Letters to the Editor

UP-rooted democracy8226; As a victim of Article 356 many a time, one expected the DMK to oppose President8217;s rule in UP 8216;Southern...

UP-rooted democracy

8226; As a victim of Article 356 many a time, one expected the DMK to oppose President8217;s rule in UP 8216;Southern somersault8217;, IE, February 20. Notwithstanding the pressure from AIADMK, Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not resort to dismissing the DMK government in Tamil Nadu. That was the main reason for AIADMK8217;s withdrawal of support resulting in the government8217;s fall. In the process, the DMK president has abruptly let down Elangovan, a secretary of the party, by disowning his statement that the DMK is dead set against applying Article 356 under any circumstances. Compare this with NDA convener George Fernandes, who was stoutly opposed to President8217;s rule in UP. Further, when the UPA is not unanimous in its views of imposing President8217;s rule in UP, how can the Congress alone decide on imposing President8217;s rule in the state? In a coalition government deriving its strength from 14 supporting parties, the Congress on its own cannot decide on the issue. Neither is the president just a rubber stamp. President Kalam must not allow such murder of democracy.

8212; V.E. Venkataramani, Chennai

Terror on train

8226; It is shocking to know that the train which was named 8216;Samjhauta Express8217; has proved this time to be different from its meaning: samjhauta or compromise. But the inhuman terrorists who have attacked it have not compromised. Their cowardly and inhuman actions to demobilise a special train helping millions of Pakistanis and Hindustanis to travel across the border should be strongly condemned. I request Lalu Prasad Yadav to take more serious security measures to check the entry of such mean terrorists to prevent such accidents in future. May God give the courage to bear the shock to the relatives of those killed or injured.

8212; Ahmad Rais Siddiqi, New Delhi

Chinese thaw

8226; It is heartening to read that the three foreign ministers of Russia, China and India had recently met in India and have taken some far-reaching decisions regarding democratising international relations with a view to bringing about lasting peace. In this connection I am reminded how much far-sighted Jawaharlal Nehru was, who felt that these three countries 8212; Russia, China and India 8212; would play an important role in world affairs. He did his best to promote relations among the three countries and fought for the admission of China into the UN in those early days when the US was strongly opposed to China.

The foreign ministers who met recently are opposed to confrontation as a mechanism to govern regional and global affairs. I would like to point out here that by utilising good relations with China, India may impress upon it the need to sort out the Tibet issue and negotiate with the Dalai Lama.

8212; O.N. Dhar, Pune

Bias bettered

8226; The Indian Express deserves praise for exposing the double standards and cultural policing of the UPA government, vis-a-vis Fulbright scholars. The topics which have been objected to include those mainly relating to Islam in society and to communism. What a surprise is that Murli Manohar Joshi and the NDA, which used to be blamed for cultural policing by Congress and Left-wing intellectuals, has actually emerged much cleaner on the issue The Sunday Express, February 18.

8212; Udita Agrawal, New Delhi