Letters to the editor

Concerns not new8226; WITH reference to my article, 8216;The right to offend8217; IE, January 30, Jawid Laiq complains that he did not ...

Concerns not new

8226; WITH reference to my article, 8216;The right to offend8217; IE, January 30, Jawid Laiq complains that he did not hear a word from me regarding the massacres in Gujarat in 2002 8216;Letters to the Editor8217;, January 31. Obviously Mr Laiq has not read my piece in The Times of India published on March 3, 2002 nor my public statement at a seminar reported in The Times of India of March 4, 2002 wherein I condemned the Gujarat government for the carnage. Apparently he has also missed my speech in Jaipur reported in The Indian Express of May 14, 2002 when I said Gandhiji would have shuddered at the happenings in Gujarat, and also my severe criticism of Chief Minister Narendra Modi which appeared on the front page of The Asian Age of September 5, 2003. I trust Mr Laiq is now better informed.

8212; Soli Sorabjee, New Delhi

Face of truth

8226; IT is a well-known fact that members from the minority community were brutally massacred by those from the majority community during the 2002 Gujarat riots. So if a film like Parzania reveals the truth, why are film exhibitors hesitating to screen it in Gujarat 8216;The right to offend8217;? Is it because the people who were actively involved in promoting the riots are not bold enough to face the truth? By watching movies like this, these people may realise their mistakes and in future work in a positive direction in order to repent for their crimes.

8212; Saad Ullah Khan, Aligarh

One-track HRD

8226; THE HRD ministry committee8217;s approach to education for Muslims is absolutely correct and quite commendable 8216;Panel overrules Arjun deputy Fatmi, says no to education quota for Muslims8217;, IE, January 30. The committee has recommended all the right things, including more neighbourhood government primary schools, especially for Muslim girls with school transport on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalayas and vocational training for Muslim youths, especially those belonging to families of artisans, and scholarships for poor Muslim children. Quota is never the way for advancement and empowerment of Muslim community or any other community for that matter. It should insist on government action which ensures education for its children right from the primary to the graduation level and adequate government scholarships and other financial help to the poor Muslim children.

8212; M.C. Joshi, Mumbai

BJP shake-out

8226; THIS refers to the editorial, 8216;Team Rajnath8217; IE, January 31. The BJP hardly needs enemies, as the reshuffle in the party shows, it has been reduced to merely a tale of battle between brothers.

8212; Naval Langa, Ahmedabad

Clarification

8226; THIS concerns the report titled, 8216;Cost of power: Rs 124.5 lakh, defaulters: MPs and ministers8217;, IE, January 22. Based on your correspondent8217;s inquiries with our office, we had immediately written to the NDMC on January 18, inquiring about any bills pending settlement by P. Chidambaram, the finance minister. Subsequently, NDMC has intimated to us that a total amount of Rs 5,987 was shown as due from Chidambaram in respect of his occupation of Bungalow No. 30, Aurangazeb Road, which he vacated in December 1999. NDMC has also clarified that the said amount was not brought to the notice of the finance minister earlier due to faulty reconciliation of accounts, which has since been rectified. Based on the bills now raised by NDMC, Chidambaram has remitted the amount of Rs 5,987. This is for your kind information.

8212; S. Krishnan, Private secretary to finance minister, New Delhi