Opinion Talking China
Shekhar Guptas Our Chinese wall was interesting. The areas where the recently reported transgressions...
• Shekhar Guptas Our Chinese wall was interesting. The areas where the recently reported transgressions have occurred in Ladakh are well within the Johnson-Ardagh Line. The 1947 maps India inherited from the Raj show the northern boundary in accordance with that line,so Indias assertions of alleged intrusion by China have due legitimacy.
The larger issue,however,goes beyond border transgressions. What India now needs (and Gupta points that out clearly) is a pragmatic and energetic foreign policy based on realpolitik,not diplomatic obliqueness a policy that takes into account the defence forces threat assessments,their suggested roadmap for our northern and eastern borders and speedy development without undue anxiety or panic.
Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)
Mohali
• While Shekhar Guptas opinion that we shouldnt be paranoid vis-à-vis China is correct,its equally necessary to not lose our guard. Chinas rock painting exercise was perhaps a recce to test the Indian armys resolve,and not a larger attempt to nibble at our territory. But if our response,both diplomatic and military is low-key,then such exercises may morph into territorial acquisitions. A more effective policy may be to tell China without being aggressive that while confrontation is undesired,mischief will not be ignored.
Abhishek Dwivedi
Thane
Waxworks
• The Supreme Courts order halting work on Mayawatis extravagant statue parks is welcome. This should be followed by bold decisions to ensure that this serves as an example to others so that such large sums are not wasted on ones whims but go towards welfare measures for the hapless population of backward states like UP.
Arvind Kumar
• No one is intrinsically against memorials to eminent personalities. But the lavish expenditure accompanying UP CM Mayawatis projects challenges socials ethics. Further,given UPs economic and agricultural situation,because of the drought,Mayawati has bigger socio-economic issues to address first. Nowhere in the democratic world do elected representatives install his/ her statues in every nook and corner. The SCs order should also warn other states with their eye to such extravagance.
K.K.V. Nambir
9/11 remembered
• 9/11 is still very much a part of our consciousness. One hopes that dialogue will replace hostility,that common sense will prevail. One also hopes that Barack Obama will meet the expectations of his fans in the Muslim world. We should collectively abhor the rationalisation of violence for vengeance. Otherwise,weve to ask if our common aspirations for peace are out of reach. We must remember the 9/11 tragedy and note that although ground zero has been cleared,the lessons of that day are still buried beneath anger,frustration,and prejudice.
Md Ziyaullah Khan
New Delhi
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