:: Letters to Editor

Maoists pose big threat to india

Oct.02 : Sir, Apropos to S. Nihal Singh’s article Talk to Maoists, but also show who’s the boss (October 29), the home ministry should definitely urge the Maoists to initiate a dialogue with the state, but that should be done only after the outfit lays down arms and allows the state to punish the criminal elements who have taken precious lives. No one is above law, and justice must be provided to the families of the victims. If the Maoists do not agree to such terms, the Centre and the state governments should launch an attack with utmost force. The Maoists are far more dangerous than the Kasabs. At least the Kasabs attacked an alien nation, but the Maoists are bleeding the country from within.

Kajal Chatterjee

Panihati, Kolkata

Strip agassi of his titles

Sir, I have long been a great admirer of tennis player Andre Agassi. It is a matter of sorrow that he used crystal meth and got away with it by blaming his positive test on a spiked drink. He is one of the world’s richest tennis players, and his wife Steffi Graf a tennis legend. Clearly, the lure of big prize money and the prospect of improving his ATP rankings, were the reasons for Agassi taking drugs. This means that we should only fall in love with a sport, not those who play it. Not only Agassi but all other sports offenders should be stripped of the titles they hold.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee

Via email

Let the public judge indira

Sir, This is with reference to Dr P.C. Alexander’s article A misunderstood loner (October 31). Indira Gandhi was insecure and most of her actions were the result of her insecurity, although she wanted to come off as bold. As Dr Alexander says, her insecurity grew as she went up the political ladder. Her overtures to the Akalis was a failure. She could not rein them in. Later she paid for Operation Bluestar with her life. Let all the facts be placed before the public.

K.N. Krishna Moorthy

Via email

Dangerous neighbours

Sir, Pakistan and China have become the two most dangerous countries in the world. The former is exporting terror to secular and democratic countries, and the latter is exporting military hardware to non-secular and non-democratic countries. As a result the world has become unstable. The Western countries are now unable to defeat the rag-tag army of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, which consists of racketeers, bandits and murderers. It is unlikely the western countries can do anything to prevent Pakistan and China from exporting terror and military hardware. It is ironic that many students from Pakistan and Iran are learning nuclear science in the universities of the West.

James Rodrigues

Via email

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Education can build a nation

Sir, For the cost of a single additional soldier stationed in Afghanistan for one year, the United States could build roughly 20 schools there. Education can play a miraculous role and serve as a basis for the introduction of democracy and peace. It should be the first priority for any nation dreaming about peace and stability. Ignorant people are easily excited and deceived. They are difficult to convince because their horizons are limited. Some people in the region take advantage of this situation and brainwash young and naïve children.

Mortaza Aslrasouli

Via email