Opinion Not without Prachanda
Nepals former Maoist PM Prachanda mismanaged his coalition from the start.
• Nepals former Maoist PM Prachanda mismanaged his coalition from the start. But his resignation has plunged a newly republican Nepal into political uncertainty.
It would indeed be sad if the fruits of genuine democracy,gathered after the prolonged struggle against authoritarianism and an even bloodier conflict between the army and the Maoists,were to be lost once more. As Nepal tries to put a new government in place,it should remember that any coalition without Prachanda could imperil the country again.
Mohd Y. Ansari
Meerut
Brave new voice
• It is a tragedy for India that its largest minority is treated as a mere vote bank by politicians who claim to stand for their welfare.
This hypocrisy prevents Muslims from enjoying the advantages of the national mainstream just as much as words and actions against the community,from other politicians,do. The writer of the article,Aijaz Ilmi,himself has emerged as one of the new voices. Thanks to progressive intellectuals of his kind,there is a subtle transformation visible within the community and also without. Ilmi has rightly drawn our attention to the attempts to clearly link the interests of Indian Muslims with the interests of India. These voices must be strengthened,thereby forcing politicians to give up their divisive agendas.
M. Ratan
New Delhi
Dividing his house
• This refers to the editorial Home truths. While congratulating Rahul Gandhi on his straight talking a quality rare among politicians one cannot help wondering if such plain-speaking might cost his party politically. His unsolicited praise for Nitish Kumar may in fact irreparably alienate Lalu Prasad. Similarly,kind words for the Left gives the appearance of the Congress riding two horses,given its alliance with the Trinamool in Bengal. Finally,praise for Chandrababu Naidu and Jayalalithaa might demoralise Congress workers and leaders.
Y.G. Chouksey
• Rahul Gandhi has double-faulted. He praised Nitish Kumar sworn enemy of Lalu Prasad,who might be back in the Union cabinet if the Congress leads the ruling coalition after the elections. By admiring Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh,hasnt he stepped on the toes of Y.S.R. Reddy,his own partys CM in the state? The young parliamentarian is better advised to leave strategy and alliance-building to Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.
Parimal Y. Mehta
Speed it up
• Nothing will come of the pressure Indias been putting on Pakistan for action against the conspirators of 26/11. India has no option but to wait for US pressure to act on Pakistan. Again,no matter how forceful the Obama administration is being with the Pakistanis vis-à-vis the Taliban,theres no guarantee that that pressure wont ever be eased. What India needs to do immediately is put Kasabs trial on the fast track and deny him the publicity he is getting at the moment.
R.J. Khurana
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