Letters to the editor

The BJP by their actions in Karnataka are proving the old adage of looking a gift horse in the mouth. Irrespective of the problems...

BJP’s southern foray

• The BJP by their actions in Karnataka are proving the old adage of looking a gift horse in the mouth. Irrespective of the problems that they have been having with the JD(S), they should have made sure that they held the reins of government in Karnataka come October, for the simple reason that they had an agreement on that. The JD(S), in the normal course, could not have refused to transfer power. This would have enabled them to head a government in South India , for the first time. More important, it would have been in the advantageous position of running the elections in Karnataka from a position of strength when the general elections came along. The party squandered this chance by first over-reacting to the Rama Sethu comments by the TN CM and allowing its supporters to target his daughter’s house in Bangalore and attack a bus near Hosur. Two people were killed in the process.

Secondly, the BJP MLA from Bellary cast aspersions, that too of murder, against his own CM, displaying a complete lack of maturity. These incidents raise serious doubts about whether the BJP will be able to maintain law and order in the state, given its track record. It has shown no leadership worth the name in the state.

— S. Kamat

Alto Betim, Goa

Gandhi’s jagir?

Story continues below this ad

• Is it not odd that a Gandhi who represented India at a UN General Assembly function observing the Father of the Nation’s birthday as the International Day of Non-Violence, is neither related to him nor is the rightful inheritor of his moral and philosophical legacy? While addressing the UN, Sonia Gandhi called for “courage to follow Gandhiji’s foot steps”. But how did she follow Gandhiji?

By appointing her son Rahul as a general secretary of the Congress! One of The Sunday Express columnists described Rahul Gandhi as ‘yuvaraj’ — the crown prince, while Sudheendra Kulkarni contrasted Sonia Gandhi’s dynastic ‘nepotism’ in favouring her son to Gandhiji’s characteristic refusal to propose his own eldest son, Hiralal, for a scholarship to study law in London, which had caused bitter friction between the father and the son. Is this not a sad commentary on how politicians glorify Gandhiji in rhetoric and dishonour him in deed?

— M. Ratan

New Delhi

Cricketer’s candour

• It was nice to know that Hansie Kronje’s brother is making a movie on the cricketer’s “inner journey — rise, fall and acceptance”. Hansie was undoubtedly a great player. But the way he accepted his guilt makes him a great person too. The way he acknowledged his sin is also not a mean achievement. We have become such slaves to our ambitions that we have deserted the truth.

— Satwant Singh Kalkat

Chandigarh

Champ of the board

• Our congratulations to Vishwanathan Anand on becoming the World Chess Champion by winning the global tournament in Mexico. When it comes to brains in the world sporting arena, there is no one to beat him! Since chess is an individual sport, Anand is the only world champion the country has, and this is a proud moment for India. When our cricketers won T20, they were showered with money. One hopes that our chess champion is feted as wholeheartedly!

— S.N. Kabra

Mumbai

Trump announces TikTok deal, surprise China visit ‘early next year’ after call with Xi

World8 hr ago

Trump and Xi had a successful phone call, addressing trade, Fentanyl, and TikTok. They plan to meet at APEC Summit and for Trump to visit China, with Xi visiting the US. Congress wants TikTok to sell its US assets or shut down, but Trump has not enforced this due to the app's value and progress.

View all shorts

Live Blog