Letters to the editor

— N. Kunju

Delhi

US behind him?

• One gets a very strong feeling that the US is behind Musharraf’s move to impose emergency. The Pakistan president would not have dared to do this without America’s blessings. Right from the days of Zia, the US has kept tabs on that country. It is only to keep up the fancy façade before the world of being a nation wedded to democratic principles that the US now pretends to have been ignorant about Musharraf’s latest move.

— A. Prasad

Ahmedabad

My prescription

• Your editorial, ‘Any prescription?’ is at once provocative and thought-provoking. But I am afraid asking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide a “prescription” for the impasse created by a “fractured verdict” is like asking a patient to write out a prescription for his own illness. I believe, firmly, that critics in the media should turn into cooperators in their search for positive and practical solutions. We cannot expect solutions from regional political parties. As a participative citizen, I suggest the following two remedies: One, our Constitution has defined with reasonable care the powers of the states and the Centre. We have to educate our electorate to distinguish between the election to the Lok Sabha and to the Vidhan Sabha. Second, it is important for the two major national parties to agree on constitutional amendments that are in the best interest of the nation.

— Parimal Y. Mehta.

Vadodara

Kremlin overview

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Russia is seen as very significant. But a lot has changed between the two countries since the old days.

Today, India is seen as tilting towards the US while Russia is being known to indirectly aid India’s main rival, Pakistan. Moreover, India feels that Russia has been demanding too much money for its military hardware, such as jet fighters and aircraft carriers. It is also upset about the Kudankulam nuclear power plants which will not be able to generate power until 2009, because Russia is taking its time in supplying crucial equipment. These developments were felt to take its toll on India-Russia ties, which are a cause of concern for both countries since they have the potential to jeopardise the relationship. But the Kremlin and South Block took note of the disturbing trends and as a result Vladimir Putin and Manmohan Singh set up a joint study group this year to propel bilateral trade.

—Md. Ziyaullah Khan

Pune