Opinion Dead end
Of the many things wrong with our electoral politics is the sacrifice of economic priorities for votes.
• Indian politics today can only be called grim. Of the many things wrong with our electoral politics is the sacrifice of economic priorities for votes. Both the major national parties the Congress and the BJP are guilty of this. The exchanges between PM Manmohan Singh and L.K. Advani reflect the dead end to which our politics has been driven. Neither national party is in particularly good health at the moment. Their respective leaders had better focus on that problem as the elections begin.
Aakash Agarwal
Varanasi
How strong?
• Though apparently uncharitable,Pratap Bhanu Mehtas The politics of hurt rightly assesses the psychological make-up of the BJP leadership. The party seems to have nothing to offer apart from divisive politics. Moreover,its idea of growth and development also seems to be increasingly that of a Narendra Modi-like efficient authoritarianism rather than any long-term vision of Indias balanced socio-economic progress. No wonder then that,in the thick of things,the party that offers strong leadership and decisive government is floundering.
Ved Guliani Hisar
No Galahad here
• The low political participation of women in India is a depressing fact. That our president is a woman and that some political parties are headed by women does not hide the fact of marginalisation and deprivation of half the population. Illiteracy,gender prejudice and feudalistic attitudes of society are responsible for womens exclusion from the political and socio-economic arenas. Political and economic empowerment of women is a must for an equal and just society. Its all the more necessary for progress and development of the country. Qualities of women candidates shouldnt be a deciding factor in their participation. Male leaders are not all Galahads.
Hema Langeri
Hoshiapur
Running deep
• The article A seat of her own is in keeping with data that confirm the continuing denial of the required political space to women. There can be no better example of the deep-rooted prejudice against women than the fate of the womens reservation bill. Having a woman president a titular post in India doesnt mitigate this discrimination. The incumbent presidents election was guided by political compulsions rather than consideration for her gender.
Satwant Kaur Mahilpur
Thin lines
• This refers to the editorial Chinese whispers about Chinas blocking of ADB assistance for watershed development projects in Arunachal Pradesh. India,even after its repeated overtures to China,has been a victim of the communist regime. While China expects India to respect its claims on Tibet,it takes Indias principles for granted. Its time Indias patience and good manners ran their course.
Sourabh Jyoti Sharma
New Delhi
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