Whose legacy?

•It is ironical that Varun Gandhi would make a hate speech when his mother,Maneka Gandhi is a champion of animal rights and his late father Sanjay,despite the reputation he earned during the Emergency,never did so (‘Varun Gandhi’s hate-Muslim speech…’,IE,March 17). When people like Narendra Modi too can change their tune for political reasons,it is indeed shocking that a political newcomer would make such a speech. What’s more,Varun’s words have made the BJP “squirm”.

— Bidyut K. Chatterjee

Faridabad

Rejoicing too soon

•The end of Pakistan’s recent political turmoil has brought with it relief and faith in the democratic system (‘Protests turn into celebrations…’,IE,March 17). However,our euphoria should be controlled because the perpetrators of 26/11 have not yet been brought to justice. For all his moves against Nawaz Sharif,Zardari’s government hasn’t exactly put all the Mumbai attack suspects under arrest. Pakistan shouldn’t be allowed to place India’s original dossier and the additional evidence on the back burner.

— Deepak Chikramane

Mumbai

Bigger than the whole

• The Third Front and the third force that Mayawati wishes to be are neither cohesive nor have they entered into a mutually acceptable seat-sharing arrangement (‘Lone Ranger’,IE,March 17). For Mayawati,it is a now-or-never moment since her present image may fade out after the elections,especially if she cannot carve out her place at the Centre. Further,the Third Front can form a coalition only when and if all its prominent figures are tipped for the PM’s post. Where every part thinks it’s superior to the whole,how can one hope for a viable government from the alliance?

— Ved Guliani Hisar

To keep them out

• Even before a common agenda could emerge,cracks have already appeared in the Third Front. This can be seen from Mayawati’s proclamation that she will go it alone and from Jayalalithaa not coming out in the open with her wishes. It is well-known that,in India,a government consisting of several regional parties and a coalition with no proper agenda can’t function and can’t survive the full term. Third Front leaders are consumed by their desire to be ministers,even PM. They are likely to indulge more in appeasement than in policy-making. If they do seem to be unanimous on any count,it’s their objective of keeping the two parties that really matter — the Congress and the BJP — out.

— S. Krishna Kumar

Dombivli

An unsuitable lot

• While it is a positive feature of our democracy that it throws up many aspirants for the job of prime minister,it isn’t obvious that they are all capable of serving the nation as a whole (‘Hot seat’,IE,March 16). How would these various ambitious individuals deal with a hostile neighbourhood and the all-consuming global economic crisis?

—Y.G. Chouksey

Pune