Wrong choice

This refers to Shekhar Gupta8217;s 8216;Leader with opposition8217;.

8226; This refers to Shekhar Gupta8217;s 8216;Leader with opposition8217;. It may have been surprising to find L.K. Advani at a loss for ideas, and also to find so many defections from a cadre-based party. However, to me, the most stunning instance of the degeneration of Indian political democracy has been the emergence of Mayawati as the third front8217;s candidate for the top post. Is it not unscrupulous that political practitioners propped up a person who is known for her unabashed politics of caste, and who enjoys using unparliamentary language for certain sections of society?

8212; Ved Guliani

Hisar

Then and now

8226; When the nuclear deal was placed for discussion in Parliament, the BJP had demanded the discussion to be accompanied by a vote. The Congress did not agree to this. Had that been permitted, it would have been a referendum on the deal. The NDA should have pointed out the above difference clearly. Secondly, the BJP had not anticipated cross-voting in spite of the party whip. It used to be a disciplined party. However, due to the expansion of the party and increase in membership, it seems that its discipline today is as nonexistent as in other parties.

8212; K.R. Rao

Pune

Federal pursuits

8226; The editorial 8216;Reign of terror8217; and Saubhik Chakrabarti8217;s 8216;The M-deal8217;, read together reveal a deplorable picture of the country8217;s security establishment. Shivraj Patil has often been at odds with the prime minister on internal security vis-agrave;-vis the Naxalites and terrorists. The need for a federal agency to tackle terrorism cannot be gainsaid. If our politicos at the state and national levels bear in mind that national security is a major responsibility of the Centre, states are bound to cooperate with the Union government. But for this, narrow political pursuits need to be shed. As of today, our federal polity doesn8217;t inspire confidence in this respect.

8212; M.K.D. Prasada Rao

Ghaziabad

The road ahead

8226; The editorial 8216;Time to question8217; indicates that terrorists seek to destroy our democratic fabric by fomenting sectarian divisions and cultural tensions, and ultimately deprive us of the very freedom that they have exploited. We should never allow ourselves to be frightened by terror. We can8217;t bow before bigotry and violence. We should work united as Indians to preserve our essence.

8212; Vinod C. Dixit

Ahmedabad

Ridiculous ideas

8226; The BJP8217;s, or Sushma Swaraj8217;s, allegation that the bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad were engineered by those who had masterminded the cash-for-votes conspiracy confounds the thinking mind. India has had too much of ludicrous politics. The mockery that politicians make of democracy and freedom of speech is sad.

8212; R.J. Khurana

Bhopal