Letters to the editor

Congress held on December 28 2006 in Delhi. The Congress, which thrives only on the Nehru-Gandhi name, is a far cry from the body envisaged by the Indian National Congress founded by Allan Octavian Hume. The present Congress has no principle other than love for power. Besides aiming at ridding the country of the shackles of alien rule, the

Congress dedicated itself to so many social activities like removing untouchability, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, promoting economic independence through cottage industries. It is incongruous that those who don8217;t know what simplicity, sacrifice and humility are, are celebrating the founding day of the Congress. Those who were simple and humble like Rajaji, Sri Prakasam and Kamaraj were not in the Congress at the time of their death. Kamaraj, who was in the Congress O faction, and Rajaji, who founded the Swatantra Party, are not available now to dispute their name being included in the list of Congressmen. The Congress today is fragile. A dozen coalition partners are like horses pulling the Congress chariot in different directions. If the DMK in Tamil Nadu or the JDU in Bihar sneezes the Congress in Delhi shudders: the mighty party that was formed in 1885 has turned meek and weak 60 years after Independence.

8212; A.G. Balasubrahamanian, Chennai

Away from Assam

8226; Sanjoy Hazarika in his article 8216;ULFA: blood-letting as political strategy,8217; IE, January 9 has lamented that the Northeast is at the bottom of India8217;s economic heap despite its rich natural resources. This lament very subtly suggests the indifference of mainland India towards its northeast parts. Geographically, Assam is not that far but logistically, it is very far indeed due to the existence of Bangladesh in between. This sense of distance may have acted as a mental barrier. There is no point blaming our national leaders who did not wait a few more years to gain independence for a united India. Now India must ensure that Bangladesh does not harbour and patronise anti-Indian elements any longer. That way the ULFA8217;s attempts at causing dissension among various sections of the Assamese population will be greatly reduced. Hazarika did not mention the strain on Assam8217;s land resources and unwelcome change in the demographic pattern of Assamese population due to continuous Bangladeshi infiltration, which successive governments have preferred to ignore.

8212; N.K. Das Gupta, Kolkata

8226; The ULFA is trying to divert the attention of the people of Assam. As it has lost the sympathy of the people of the state, it is trying to drive a wedge between Biharis and Assamese. The people of

Assam have done the right thing by condemning the incident. Both the central and state governments should act quickly and restore confidence in the minds of people.

8212; S.N. Sundaraman, Chennai

8226; The violence unleashed by the ULFA on innocent people in Assam should be strongly condemned by all. There is no doubt that the UPA government at the Centre is responsible for this situation. Having already experienced the consequences of aligning with the extremists to capture power in Andhra Pradesh, the party repeated the same mistake in Assam. During the NDA regime, the ULFA was strictly kept under control. One wonders why Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who made a scathing attack on the law and order situation in UP, is maintaining a deafening silence on Assam.

8212; B.R. Haran Chennai