Same old mess

He does it right

I find the article, ‘Miracle called Atal, illusion named Sonia’ (IE, August) by Balbir Punj to be thoughtful, factual and refreshing. I am glad that people of his calibre are in the BJP. I hope he will continue to effectively respond to the blatant lies being spread by the pseudo-secularists and their friends in the English media. If India has to take its rightful place in the world as a democratic and secular country, then the harm being perpetrated by the pseudo-secularists to the nation needs to be vigorously exposed.
— Satish Gandhi, On e-mail

Blueprint for Kashmir

Apropos of the editorial, ‘Srinagar on centre stage’ (IE, August) to break the deadlock, I suggest the following steps: 1) The areas of Jammu and Ladakh be unconditionally joined to India. 2) Separate plebiscites be taken in POK and the Valley on the following question: Whether they are for joining the federation of India or Pakistan.

The Valley has a bulk of population of Shias and Gujjars who can be persuaded not to vote for Pakistan. Looking at the results of the last election, such a plebiscite would be 90 per cent in India’s favour. Pakistan will have no argument against this formula and even if it rejects it international opinion will be in our favour.
— T.U. Mehta On e-mail

Thank God, no bandh

It is easy to say for Rafiq Zakaria that Mumbai is the eternal city for hope but ask those people who lost someone dear in these terrible acts (IE, August 28). Britain during World War II could not stop the V1 and V2 missiles left by Nazis. If they could have, they would have. Law enforcement authorities, given the proper tools and technologies, can stop such attacks. They do a difficult job but they can handle it for sure.

Other countries have started pre-empting such attacks. So can we. Nothing can be achieved by calling for a bandh except losses to the economy. Thumbs up to our leaders for not calling a bandh this time and my sincere condolences to those who have been grieved.
— Parminder Grewal, On e-mail

The damage they do

I agree wholeheartedly with the views pointed to in this article, ‘Better security? Better politics’, IE, August 27). The BJP and Congress governments have both shown an immaturity in handling communalist tensions and in some cases have even fanned religious fires. It is time they realised the damage their politics is doing to the nation.
— Christy Anita, On e-mail