Political stain

I am glad Shekhar Gupta has brought home powerfully and persuasively the lament of the nation on the decline of Parliament as ...

I am glad Shekhar Gupta has brought home powerfully and persuasively the lament of the nation on the decline of Parliament as an institution (‘Parliament lament’, IE, August 28). Poor consolation that Pakistan is miles behind us in the culture of parliamentary democracy! Political parties in India have to mend their ways. The high priests of the warring factions have to abandon their arrogance of power and their ritual protests by pandemonium. To be driven to pass the budget without a word of discussion in Parliament was the ultimate insult to the democratic system of India, for which the ruling party and the opposition are equally to blame. That this is happening at a time when a man of unquestionable integrity and democratic credentials is the prime minister and when a man of the stature of Atal Bihari Vajpayee heads the opposition is a tragedy. In the process, the people have been shortchanged, democracy defiled, the credibility of the system damaged. It was a fatal body blow on democracy and rule of law. It is about time leaders and managers in the ruling alliance and the opposition put our democratic House in order.

— L.M. Singhvi New Delhi

Panel mania

• Apart from the committees he has formed for reviewing school history textbooks, Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh has now set up yet another in the form of the National Commission for Children for distressed children. From the face of it, commissions come into existence to help the government take a holistic view of a particular issue, so that a proper decision could be taken in that regard. However, in reality commissions are constituted by the ministry to plainly dilly-dally in taking decisions regarding crucial matters. In other words, they are used as effective tools by those in power to hide their lack of political will to act upon some important issues.

— V. Rajesh Mumbai

We’re all historians

• This refers to ‘The unbearable potency of Savarkar’ by Kumar Ketkar (IE, August 27). Today our politics is stuck in a rut. Instead of talk of development, politicians are inclined only towards discussions on religion and history. It is very shameful and ridiculous for our democracy. This kind of politics is only for the purpose of elections and votes.

— S.B. Shettar New Delhi

Cellular view

• My family and I have been recently to Port Blair and had the honour of visiting the Cellular Jail a couple of times. Trying to relive the lives of inmates was a moving experience. Each cell must be having its own story to tell and must have physically and mentally challenged the inmates. Savarkar’s cell was further isolated as he was considered to be too dangerous to be allowed interaction with other inmates. Barring ideological differences, there was no doubt that the mature leadership of the Congress (then) represented by Gandhi and Nehru recognised the great sacrifices made by the likes of the Savarkar family. That a party which was associated with Savarkar produced a member who killed Gandhi is not a logical reason to systematically undermine Savarkar’s contribution to India’s cause.

— Hem Kolachina On e-mail