• This refers to the editorial, ‘Nitish (D-Patna)’. It is amazing to learn that Bihar CM is ready to go to the US (if requested) to ‘woo’ the voters of Indian origin settled there and get them to support the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton. While we knew that Indian politicians are very talented and highly competent with domestic vote banks, Nitish Kumar’s offer, which has international contours, speaks volumes about Indian politicians’ desire to remain in the limelight and earn brownie points here and there. According to you, Nitish “is shedding the timidity of his politician brethren in meddling in the ‘internal affairs’ of another country”. Here, we forget that the international political class can’t be the same as other diaspora communities. The Bihar CM would do well to concentrate more on the situation in Bihar, which most of the times remains in the news for wrong reasons. By the way, one would like to know the reaction of the Democratic presidential candidate to his generous ‘offer’ of campaigning for her in the US. I am sure this ‘inaugural external political service from Patna’ would turn out to be a day-dream. — S.K. Gupta DelhiIn a small state• I refer to your thoughtful editorial, ‘Three to go’, making a reasoned case for dividing UP into smaller states. You have referred to the Congress-led Central government toying with the idea of forming a second States Reorganisation Commission. Now, is it necessary to tie up the necessity of splitting UP with the larger issue of forming such a commission? I don’t think so. The government should carry the other parties, especially the main opposition party, the BJP, with it. It is not really so difficult when interests are common and everyone stands to gain.That reminds us of the imperative of splitting the state of Jammu and Kashmir into three distinct states.— Parimal Y. MehtaVadodaraOn to Procter• You are absolutely right in demanding action against Mike Procter, nothing less than his dismissal in your editorial, ‘Still spinning’ and I am sure every reader, every Indian, will endorse your demand. I had suspected Sharad Pawar’s political weakness to come into play, since his eyes are also set on the coveted post at ICC. Harbhajan, I am sure, must have been forced to admit to abuse not amounting to racism. The episode cannot be and should not be closed, and let us not forget that while Brett Lee had no complaint, Symonds unwarrantedly rushed to provoke Bhajji. — Kedarnath R. Aiyar Mumbai• Well, the Sydney denouement has come. But is the acquittal of Harbhajan Singh on charges of racism because of arm-twisting?— R. Kumar New DelhiDud democracy• As the country heads for the 2009 elections, one wonders more and more whether India is anything more than a procedural democracy. What choice does the ordinary voter have between the Congress (a party which has not been able to grow beyond dynastic politics) and the BJP (which uses hatred as a means of capturing power)? Further, examine the star campaigners of both parties, Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. The former has no idea what raj dharma is all about, and is proud of being anti-Muslim, and the latter was promoted in his party in the most undemocratic of ways by overlooking many other senior leaders. Rather than always looking at Pakistan and feeling smug about our achievements, it is important to face the reality that Indian democracy too is yet to mature.— Sachin Jain New Delhi
