Dogged opposition

The uproar in the parliament by certain political parties over sniffer dogs being taken to the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Ra...

The uproar in the parliament by certain political parties over sniffer dogs being taken to the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat by US security staff, prior to the visit of US President George W. Bush to pay homage to the father of the nation, is unfortunate. Such security measures as searching the area for any explosives or lethal devices with the help of sniffer dogs are necessary for fool-proof security of the visiting dignitary. No disrespect or desecration of the samadhi should be read into the exercise , as the US security staff, in keeping with the sanctity of the samadhi, had taken off their shoes before entering the precinct.

8212; P.P. Talwar, Dehra Dun

8226; The outrage over the use of sinffer dogs at Mahatma Gandhi8217;s samadhi at Rajghat is misplaced. The dogs were doing their duty honestly and sincerely and their presence should not be considered an insult to the Mahatma. Most of the people who visit the place violate Gandhian principles: they drink and are selfish, dishonest, unpatriotic and hypocritical. Why is their visit not
condemned? Is that not an insult to the Mahatma?

8212; K.G. Acharya, Mumbai

PM8217;s agency

8226; The UPA government suffers from schizophrenia, because it acts from two personality premises when it comes to its dealings with the CBI if we are to believe what the prime minister recently stated. In the case of Quattrochhi the prime minister said that the government would not interfere with the CBI and the entire onus of what was done and not done in the defreezing of the bank account was placed on the CBI. But in the case relating to the inflammatory speeches of L.K. Advani, the UPA government has been querying the CBI. The prime minister cannot be let off the hook on the plea of his clean image, because it is no longer true.

8212; Hilda Raja, Chennai

Mother India

8226; The manner in which M.F. Husain has depicted 8216;Bharatmata8217; is an insult to the people. His expressions of regret have no meaning. Indians are the most tolerant people in the world. They don8217;t indulge in unruly behaviour but believe in peaceful protests. This should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness.

8212; P.K. Poovaiah, Bangalore

Team India

8226; The national selectors are to be congratulated on taking a bold decision in restructuring the Indian cricket squad to face England. Non-performers were dropped while building a promising young team for the future. The only regret is that no player from Tamil Nadu finds a place in the squad.

8212; R. Thiruvengadam, Chennai

Me not Jain

8226; Your correspondent reporting for the Interfaith Round Table meeting with President Bush on March 2 has described Dr L.M. Singhvi erroneously as the head of Jain religion. He has been invited as a man of Interfaith. Your readers should know that Dr Singhvi is the President of Veda Pratishthan, patron of Parasi Zoroastrian Foundation, a member of Maha Bodhi Society of Buddhist, founder president of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur International Foundation, chancellor of Jain Vishva Bharati a university dedicated to communal Harmony and Interfaith Amity. I may also point out that the head of Jain religion or any of its sects has to be a Muni or Sanyasi whereas Dr Singhvi is a householder.

8212; Kamla Singhvi, New Delhi