced to flee their homeland in China 50 years ago. If India takes a "Free Tibet" stand, then definitely other countries, and most importantly the United Nations, would agree to consider this issue in international forums.

Shantanu Sharma

Via email

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Take a tough stand on pak

Sir, With reference to the news report PM to Pak: Rein in non-state actors (October 29), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "We hope Pakistan will rein in the elements involved in terrorism in India. If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure". By asking Pakistan to destroy terrorist groups and their infrastructure, including the camps operational on its soil, India is reflecting its soft stand on terrorism. It is time India acts tough and threatens military action if Pakistan does not stop terrorist training camps and infiltration in Kashmir.

Deepak Talukar

Maligaon, Guwahati

Oct.30 : Sir, Now that the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has come back to power in Maharashtra, it would be interesting to see whether the new government, under the chief ministership of Ashok Chavan, would give priority to installation of a 309-foot-tall Shivaji statue in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai’s Marine Drive and the construction of free houses for slum dwellers or will the chief minister first deal with water shortage, transport woes, and the slow metro construction. The Opposition will try to create law and order problems in Mumbai to demand more jobs and housing for the Marathi-speaking people. It would be interesting to see how the government tackles the emotive issue.

George D’mello

Via email

Stop preaching treason

Sir, There can be nothing more pathetic than a young "radical" preaching treason and airing seditious views. Arundhati Roy’s views on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Muslims are warped. Recently in an interview she said, "What the Muslims were to BJP, the Maoists are to the Congress". Ms Roy should know that more Muslims live peacefully with Hindus in India than Muslims live with Muslims in Pakistan. But we digress. Some time back Ms Roy had asserted that "India needs azadi from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs azadi from India". It’s proof of appalling denigration of nationalism and faith in the nation. Various political parties unabashedly proclaim their "secular" credentials that encourage Ms Roy and her tribe.

Hemavathi A.

Via email

The BJP needs democracy

Sir, It was unscrupulous of the BJP to have secured the resignation of Vasundhara Raje Scindia as the leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. Senior party leader L.K. Advani tried to ward this off, but to no avail. This development speaks of the lack of democracy in the party. If such vengefulness continues, people will lose confidence in the BJP and it can never come to power.

R. Prahlada Rao

Via email

Garner support for a free tibet

Sir, I agree with the views expressed by Nyima Gyalpo in her letter India must talk straight on Tibet (October 29). India provided shelter to the Dalai Lama and thousands of other exiled Tibetans who were forced to flee their homeland in China 50 years ago. If India takes a "Free Tibet" stand, then definitely other countries, and most importantly the United Nations, would agree to consider this issue in international forums.

Shantanu Sharma

Via email

***

Take a tough stand on pak

Sir, With reference to the news report PM to Pak: Rein in non-state actors (October 29), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "We hope Pakistan will rein in the elements involved in terrorism in India. If they are non-state actors, it is the solemn duty of the government of Pakistan to bring them to book, to destroy their camps and to eliminate their infrastructure". By asking Pakistan to destroy terrorist groups and their infrastructure, including the camps operational on its soil, India is reflecting its soft stand on terrorism. It is time India acts tough and threatens military action if Pakistan does not stop terrorist training camps and infiltration in Kashmir.

Deepak Talukar

Maligaon, Guwahati