Opinion Rely on us
This refers to the editorial Rallying the troops (IE,March 30). India should not read too much into Barack Obamas visit to Afghanistan....
This refers to the editorial Rallying the troops (IE,March 30). India should not read too much into Barack Obamas visit to Afghanistan. His unannounced and short sojourn symbolises the unpredictability and ambiguity of US foreign policy. We heard ad nauseam of the USs resolve to end terror and promote the democratic process in Afghanistan. But what has happened in the end? Karzai will be entirely at the mercy of Pakistan after the US forces leave him alone next year. By now we should have learnt a hard lesson: to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.
Tarsem Singh New Delhi
Bachchan bachao
Amitabh Bachchan failed in politics,but did not learn. He rightly keeps away from politics; but did he not learn that politicians are very much a part of politics? Professionalism cannot be separated from professionals personal lives too. They carry their profession in this case,the business of politics wherever they go. Bachchan should stay away,directly and indirectly,from all politicians. There are hundreds of ways to do good for India without involving them.
Mahesh Kumar New Delhi
Political controversies around the Bachchan family never seem to end. The family was bashed by the Shiv Sena and MNS over the so-called outsider issue; and now the age-old friendship with the Congress is going sour. The senior Bachchan has been a part of several state initiatives,campaigning for polio awareness and Gujarat tourism among others. It is a shame that the Congress is treating him and his family in such an inhospitable fashion,even as leaders of opposing parties meet cordially at gatherings,political or otherwise.
Rishibha Gupta
New Delhi
Drop the cliches
Shazia Ilmi is correct as she wonders what the political journeys of women like Indira Gandhi,Benazir Bhutto and Khaleda Zia (Aam Aurats manifesto,IE,March 29) would be like minus their famous surnames but in a subtle way,she is undermining the leadership qualities these women possessed. Sure,they had reservations for entering politics,because of their fathers or husbands but,unarguably,they never had it easy in maintaining a steady political graph.
Farah Sheikh New Delhi
Shazia Ilmis article confounded me. The author recycled over-used,cliched arguments of casteist politicians against the Womens Reservation Bill. Yes,it is true that spouses,daughters,daughters-in-law,relatives,girlfriends of established leaders will have an initial advantage,but let us not forget that with the passage of the bill,the slate will be much larger (say,over 130 seats in the UP Assembly); many more middle-class,lower middle-class,educated,socially active,aware women will get the chance. The cases of Shah Bano and Roop Kanwar should,on the contrary,reinforce efforts to pressure political parties to empower women by widening their choice of candidates.
M. Ratan New Delhi
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