Govt vs Left

8226; The Manmohan Singh Government deserves a pat on its back for its firm stand on ...

8226; The Manmohan Singh Government deserves a pat on its back for its firm stand on the Iran issue and privatising of the two major airports 8212; in what it claims to be the 8216;8216;enlightened national interest8217;8217;, even risking its very survival. The Congress has refuted the Left boast that the Congress-led UPA will not be able to move a single step without the comrades8217; consent. The comrades in turn have been cut to size which they richly deserved. One only hopes that the UPA government8217;s days are not numbered 8212; a possibility since the comrades will find it difficult to digest these twin insults to their pride. Moreover, the Muslim vote bank may also be suspicious of the Congress after the Iran vote. The real test for Manmohan Singh has just begun. All luck to him.

8212; G.S. Kulkarni Delhi

One point agenda

8226; There is no need to feel 8216;humiliated8217; by India8217;s test series defeat to Pakistan. It8217;s now clear that Greg Chappell8217;s coaching or Dravid8217;s captaincy have not helped improve 8220;Team India8217;s8221; fortunes. They have only politicised the gentleman8217;s game. After India8217;s pathetic performance against Pakistan, the point is: what is the use of hiring Greg Chappell? It8217;s shocking that Chappell failed to look into every aspect of the team but only concentrated on plotting Ganguly8217;s exclusion from the team.

8212; Bidyut K. Chatterjee Faridabad

Limits of freedom

8226; Right to freedom of expression doesn8217;t give anyone a license to hurt others8217; religious sensibilities. The Danish newspaper didn8217;t do the right thing by publishing cartoons of the revered Prophet. However, this shouldn8217;t result in violent protests or anything that lets extremists consolidate their support. M.F. Hussain also could have been more sensitive to Hindu sentiments when he painted Goddess Saraswati in a manner some found to be objectionable. At least those who protested against him then shouldn8217;t now criticise Muslims for being extremists and suddenly become champions of press/artistic freedom.

8212; Pranav Sachdeva Delhi

Bapu8217;s children

8226; It is funny that there is a Panchayat of the Lal Dora areas at Rajghat using slogans like 8216;8216;Bapu, save us from bulldozers8217;8217;. Their plea is that the construction laws are not applicable in their areas. Gandhiji stood for truth and for the rule of law. And this bunch wants Gandhiji to save them from the consequences of their unlawful activities like illegal construction? If they have a grievance, they should seek redressal in the court of law.

8212; Mahesh Kumar New Delhi

Congress culture

8226; Apropos of Jayanthi Natarajan8217;s protest note 8216;Don8217;t call it sycophancy8217; IE, February 4, anyone can read between the lines. The article itself is nothing but sycophantic. A pandal decorated with life-size portraits of the Empress and Prince Charming, a crowd of delegates shouting for the next generation Gandhi to be anointed straightway, and Sonia Gandhi8217;s personal appeal to one and all to refrain from showering praises on her going unheeded by each and every speaker young and old 8212; is proof enough of Congress culture. Natarajan talks about 8216;8216;serious resolutions passed after anxious consideration8217;8217;. Who participated and commented on these resolutions in the open forum? The people8217;s perception will not change by such a weak defence.

8212; Inder Nath New Delhi