Opinion Bottled up
The protests in Iran over allegations of the rigging of the presidential election indeed spring from long-term historical factors....
•The protests in Iran over allegations of the rigging of the presidential election indeed spring from long-term historical factors. However,its also a battle between democracy and authoritarianism. The 1979 revolution was a popular uprising against the detested rule of Reza Shah Pehlavi. But,unfortunately,the new republic didnt give people the desired freedom. With an overwhelmingly young population today,the bottled up forces of history now want to come out. The world is keenly watching whether divine sovereignty will put the genie of democracy,and popular sovereignty,back in the bottle.
M. Ratan
New Delhi
CPMs endgame?
•The challenge for the Left Front government comes not just from the Trinamool and the Maoists but also a chunk of its own erstwhile cadres (State & party,and Machine,Mamata,Maoists,IE,June 19). The cause is misrule. A challenge reveals ones strengths and weaknesses and leads to a confrontation with the truth. The CPM has ruled through the suppression of dissent. It is now helpless. The CPM cant shrug off responsibility,given the situation. Perhaps the party has run its course. But other parties should think twice about aligning
or appearing to align with the Maoists.
M.K.D. Prasada Rao
Ghaziabad
•Bloodletting in West Bengal triggered by a Maoist takeover of Lalgarh is a symptom of the miserable governance of the CPM and the resentment triggered by the highhandedness of the police. The Lefts culture of violence in Bengal is emblematic of its arrogance. Nandigram is a case in point. This cycle of retributive political violence,when combined with the Maoist threat,makes for a worrying prospect not only for Bengal but also India.
Vitull K. Gupta
Bhatinda
Shopian politics
•It must be noted that every time a crime is committed,especially in a conflict zone,the victim is relegated and politics raises its hydra-headed face (After Shopian,IE,June 15). I agree that If a crime is addressed and handled as such,it keeps mischief-makers from playing politics over it; but what about
investigative biases and political sycophancy? Commissions have been set up in the past,but they either fail or take a long time to bring any change. Both the media and the government need to take corrective action to stop this menace,which turn people rebellious.
Manzar Imam
New Delhi
Democracy within
•This refers to the editorial A royal takedown (IE,June 18). The Congress partys note to members to drop feudal titles is ridiculous because the party itself runs on dynastic fuel,and that isnt just about its first family. Just how many of the fresh faces in the new Manmohan Singh government are there because they rose,strenuously,through the ranks? Theres little evidence yet that Indias feudal political culture is being dumped.
Instead of issuing such a diktat,the Congress should develop inner-party
democracy.
Manoj Parashar
Greater Noida
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