True liberal
* This refers to Social media,social ignorance,by Gul Panag (IE,June 1). I do not agree that you are progressive only when you are fully bought into a thought. To me,the fact that you are indulgent,indifferent or even silently suffering a thought,without thinking of violent means to throttle it,means you are a liberal. To me,the whole beauty of democracy,and more specifically,democracy in a large multicultural city,is that one is exposed to various thoughts and forced into a liberal frame of mind.
V. Srinivasan
New Delhi
Bad omen
* THIS refers to BJP sweeps Gujarat bypolls (IE,June 6). An analysis of the results of the recently held by-elections in several states reveals that people voted for political parties rather than candidates,considering a candidate in Gujarat,notorious for waving a revolver at a toll plaza,emerged victorious. These results should be taken as a warning that similar notorious candidates,possibly with criminal records,might be elected in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections on account of their muscle and money power. Unfortunately,at times it seems political parties compete to give tickets to candidates with the worst criminal record. The ruling party at the Centre should also take these results as a warning sign.
Subhash C. Agrawal
Delhi
Lethal delay
* THIS refers to Cost of waiting (IE,June 6). We have not learnt any lessons after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. When any action to counter terror is proposed,it gets entangled in ego problems and political showdowns. The urgent needs of the nation take a backseat. The NCTC proposal is taking too long to be made operational. It would help streamline the collection and collation of intelligence at the Central level,and is therefore very important in the fight against terrorism. The earlier objections raised by various opposition-run state governments have been removed. There should be no reason to delay the NCTC and the states should give it an immediate green signal so that we can start undertaking well coordinated anti-terror operations.
S.C. Vaid
Noida
Counter strike
* THIS refers to Chidambaram attacks Modi,says CMs opposition to NCTC will hurt India (IE,June 6). The finance minister feels strongly about the NCTC,but he should also consider other ideas to counter leftwing extremism. Other CMs have also voiced their opposition to the plan.
M. Ratan
New Delhi
Fathers son
* THIS refers to Akhileshs Frenemy (IE,June 6). Netajis statement is like the coach of a cricket team saying,if I was the captain,I would have led my team to a glorious victory. The coach is ignoring the fact that he is still in a better position to contribute to victory. He should empathise with the captain,who is at a critical juncture in his career,and who is more or less dependent on the tactics that his coach taught him.
Rahul D. Valand
Vadodara
