A grand coalition

If the Congress is willing to adapt itself to coalition politics, it should also shed its paranoia about the BJP...

If the Congress is willing to adapt itself to coalition politics, it should also shed its paranoia about the BJP (‘A party’s fine balance’, IE, December 29). If it can be in coalition with the Muslim League in Kerala, why can’t it have a national alliance with the BJP? Such an alliance could destroy caste-based parties serving a divisive agenda. On the economic management of the country, the BJP and the Congress share the platform of liberalisation. A two-party coalition between a moderate BJP and Congress would lead the country to a two-party system in the long run by destroying caste-based parties. Deprived of their political bargaining power, such parties would disintegrate, enabling the Congress to move into that space to be the main adversary of the BJP later.

—V.K. Venugopal On e-mail

Pole vault

• Thomas Friedman says that the good news is that there are 2400 Polish troops in Iraq and the bad news is that 75 per cent of Poles are opposed to this (‘Where US translates as freedom’, IE, December 29). I would say that the bad news is that there are Polish troops in Iraq, and the good news is that 75 per cent of the Poles oppose it. Friedman poses as a champion of democracy but is happy at the presence of Polish troops against the will of the people of Poland. If he had any principles, he would have said that Poland must withdraw its forces from Iraq because the people do not want it.

—Mukhtar Ali Naqvi On e-mail

Poetic in defeat

• Rohit Brijnath wields a rare combination of literary skill and cricketing insight (‘India pray for Melbourne Miracle’, IE, December 30). What is even more refreshing is the ‘‘perspective’’ he brings even when India are heading for defeat — while the rest of the country will, no doubt, be going hammer and tongs at the team. It is a pleasure to read such balanced and erudite cricket writing.

—Abhishek On e-mail

Dada’s the best

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• I think it is frivolous to comment that defence should have been Saurav Ganguly’s mainstay in India’s second innings in the Melbourne Test because even so the critics would have carried on about how he had failed to score (‘Dada betrays the band of brothers’, IE, December 30). Cricket is a game of chance. Saurav lived by the sword and died by it at the MCG. Saurav led from the front in this series, as he always does, so it is needless to blame him for every defeat. We are missing a fit Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. Let’s hope India can bounce back in the next Test at Sydney. Go Saurav Dada!

—Peediaj On e-mail

In past tense

• I am extremely pleased to read the inspiring story about the 1981 cricket match in Melbourne (‘For inspiration, rewind to Melbourne 1981’, IE, December 30). Who as a passionate cricket lover and Indian supporter does not want miracles to happen? But is there any point in surviving on past glories and praying for miracles? The difference between the 1981 team and today’s team is: we do not have Kapil Dev with us. Zaheer Khan is no match for Kapil.

-—Barun Dutta, Perth.

Common supplies to joint training: Armed Forces look at steps ahead of theatrisation

India3 hr ago

Indian Armed Forces are working towards greater jointness and integration among the Army, Navy, and Air Force through standardizing equipment, supply chains, and training. The Combined Commanders Conference discussed measures to improve understanding and create theatre commands.

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