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Journalism of Courage
8226; Wonderful interview 8216;After Gujarat I think I grew as a human being, as I grew from being a child to an adult8217;, IE, April 6. Aamir Khan is one of our more intelligent and sensitive actors. I do wonder, though, how someone like him who is so rightly appalled by the events of Gujarat can uphold Sarfarosh as a model film on communal issues. Would someone please tell him that even though the film is very slick, part of the problem is the way it sets up a binary opposition between the 8220;good8221; Indian Muslim and the 8220;evil8221; Pakistani 8220;mohajir8221; who wants to avenge Partition. If we as a polity want to ensure that another Gujarat never happens, then it8217;s not just enough to reaffirm the idea of India, but to question the idea of binary differences between India and Pakistan 8212; to affirm our common subcontinental lineage. Shyam Benegal8217;s Mammo or the more recent Pakistani film Khamosh Pani are interesting counter-examples.
8212; Priya Kumar Iowa City
Naxal realism
8226; At the very start of the peace talks with Naxalites, opposition to it was much more prominent than support and the move was seen as misplaced enthusiasm of the newly elected Reddy government of Andhra Pradesh 8216;Yes sir, YSR8217;, IE, April 6. It has once again been proved that terrorists cannot be tamed by pampering. Such attempts only fail. Governments need to be tough with them till they become tired and disillusioned with the futility of their unproductive mission and come to terms with reality. It happened in Punjab, it is happening in Kashmir and the Northeast. As your editorial rightly says, the influence of Naxalites in any region is in inverse proportion to the quality of governance therein. The affected governments need to lay stress on this practical aspect rather adopting the unrealistic policy of pampering and soft-peddling with the Naxalites.
8212; M.C. Joshi Lucknow
VAT a turnaround
8226; The BJP is enacting a political drama on VAT because it is being implemented by a Congress government 8216;How BJP said yes yes to VAT before it said no no8217;, IE, April 6. This stunt gives lie to their claim that the party will support growth-oriented economic policies.
8212; C. Srikanth Chennai
Perks of opposition
8226; The BJP should continue to adopt the Oppose for Opposition policy, since it is the Congress which started the practice of untouchability towards their political opponent. Look at Jharkhand and Goa, the Congress can stoop to any level to grab power. The BJP should talk the same language with the Congress.
But the BJP President L.K. Advani must remove Narendra Modi, who is becoming a liability for the party.
8212; Kamal Ahmed Mumbai
Many more Dhonis
8226; Look at the case of Mahendra Singh Dhoni 8216;Dhoni8217;s day out8217;, IE, April 6. If Saurav Ganguly had been dropped and V.V.S. Laxman dropped even earlier, then, who knows, maybe we would have had another good batsman in the Indian team by now.
8212; Harsh Jhunjhunwala Jamshedpur
