Letters to the editor

8226; It would be better if Kulkarni did less of 8216;thinking aloud8217; 8216;Of Scorpene, Scorpions and the coming sting8217;, February 26 and more introspection on the days when he functioned as a minion in the BJP-led NDA government. There were more scorpions in A B Vajpayee8217;s government and their sting was more vicious, their corruption mind-boggling and arrogance distasteful. Sooner or later all of this will come out.
I am not disputing much of what Kulkarni has written; probably that is all true. Mr Q did get away with his millions. Vincent George has also become a crorepati, thanks to Madam8217;s generosity. War room leaks may also be true and Bofors is the blackest mark on the Rajiv Gandhi government. One expected better from the BJP and its allies, but they followed the footprints of the Congress party. Today BJP leaders are considered as corrupt as any Congress leader or so-called socialist leaders like George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav. Kulkarni8217;s writings lack credibility because he too was part of the corrupt set-up. Only writers with credibility can force change. Write about Ambanis, Hindujas, Wadias and their links with the BJP.
Satyender Narain Das

8226; It is only in India that an alleged killer like Manu Sharma and his eight accomplishes can be acquitted for want of evidence, to enjoy their elite life. The 8216;long arm of the law8217; is ineffectual in dealing with these high-society criminals. Tavleen Singh rightly observed this in her article 8216;The land of elected criminals8217;, February 26 but she was unable to suggest any remedial measures on how to curb such criminal activities. The trauma that Jessica Lall8217;s family is suffering is enormous. May be a retrial will give them some relief, but the moot point is can the country save us from such killers?
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee

8226; Kulkarni is right in saying that political parties have kept the minority complex among Muslims alive for votes 8216;Fuelling minority complex among Indian Muslims8217;, February 19, but the fact cannot be ignored that if Muslims were not wooed for votes, their condition would be worse than it is at present. Before blaming vote bank politics, we should delve into the circumstances responsible for this trend. Given the economic deprivation, thanks to discrimination against Muslims on the basis of their religion in many fields, the situation cannot change so soon.
At least some Muslims are getting a few benefits due to the 8216;minority8217; tag. If the minorities are to be assimilated in the mainstream, is there any guarantee that they would get fair chances in every field and can they be assured of an improved economic and social status? Unless this assurance is given, a Muslim will be happy with the minority tag. As for Kulkarni8217;s query 8212; whether Muslims considered themselves a minority during Mughal and British rule 8212; it should be noted that in the Mughal period, since the rulers were Muslims, the Muslim community was very well looked after. And the British treated every Indian equally.
Amjad K Maruf

8226; Kulkarni presented an impeccable agrument for harmony among all Indians regardless of their religion, caste, sex and creed. His articles are much awaited.
Helal Rezwi

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