Opinion Colonial hangovers?
When the British ruled as a colonial power they needed to keep us awestruck and fearful.
• When the British ruled as a colonial power they needed to keep us awestruck and fearful. So they had to show off their military might: colourful regiments,military hardware,parades. But now India is a free country,of free citizens. Why should we preserve colonial practices? It is an anachronism to display on Republic Day large contingents of our armed forces,with their weapons and hardware many sadly obsolete. What with the threat of terrorism,the public are inconvenienced: normal traffic gets paralysed. Many consider the events something to be endured every year,not celebrated. It is time we called off military parades on Republic Day and allowed people to celebrate the day their own way.
K. Venkataraman
Threatening all
• Apropos LeT is most potent of Pak-based terror groups: expert. Whatever the American experts view on the nature and working of the LeT,Indians have known it all for long. Even two decades ago when many of the Pak-based terror groups were in their infancy,India had protested against Pakistans support to these groups. But no concrete efforts were made to curb the menace. Perhaps it suited Pakistan and some international powers also treated it as a means of balancing power. No one bothered to treat it as a problem threatening the world. Even after 9/11,the world united to tackle terrorism that threatened only the US and its allies. Naturally groups like LeT flourished.
At present India may be the only target of LeT,but everybody knows the threat they pose to global security.
Ved Guliani
Lagos
Much to do
• This refers to Lashkar behind 26/11,Lakhvi mastermind: Pakistan probe report. It was inevitable for Pakistan to have admitted its role in the Mumbai attack. However India must not be carried away with having charged those accused,including Lakhvi. Well have to wait and watch for the quantum of punishment delivered to these terrorists. If Ajmal Kasabs statement has been concurred with by the Pakistani investigators,why are they turning a blind eye to Saeed Hafiz?
Deepak Chikramane
Mumbai
Post-LTTE order
• The Sri Lankan electorate has delivered its mandate,which nevertheless reveals the ethnic fault lines. The turnout was very low in Tamil and Muslim dominated areas. The minorities seemed to favour neither of the two candidates convincingly. Sinhala nationalism and the prolonged neglect of minority grievances have led to their alienation. The government cannot remain in apparent blissful ignorance of the simmering discontent.Sri Lanka needs the consolidation of democracy and reasonable devolution of power in order to promote inclusive growth and social harmony in the post-LTTE era.
Mahfooz Alam
New Delhi
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