On history

This refers to 8216;BJP8217;s favourite West Asian8217; by Mani Shankar Aiyar IE, September 5. As usual, he resorts to the editing of f...

This refers to 8216;BJP8217;s favourite West Asian8217; by Mani Shankar Aiyar IE, September 5. As usual, he resorts to the editing of facts. While writing about the 1948 war, in which he claims Palestinians were massacred, he doesn8217;t acknowledge that the war started because Arab armies attacked the newly created state of Israel.

One expects a former IFS officer to know that in today8217;s world, pragmatism works, not principle. Is that asking for too much?
8212; Rohit Nirale, Mumbai

Mani Shankar Aiyar8217;s anti-Semitic rant is stunning. He conveniently starts history from 1945, after many millions of Jews were killed, and then goes on to portray them as villains.

Perhaps it is common custom in India to start mentioning history after a certain point in time and ignore history before that time. But Aiyar8217;s writing is not only in poor taste, it plays fast and loose with facts just to inconvenience his political foes, or so it seems.
8212; David Cohen, On e-mail

Good show, Shabana

Growing up in the House8217; by Shabana Azmi IE, September 4 was a really different kind of article. In recent times I have been disheartened by our politicians8217; dirty politics and regressive mindset. Wish we had more MPs like her.
8212; Rahul S. Murdeshwar, On e-mail

I think we need more MPs like Shabana Azmi to make India a better country for everyone. I think nominated MPs are more efficient than elected ones.
8212; S. Rizvi, On e-mail

Be holistic

The so-called upper castes have failed to recognise Mayawati8217;s services to Uttar Pradesh 8216;Ambedkar8217;s orphans8217;, IE, September 3. For example, if a road in Ambedkargram is constructed, then will only Dalits use it? And the same stands for the schools, hospitals, power plants, etc, in these villages.

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Similarly when Mayawati visited the United States, she requested investors to give priority to medical and educational projects. Was this only for the benefit of Dalits? The special economic zones in the state and the airport near Noida also were not for Dalits only.
8212; Vivek Kumar, On e-mail

Beyond belief

Jaya Ramanathan8217;s article 8216;Ritual Purity8217; IE, September 4 is like a breath of fresh air. It feels good to see that there are people who voice what we have believed for decades.
8212; Pattu, On e-mail

Train to nowhere

The proposal of the Congress to conduct a rail roko across the country on September 22 for an hour to highlight the hollow promises of the BJP, now that elections are nearing, is despicable 8216;This is how Congress plays Opp: says stop all trains for an hour8217;, IE, September 2.

A government falls from grace when it accords more importance to its vested interests other than the wishes and aspirations of the people who have voted it to power. Therefore, if the Congress wants to gain an upper hand over the BJP, it has to prove that it is different in this regard. Its latest move hardly does any justice to its cause.
8212; V. Rajesh, On e-mail