Right to views

The editorial, 8216;Breaking views8217; about the pernicious attack on Kumar Ketkar was both restrained and dignified.

8226; The editorial, 8216;Breaking views8217; about the pernicious attack on Kumar Ketkar was both restrained and dignified. The act marked a new low in public vigilantism, and the Maharashtra government remained indifferent as usual. Even if the protesters had a reason, it was a dastardly act to target the residence of the editor. If they thought that the stature of Shivaji was related to the height of his statue, they betrayed their lack of understanding of his beliefs. They also forget the essence of democracy, which, as Voltaire put it, is: 8220;I do not agree with what you have to say, but I8217;ll defend to the death your right to say it.8221;

8212; Y.G. Chouksey

Pune

Political terrorism

8226;The BJP8217;s description of the recent oil price hike as 8220;economic terrorism8221; is not only an attack on basic economic and political reasoning, but also an insult to the common man 8216;Logical terrorism,. While the opposition has every right to criticise the actions of the government, in doing so it has no right to sensationalise issues. How can a responsible opposition make such comments without suggesting an appropriate alternate course of action? It is indeed a characteristic of Indian politicians in their rush to gain power that they completely ignore the actual opinions of the man in the street. It is nothing but a kind of political terrorism.

8212;S.N. Gaur

Chandigarh

Obama implications

8226; C. RAJA Mohan8217;s article, 8216;India8217;s Obama problem8217; is timely and topical. As the Illinois Senator has clinched the Democratic party nomination for the ensuing Presidential election against the Republican John McCain, the formulators of Indian foreign policy should weigh which candidate will be more beneficial to this country, and what to expect from each. The civil nuclear deal and Kashmir problem are two weighty issues where American attitude is crucial, and Barack Obama may or may not be sympathetic to Indian interests.

8212; John Alexander

Nagpur

Picture perfect

8226; The photograph titled 8216;Forced break8217; accompanying the report, 8216;Day after fuel hike, Left-ruled states shut down8217; , is really the proverbial picture that speaks a thousand words. Looking at this picture of porters in Kolkata, one truly feels the plight of these real 8216;admis8217; of India in the face of arbitrary bandhs and strikes. It would do these supposed benefactors of the poor good to see millions of daily wage-earners all over the country going hungry for want of any work on a day of bandh. Do our politicians really think that these men and their families are grateful to their netas for such days of forced deprivation, and will support them? Our leaders need to think again.

8212; Satish Dayal

New Delhi