Opinion Falling apart

By expelling a senior leader like Jaswant Singh,on the pretext of his writing something about someone that the BJP had an ideological problem....

August 21, 2009 12:42 AM IST First published on: Aug 21, 2009 at 12:42 AM IST

By expelling a senior leader like Jaswant Singh,on the pretext of his writing something about someone that the BJP had an ideological problem with,the party has shown just how rapidly it is losing its way (Yesterdays issues,IE,August 20). Couldnt its leadership have at least had the courtesy of allowing Singh to explain himself? What is the BJP or the nation gaining from it? There are burning issues like Pak-based terrorism,drought,price rise,Naxalite violence,etc. The BJP must realise that taking recourse to its old-style politics and internal bickering will do it irreparable damage.

Parimal Y. Mehta

Mumbai

Another ban

The ban on Jaswant Singhs book by the Gujarat government is uncalled for and smacks of political opportunism (Modi govt bans book,IE,August 20). It betrays the democratic ideal of criticism and debate. It is also an insult to the people of Gujarat. How does the state machinery assume the right to decide what people should read and shouldnt? Just how did we stumble upon this Stalinist culture of not allowing a dissenting voice,an opinion different from our own? If we start banning books on the flimsy pretext of a few words for/ against this or that person,there can hardly be any critical or analytical writing left in the market.

Jagrut Gadit

Vadodara

Directionless

This refers to the editorial Yesterdays issues and Pratap Bhanu Mehtas Party to differences (IE,August 20). How lasting the damage and shock of two successive electoral defeats can be is writ large on the BJPs face. The 2009 general elections having added insult to the partys injury; defeat has penetrated deep,so much so that over the last five years the BJP has failed to think through issues and take a principled intellectual stand on anything. It suffers even ideological confusion. The BJPs immature reaction to Jaswant Singhs book and his subsequent expulsion from the party testify to this loss of direction for Indias main opposition party.

Ved Guliani

Hisar

Discourse changing

 After L.K. Advani,its now Jaswant Singhs turn. That the BJP veteran and former cabinet minister has been expelled from the party because he praised Jinnah in his book and criticised Sardar Patel is difficult to believe since we are a democracy in practice and,at least nominally,a free society. Freedom of expression,within obvious limits,is a constitutional right. Then why are we as a society,why is our main opposition party,afraid of an intellectual challenge to the dominant discourse to a historical narrative weve been made to believe since schooldays as having no alternative,no counterpoint?

Anwesha Banerjee

Kolkata