Letters to the editor

Frank, good Talk 8226; THIS refers to the second and final part of Shekhar Gupta8217;s 8216;Walk the Talk8217; interview with former Pak...

Frank, good Talk

8226; THIS refers to the second and final part of Shekhar Gupta8217;s 8216;Walk the Talk8217; interview with former Pakistan prime minister, Nawaz Sharif IE, June 18. I found the second part more interesting, informative and eye-opening, because Nawaz Sharif was also more candid in his responses to Gupta8217;s questions. Most of all, he did not pull his punches when referring to General Pervez Musharraf. He said quite frankly that Musharraf was 8220;most unreliable8221;, who cannot claim legitimacy, having deposed a legally and constituently elected prime minister and government. Gupta put to him a whole plethora of questions 8212; on topics ranging from the Kargil War to his life under detention. But what I found commendable was Sharif8217;s courage in appreciating India8217;s judiciary, democracy and parliament. Full marks to Shekhar Gupta for fielding those questions about Pakistan today.

8212; Ahmad Rais Siddiqi, New Delhi

Democracy on way?

8226; THE Indo-Pak dispute is unlikely to be settled in the foreseeable future just because, according to Nawaz Sharif 8216;Walk the Talk8217;, IE, June 18, there is no hurry as democracy is on its way to Pakistan and then India and Pakistan can talk and settle the matter! Of course, the poor man is day-dreaming. He needs to read Fareed Zakaria8217;s 8216;Army with a state8217; IE, June 20. If there is a regime change in favour of democracy in Pakistan, American foreign policy goals will be in jeopardy. And the great dissenter-intellectual of Pakistan, now safely parked in Boston, Husain Haqqani tells us that Pakistan8217;s army is a great source of 8220;stability8221;.

8212; M.K.D. Prasada Rao, Ghaziabad

Pliant president

8226; SHOBHAA DE has made a strong, irrefutable case against Pratibha Patil8217;s candidature, in her article, 8216;It is not about her8217; IE, June 20. Understandably, Congress spokespersons have tried to wrap this last minute choice 8212; the fifth or the sixth in line 8212; after its Leftist allies rejected the earlier suggestions, with the insincere rhetoric about women8217;s empowerment. But, as De rightly argues, 8220;this stifling8230; gender symbolism8221; cannot hide the ugly fact that Pratibha Patil has been 8220;pulled out of her mothballed existence and shoved into the spotlight for one reason alone 8212; she is8230; most accommodating and pliant8230;8221; Sadly, history seems to be repeating itself. This is not the first time the ruling Congress played such 8220;a monumental joke8221; on the people of India on the issue of presidency. How can one forget the installation of inconsequential men like Zail Singh and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed?

8212; M. Ratan, New Delhi