Letters to the editor

In the concluding para of his article on Mayawati Shekhar Gupta writes, 8220;When Brahmins and Banias and large sections of Muslims join hands with Dalits, in so unambiguous

A new politics

8226; In the concluding para of his article on Mayawati 8216;Don8217;t take me for granted, don8217;t peddle your past, talk of my future8217;, IE, May 13, Shekhar Gupta writes, 8220;When Brahmins and Banias and large sections of Muslims join hands with Dalits, in so unambiguous a manner, it8217;s perhaps time to say just that, QED. The politics of grievance is yielding to the politics of aspiration.8221; What Shekhar Gupta writes today Abraham Lincoln said a century ago. He said, 8220;You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot enrich the poor by impoverishing the rich. You cannot further brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.8221; It seems that finally the BSP has realised its past political short-sightedness and immediately got the dividend.

8212; Bidyut K. Chatterjee, Faridabad

8226; THE victory of the BSP8217;s 8216;sarv samaj campaign8217; this time has shown an important fact which was hitherto not used by the media or politicians. For long we have heard only of the importance of Muslims in

elections and how they tilt the balance. But this time the BSP8217;s strategy, of wooing Brahmins, has shown that more than Muslims it has been the

support of Brahmins that has been the clear-cut difference between a hung House in UP and a clear-majority BSP win. Kudos to Mayawati for pricking the balloon of Muslim hype in

elections. May such alliances bridge the gaps between the caste groups and help in ushering in a truly caste-harmonic society and not the mythical casteless society.

8212; Udita Agrawal, New Delhi

8226; MAYAWATI broadened her vote base by wooing upper castes and Brahmins and also by speaking of the development of UP with the help of all sections of the people there. The BJP, on the other hand, kept harping on the Ram issue, which is actually proving negative for the party. In fact, by having religion as its platform the BJP will soon realise that only the die-hards of the party will be left on the platform with zero following in the crowds. And lastly, the Congress must realise that the name Gandhi no longer entices or charms the voters.

8212; Harischandra Parasuram, Mumbai

Freedom for art

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8226; Regarding the arrest of Chandramohan Srilamantula 8216;Student in jail, Chancellor is upset but the V-C rules8217;, IE, May 13, I have this to say: Hindu society is not in danger because of one M.F. Husain painting or one Chandramohan painting. It is in danger because it kills its own girl children, it is ruined by dowry system, it is redundant with caste and other social discrimination. Changes come not by chance, but through resistance. Art and artists have

always been in the forefront of resistance and hopefully will

be allowed to continue, or else this will be a sad moment for Indian democracy.

8212; Narendra Raghunath, Ahmedabad