Letters to the editor

Are they citizens?• THE so-called ‘Bharat ki pukar’, produced and directed by the BJP, is the true replica of its communal mi...

Are they citizens?

• THE so-called ‘Bharat ki pukar’, produced and directed by the BJP, is the true replica of its communal mindset. Earlier, Britishers pitted one community against another. Now, poignantly, the so-called ‘sons’ of ‘Bharat Mata’ are themselves indulging in such a heinous crime. They display their contempt for Hinduism by depicting, in this CD, a desecrated portrait of Krishnaji by ruthlessly smashing it to the ground. More incendiary was the exhibition of a callous cow slaughter — the cow, after all, is considered ‘mata’. It is high time citizens denounced unanimously this party which is afraid of speaking on real issues, otherwise democracy will suffer. It is up to concerned citizens to choose between ‘Bharat gul’ or ‘Bhajpa gul’.

— Khan Yasir, New Delhi

Forget debate

• SUDHEENDRA Kulkarni, in ‘For democracy’s sake, let’s define a minority’ is spot on in his definition of ‘minority’ (The Sunday Express, IE, April 8). I am also glad that he is emphatic that there is no history of systemic injustice and discrimination by the ‘majority community’ against the ‘minorities’ in India. It is true that the issue has been rarely debated in our intellectual and political life, as he points out; but I am afraid he is also wrong because an intellectual debate is not possible, because of the kind of politicians we have.

— Kedarnath R. Aiyar, Mumbai

Party tension

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• THERE are many reasons for the BJP’s capture of the Municipal Corporation Delhi. Yes, ‘Cong faces urban anger from aam aadmi it can’t see’ (IE, April 8), but the real cause was the persistent differences between Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, and the state party president, Ram Babu Sharma, which cost the Congress dearly. It should come as a warning to the Congress that its bitter infighting has already caused the loss of Uttarakhand, Punjab, the BMC and now the MCD. The party high command must take immediate steps to control internal feuds. The reluctance to take action is clearly harmful for Congress prospects.

—Bidyut K. Chatterjee, Faridabad

Speak, Speaker

• THIS refers to the news item in your April 7 issue, which quotes the honourable Speaker as having said, “the House is We The People and there is great need for Judiciary not to trespass on Parliament function since the MPs represent the will of the people.” I should like to ask the Speaker two questions. One, why are Left parties holding up pension reforms, when the majority want them? Can the present UPA government be called a representative of the people’s will when parties like the DMK grab more ministerial berths than other parties who have more MPs?

— R.P. Desai Mumbai