Iraqi challenge

It would be naive on the part of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and India to join hands with the United States in suppres...

It would be naive on the part of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and India to join hands with the United States in suppressing the Iraqi people 8216;Mission Iraq: Bush leans, gives PM a call8217;, IE, September 8.

Indian forces, under whatever title, would be perceived by the Iraqis as an
extension of the occupation forces of America and Britain. It would be foolhardy to get Indian soldiers butchered in a foreign land for a cause which has nothing to do with the security
of India.
8212; S.K. Mehta, On e-mail

Irrelevant split

The infighting in the Hurriyat doesn8217;t deserve much importance 8216;Hawks tear into doves, split Hurriyat8217;, IE, September 8. With the reign of terror in Jammu and Kashmir slipping into the hands of Pakistan-based terrorist outfits, the Hurriyat has already become irrelevant in Kashmir affairs.

It, of course, keeps claiming to be the representative of the Kashmiris but even the nuisance value of this conglomerate of spent forces was lost after mass participation of voters in the last assembly elections, thereby rejecting the Hurriyat8217;s call for a poll boycott.

The scene in Kashmir is fast changing. A democratically elected and working government is in place and the people are no more scared of the terrorists. The president, the prime minister and other ministers are visiting the Valley. The tourists are back. Organisations like the Hurriyat now cannot reverse the trend even if they wish to do so.
8212; M.C. Joshi, On e-mail

Down 038; out in UP

This refers to your editorial 8216;Read their lips8217; September 9. The only way to bring good governance in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar would be to bring in a dictator for two-three years.
8212; Mayur Vasa, On e-mail

Clarification

The story 8216;Goa not conducive for IFFI, say residents8217; August 26 draws conclusions that the reporter fails to uphold in the report:

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8226; The residents he spoke to have suggested that the government should present details of its preparedness to deal with infrastructure requirements for the festival so that the public is not inconvenienced. Not one has said they opposed the Film Festival or that Goa is not conducive for it.
8226; Your correspondent claims that Panaji is prone to epidemics but has nothing to back this charge.
8226; He has not bothered to contact officials and understand the reasons for selection of the sites but instead spoken to four-five people whose opinion he has presented as the 8216;8216;will8217;8217; of the residents.
8212;Rajesh Singh, Director, Information 038; Publicity, Government of Goa

Reporter Raju Nayak replies: The story referred to above was the second of a two-part package on Goa being chosen as the permanent venue of the International Film Festival of India. The first dealt with the requirements of Goa as a venue for IFFI quoting relevant government officials and eminent film-makers.

In fact, I spoke to the Chief Minister and mentioned his plans and what needed to be done to make the festival a success. The unanimous opinion, as the story highlighted, was that it would be good for the state. The second story comprised reactions from some concerned citizens8212;these were not presented as any majority opinion. And in neither story was the reporter presenting his own opinion, simply those of people he spoke to.