Premium
This is an archive article published on October 31, 2009
Premium

Opinion Right direction

Congratulations for Kiren Rijiju’s article ‘Too far from Delhi’ . You have rendered a national service by publishing the former MP’s brilliant piece on Arunachal Pradesh.

The Indian Express

October 31, 2009 02:19 AM IST First published on: Oct 31, 2009 at 02:19 AM IST

• Congratulations for Kiren Rijiju’s article ‘Too far from Delhi’ . You have rendered a national service by publishing the former MP’s brilliant piece on Arunachal Pradesh. It is tragic indeed,that the sensitive and strategic Northeast region continues to be neglected stupidly even 60 years after independence. I have been crying hoarse over the past four decades against this neglect since 1966,when I first visited the region at the invitation of the then governor,Vishnu Sahay,formerly Union cabinet secretary. Sadly,nobody in New Delhi seems to be honestly bothered about the region,even as government and other leaders continue to wax eloquent hypocritically about strengthening India’s unity and integrity.

— Inder Jit

New Delhi

Judicious offer

• India and Pakistan had settled down to a predictable routine . Nitpicking in Kashmir from time to time to suit domestic politics on either side was a mutually accepted gambit. We carried on business with Pakistan irrespective of whether it was under military or civilian rule,our chief concern being a relatively stable Pakistan that would be a buffer between India and the wild terrain to the northwest. But today’s violence has the potential to turn the Indo-Pak equation on its head. Should Pakistan succumb,our whole western border would be open to the worst extremists. The PM’s overture to Pakistan is therefore welcome. Isolating Pakistan at this critical juncture would be counter-productive.

— R. Narayanan

Ghaziabad

Pakistan’s call

Advertisement

• Let’s not be cynical; but Manmohan Singh’s offer of friendship to Pakistan is wishful thinking in the given circumstances. Unfortunately the ISI and extremists are running the show in Pakistan. One may recall that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee had offered a similar package,with a rider to walk the extra mile,it had no positive response. Taking advantage of Manmohan Singh’s offer,Pakistan must show its indisputable interest in stopping cross-border terrorism,dismantling terror training camps on its soil and bringing to justice the perpetrators of last year’s Mumbai attack. This would pave the way for resuming the composite dialogue and restoring peace in the region.

— Deepak Chikramane

Mumbai

Right,with a flaw

• This refers to Thomas Friedman’s ‘Middle East’s golden rule’. Friedman is realistic in his assessment that it’s time to think of reducing America’s “footprints and goals” in Afghanistan. He also seems right in his argument that in the Middle East whenever key players take the initiative for tackling their problems,and the US helps in the process,the results are positive. Unfortunately,Friedman resorted to typical American megalomania in defining his “last guiding principle” — “We are the world. A strong ,healthy and self-confident America holds the world together…” Sensible policies,international cooperation,mutual respect and non-interference “hold the world together”.

— M. Ratan

New Delhi

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments