BJP in focus

8226; The editorial, 8216;A BJP-shaped hole8217; IE, August 22, commenting that internal ...

8226; The editorial, 8216;A BJP-shaped hole8217; IE, August 22, commenting that internal turmoil seems to have drained the party of energy and relevance, should be an eye-opener for the BJP. But party leaders do not seem keen to open their eyes to the precarious position the party is in these days. They are grinding their own axes. The well-wishers and supporters of the party are utterly disappointed. The central party office even does not bother to check e-mails, it is said. So there is no use advising them!

8212; Bharat Singh On e-mail

8226; It is strange that suddenly the media is concerned about the role of the BJP as an Opposition. Ever since the UPA has come to power, the media has been pouncing on every action taken report or statement that the BJP/NDA has come out with 8212; as if they have no right to make any statement or take any action against the party in power. This has led to the BJP/NDA to become unduly cautious while making statements or taking actions.

8212; Anil Sharma Delhi

Poor debate

8226; There was time when the functioning of the Indian Parliament was a sight worth seeing 8216;Sense and consensus8217;, IE, August 24. It was a matter of pride to watch eloquent debates and discussions on all issues. Even the Congress party felt proud of its 8216;Young Turks8217;. They used to criticise the Union government on matters of great national interest. The result was that the ruling party felt the pressure both of the 8216;Young Turks8217; and the Opposition and did some course correction. It is a matter of grave concern that today neither do we see the 8216;Young Turks8217; nor the Opposition in action.

8212; Ujjal Pal Singh Faridabad

Indira in Libya

8226; Media reports on Muammar Gaddafi8217;s invitation to Bush state that among the world leaders who went to Libya were Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroeder, Jacques Chirac and Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin. A glaring omission from this list was Indira Gandhi. She went to Tripoli around the time the US broke off diplomatic relations. Your readers may be interested to know that when President Gaddafi received her at the airport, he was wearing his great cloak-cum-flowing robe. While walking alongside her with great flourish, his flowing robe almost pushed her off the red carpet rolled out for her!

8212; Mukund B. Kunte New Delhi

Fernandes8217;s visit

8226; The news report on the visit of George Fernandes to Ahmedabad on August 21. It contains some inaccuracies and does not do justice to the sentiments of the gathering at the gurudwara where Fernandes addressed a meeting. I was there and wish to set the record straight because there appears to have been some misunderstanding which has led to Fernandes being misquoted on the issue of army deployment during the Gujarat riots of 2002. Speaking to the media, Fernandes repeatedly said that despite the fact that at the relevant time the army was deployed at the borders, immediate action was taken by him as raksha mantri and the army reached Gujarat without any delay. He also informed the media that he had reached Ahmedabad even before the army could arrive to personally supervise its deployment. The report that over 200 men and women present at the gurudwara were annoyed that a religious place was being used by Fernandes for a political speech does not do justice to the sentiments of the gathering. Fernandes in fact received a very warm reception from the gathering which was about 400 strong, not 200 as reported.

8212; Abhijat New Delhi