
This refers to the news story 8216;Left and Laloo ring an alarm bell:
Cong should think or sink8217; IE, December 5. What does the BJP8217;s
success in these assembly elections mean? Does it mean that the
party8217;s Hindu nationalist paradigm is gaining acceptance? Or is
it an indicator that the promise of better governance by the BJP
is paying dividends? For now, one can give the benefit of the doubt
to the BJP and say that it8217;s the party8217;s shift to the governance
plank that holds the key. In spite of the polity being hostage to
caste equations, this nation has not given in to the rather tempting
rhetoric that Hindus are victims even though they are in a demographic
majority, etc.
8212; Vijay Kumar On e-mail
Course correction
The article 8216;BJP has 3-course Cong lunch8217; IE, December 5 shows
the bankruptcy of thought and vision in India8217;s Grand Old Party.
It is a shame that the Congress has no one else to lead it except
a member of the Nehru-Gandhi clan.
8212; Sumeet Toshniwal On e-mail
Just promises
At last some indication that the benefits of economic reforms can
actually swing votes 8216;Politics after reform8217;, IE, December 6.
Yes, indeed you are right, economic reforms can swing votes. However,
during the last general election the BJP promised economic reforms.
The votes did swing towards the BJP, but what did they deliver to
the nation? Nothing. Not one party has an agenda to declare war
on poverty, ignorance, to deliver better health care, better quality
of drinking water and regular electricity. It8217;s not the government
that has improved the nation8217;s economy; economic growth has been
registered because of the combined efforts of industrialists, software
engineers, farmers and the business community at large within India.
8212; Arvind Amin On e-mail
Vajpayee touch
The most encouraging aspect of the BJP8217;s decisive victory in the
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh assembly elections was
its complete renunciation of the hindutva plank. In the last leg
of its campaign, the central leadership had forced the VHP and Bajrang
Dal to retreat to the sidelines. It could be the BJP8217;s own confidence,
or the fear of international reproach for religious extremism, especially
for electoral exploitation, or a clear sign of the people8217;s disenchantment
with the lacklustre governance in Congress-ruled states. But Vajpayee8217;s
message to Sangh Parivar storm troopers to push issues of development
and governance turned out to be a clear winner 8212; not only for the
BJP, but for secularism and democracy in India.
8212; Ghulam Muhammed Mumbai
The
Ganguly poser
It seems that the media is more interested in hearing what Australian
cricketers have to say than in investigating India8217;s strategy and
preparations 8216;Aussies just in, Indians just out8217;, IE, December
5. For instance, why is everyone silent about Anil Kumble8217;s inclusion
in the squad, if he is not good enough to be fielded in Tests? Why
not, then, give a chance to some promising young spinner? If Sehwag
is not going to be used for his bowling, then why not have a more
reliable opener in the side? And if the skipper is failing repeatedly,
why does he not voluntarily stay out?
8212; Talakshi Gala On e-mail