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This is an archive article published on December 8, 2003

Vote for moderation

This refers to the news story 8216;Left and Laloo ring an alarm bell: Cong should think or sink8217; IE, Dece...

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

 

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