Letters to the editor

J.S. Bandukwala8217;s article, asking Muslims to exercise forgiveness over Gujarat, drew a wide range of responses.

8226; J.S. Bandukwala8217;s article, asking Muslims to exercise forgiveness over Gujarat, drew a wide range of responses. Among them, Justice retd T.U. Mehta8217;s carefully worded argument drew attention for its attempt to provide perspective to a complex issue 8216;Not exactly Hindus8217;. The letter is this week8217;s winner.

8226; It is quite evident from J.S. Bandukwala8217;s article 8216;Glimmer in dark Gujarat8217; that he is very clear about the legal answerability of those who were the architects of the most shameful post-Godhra events in the state. But the rider is, were they 8220;Hindus8221;? Or were they arch enemies of what we call Hinduism? I would remind Bandukwala that the most emphatic condemnation of the dastardly atrocities committed in the post-Godhra events came from those who can be classified as Hindus. It is, however, true that those who were responsible for preserving and administering law and order in those days have not expressed any regrets for their failures. If they call themselves Hindus, it amounts to the worst form of blasphemy. We must therefore insist that even now the law must run its course and all those who were responsible for anti-national actions in that period in 2002 must be punished. But all this does not diminish the sage advice of Bandukwala8230;

Thy country, democrat!

8226; Apropos of the report, 8216;Taslima shifted to Jaipur8217;, every Indian, so proud till now of the country8217;s pledge to uphold democracy and freedom of speech, must have hung his head in shame. Here is a state government of leftists 8212; a caboodle of self-proclaimed champions of secularism and democracy 8212; buckling under the pressure of some 8216;ruffians and unsocial elements8217; and joining the pack to hound a secularist author out of its jurisdiction. So much for the hollow drums of liberalism that we always beat to compare ourselves favourably with Pakistan. The great leader of this country, Jawaharlal Nehru, in his famous 8216;Tryst with destiny8217; speech, had proclaimed to his countrymen that 8220;We can not encourage communalism or narrow-mindedness, for no nation can be great whose people are narrow in mind or in action8221;.

If he were alive, Nehru would be a very disappointed man, seeing the tryst his countrymen have chosen.

8212; Satish Dayal

New Delhi

Sleuth8217;s counsel

8226; This is in response to ex-RAW boss Ajit Doval8217;s provocative opinion in your columns of November 17 8216;The Pak Djinn and India8217;.He assumes Pervez Musharraf is a spent force: 8220;We should in collaboration with other friendly countries at present the only friendly country is the US and moderate elements in Pakistan one assumes the Indian government has the list and access, develop capabilities to influence the course of events in Pakistan. Proactive actions to prevent Pakistan8217;s nuclear assets falling in wrong hands should assume the highest priority8221;.

On the arsenal his argument might hold, but what of the capabilities to influence the course of events there? Such capabilities would remain undistinguishable from capabilities to de-stabilise, I am afraid. This suggestion by someone who once headed India8217;s external intelligence implies that the Indian establishment should actively meddle in Pakistan8217;s internal affairs at this juncture. Would that not incur us a 8216;tit for tat8217; by the notorious ISI, also alluded to in the same piece?

8212; Cmde retd Ranjit B. Rai

New Delhi