Everybody146;s welcome

This refers to Seema Chishti8217;s 8216;In defence of politics8217;. Chishti has elegantly explained the meaning of the word 8220;politics8221;.

8226; This refers to Seema Chishti8217;s 8216;In defence of politics8217;. Chishti has elegantly explained the meaning of the word 8220;politics8221;. The intelligentsia considers it a cesspool and disregards its importance. But the article elaborates on the complex and challenging nature of politics. If the intellectual class can understand the need of quality people in management, engineering and medicine, they should then also appreciate the level of intellect required in politics. And they shouldn8217;t stay away from politics either.

8212; Sidheshwar Tiwari

Nagpur

Soured old demands

8226; Power often induces amnesia. Nothing illustrates this better than the way the BJP8217;s political agenda has been tuned to a retrograde mode. Earlier, the party took an opportunistic position on the nuclear deal, forgetting Vajpayee8217;s legacy. And now, it has begun to talk of scrapping Article 370 once more 8212; an irresponsible move given the criticality of the Kashmir peace process. Although Ayodhya had apparently been forgotten, one cannot trust deluded leaders smelling power in Delhi once more.

8212; Souresh Roy

New Delhi

Tread softly

8226; The BJP has been rightly advised not to raise controversial issues such as Article 370 and the uniform civil code. This is imperative if the BJP intends to keep the NDA united, with a view to winning the next general election. The BJP8217;s recent victory in the Karnataka assembly elections should make it formulate welfare-oriented local policies rather than mislead it into the old dream of becoming of a pan-Indian party. Thus should the BJP tread carefully on Kashmir and understand the sensitivities of the Kashmiri people.

8212; Satwant Kaur

Mahilpur, Punjab

Andhra trip

8226; The Andhra bypoll results may or may not be a referendum on the Telangana issue. But the outcome, and Chandrasekhar Rao8217;s thin margin of victory, do raise serious questions about the Telangana sentiment. Development of the Telangana region doesn8217;t depend on statehood, nor is it going to be determined by these results. Proper cooperation between the Central and state governments is necessary to ensure that Telangana doesn8217;t turn into another basket case.

8212; B.K. Chatterjee

Faridabad

The vulture8217;s return

8226; Jaithirth Rao8217;s message extends beyond the grounding of the Indian vulture. In fact, all that used to be good about India is being grounded, and the consequences are for everybody to see. Rao also makes clear that the pleas of civil society are casually treated or ignored and the authorities remain unmoved. Rao stands vindicated as his feathered friends have indeed survived but taken the form of politicians and bureaucrats who go scavenging in order to rid the natural and human environments of their assets.

8212; Kedarnath R. Aiyar

Mumbai