Opinion Its the system
Its true that the wonderful liberal principles dont quite apply to non-US citizens at immigration check.
• Its true that the wonderful liberal principles dont quite apply to non-US citizens at immigration check. The issue is of concern given the history of US institutional racism. However,theres also the case against the VIP syndrome,a typical trait of Indian celebrities. While Shah Rukh Khan is no babe in the woods,the attitude of immigration officials in the West,particularly the US,towards Asians deserves criticism. Its ridiculous anyway to call Khans visible displeasure a publicity stunt.
Shishir Sindekar
Nasik
Line of fire
• The BJP has been driven to the brink . However,Jaswant Singhs expulsion over his book wasnt unexpected,given the BJPs words and actions of late. What did surprise and shock was the gracelessness with which the expulsion was carried out. Singh should have been allowed the privilege of an explanation. Most analysts have drawn parallels to L.K. Advanis remarks on Jinnah during his 2005 visit to Pakistan and how he managed to get away with them. Advani was still indispensable to the BJP; but the party has changed much since. Electoral debacles and dissent have led to a serious hardening of the party line.
N. Muralidhar
Battle of histories
• The history of our Independence,like most histories,offers a multiplicity of perspective. However,after 1947,one dominant narrative was privileged over the rest and made our textbook history. The Congress,the Left and the BJP have all written their own histories and tried to universalise them. The Congress and the BJP have done it through the state apparatus,while the Left has done it through the academy. Now,both the Congress and Left discourses have been institutionally legitimised while the Rights narrative has existed outside academic respectability. The academic responses to Jaswant Singhs book result partly from this. Paradoxically,its Singhs attempt to shift the rightist narrative towards the centre that has utterly confused the BJP itself.
Prodosh C. Chatterji
Shopian mess
• The Shopian case has done a lot of damage to the Valleys public psyche. The inquiry commission seems oblivious to certain facts,the state has thoroughly mismanaged the issue,and now further complications have arisen. Now that the CBIs central forensic laboratory has ruled that the swabs did not belong to the victims and that the spermatozoa did not match the four police officers,whats the road ahead?
Munim Nazki
New Delhi
Well played
• Sachin Tendulkars advice for saving Test cricket is welcome. It will renew interest in the sport,almost washed away by the shortest format. A combination of Tests and T20 will show people how incomplete cricket is without Tests. Its comforting to see Tendulkar using his status for a good cause.
S. Bhattacharya
New Delhi
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