Totally unwarranted

I am pained to read the editorial, 8216;Party pooper VHP8217; IE, October 14. You have stated: 8220;On his part, the prime minister mus...

I am pained to read the editorial, 8216;Party pooper VHP8217; IE, October 14. You have stated: 8220;On his part, the prime minister must take the UP chief minister8217;s charge that the Union minister of state for home is actively plotting the VHP8217;s strategy seriously. If that be so, a reminder of ministerial responsibility, if not more, is in order8221;.

I do not know what Mulayam Singh Yadav, honourable chief minister of UP, has said to media and in what context, but I have received a letter dated October 13 from him. In this letter, he has recognised the support given to him by the Central government. He has also sought my assistance in managing the situation relating to the VHP programme at Ayodhya on October 17. I have been in constant touch with the CM in this regard. I have spoken to VHP and RSS leaders and Nyas Adhyaskh and have requested them not to do anything which contravenes court order or causes conflict and tension. I have been briefing the honourable deputy prime minister and the honourable prime minister about each interaction and my role in this affair has been totally limited to the guidance and expectations of both of them. I have no position or role in the VHP at present and it is totally absurd for anyone to even think that I have any role in this present programme. That is why, I find the above mentioned comments in the editorial as totally unwarranted and have been used to lower my dignity in the public eye.
8212; Swami Chinmayanand, Minister of state for home affairs, New Delhi

Capital shame

Thanks for giving us Nandita Das8217;s piece IE, Octobe 16. Instead of just reporting the incident of rape at the Siri Fort complex, it has provided a view of a woman/actress/ thinker. There have been many cases of this kind recently and such articles can help better than even the police, since it educates the public. Keep up the good work!

8212; Manjinder Singh Mavi, On e-mail

Nandita Das has written from her heart. She has penned the fears of all of us in this city. We just do not feel safe. The government will have to beef up security day and night, and punish those found guilty, quickly and severely.

8212; Preeti Chandra, New Delhi

The outrageous and shameful incident involving the 36-year-old Swiss diplomat is an eye-opener, provided we have the eyes to see and the will to put an end to such happenings. I feel honesty and dedication to duty is grossly lacking in our police. This is a wake up call to the authorities. Otherwise we may just as well keep counting.

8212; F.S.K. Barar, On e-mail

Great piece

Apropos 8216;I think therefore I8217;m not8217; IE, October 16, it is a brilliantly written piece. I only wish the writer had highlighted the umbilical ties between the the so-called Indian intellectuals and vested interests in state-controlled institutions.

Maloy K. Dhar, On e-mail

True Hinduism

THIS is with reference to the report, 8216;Lone mahant stands up to question8217; IE, October 15, it shows there are true Hindus who genuinely believe in non-violence, unlike VHP who is funded by parties like the BJP to gain dividends during the elections.

8212; S. Rizvi, On e-mail