Opinion On a roll
This refers to the report 'Mamata drives another nail in West Bengal Left coffin...
This refers to the report ‘Mamata drives another nail in West Bengal Left coffin (IE,June 3). Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress are on a roll. Trinamool winning a landslide victory in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation polls has driven CPM stalwarts to introspect on their losses. However,Mamata must not get carried away by this success because the state assembly election is a different ballgame altogether. Despite the Union railway minister missing cabinet meetings,ignoring national duty by staying away from Delhi during railway crises,she still made a lasting impression on the municipal elections,especially amongst the urban population.
Deepak Chikramane
UPA,in sum
*Pratap Bhanu Mehtas The backbencher (IE,June 3) makes some good observations. UPAs reign has resulted in more material gains and prosperity than other periods. Whether this is due to the UPA or despite the UPA is not clear,but they must get credit for at least not blocking the natural momentum. However,the UPA has shown no inclination to address basic issues like administrative reforms,social justice,water problems,etc. Its clear that Indian political parties concentrate their efforts only on visible aspects,possibly because that helps impress the electorate. However,if only elected people were to run Indias affairs,we would have to miss out on people like Manmohan Singh or Nandan Nilekani.
Alok Asthana
Mumbai
*The editorial Below the radar and Pratap Mehtas The backbencher correctly analysed the achievements and failures of UPA-II during its first year. Like a school student faring badly in the examination,the government is trying to gloss over its poor performance. Whats worse,it promises neither good governance nor a politics of principles. Only harping on economic recovery and the success of some social security schemes will not warm the aam admi when the government is failing to check price rise and deteriorating security. In order to restore its credibility,the government must meet peoples expectations. Mehta is not wide off the mark saying that the country is marching on despite the government,not because of it.
Tarsem Singh
New Delhi
Flotillagate
*This refers to the article Spotlight on Netanyahu (IE,June 3). Whatever the shortcomings of Israels embarrassing Flotillagate,theres a lesson in it for India: its possible to defy US pressure and pursue an independent strategy best suited to a sovereign nations own security concerns. As in Af-Pak,in the Middle East too the US is not averse to asking India and Israel to make concessions for its own strategic objectives. But Israelis go ahead notwithstanding Western reaction. Now,recall the standard US advice of restraint to India after every Pak-sponsored terror attack and the Indian government both NDA and UPA regimes obliging without even a murmur of protest.
Ajay Tyagi
Mumbai
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