Quiet, decisive

• Shekhar Gupta's writing is so enjoyable to read (‘Mind of the Insider...

• Shekhar Gupta’s writing is so enjoyable to read (‘Mind of the Insider’, IE, December 24). In laying the foundation of our present cordial relations with the US, if anyone played a major part, it was P.V. Narsimha Rao. I still remember those early days of Bill Clinton’s first term. We had to contend with that lady called Robin Raphel, assistant secretary of state for South Asia in the US state department who would openly side with Pakistan. She would keep making unpalatable statements against India’s position. Had it been any other leader, we would have had many spats and Indo-US relations would have touched a new low. However, Rao kept mum throughout. He worked quietly on Indo-US relations and ultimately managed to achieve some breakthroughs. I will always remember Rao as a person who analysed and worked quietly. One needs a life time, if not more, to acquire qualities that Rao possessed. My most sincere salute to a person with many qualities, but for me his intellect and immense patience stand out.

— Subhash Mittal New Delhi

Rao’s legacy

• Jawaharlal Nehru may have been the first prime minister and Indira Gandhi may have been the only one who decisively won a war for free India. But P.V. Narsimha Rao was the best and the most intelligent prime minister India has had till now.

— A.K. Aggarwal Ahmedabad

Five-year planner

• History will record that P.V. Narasimha Rao as prime minister took courageous and bold steps to change the economic future of India, and all of it for the better.

— Arvind Amin On e-mail

The alternative

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• Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel saved the country immediately after Independence from turmoil. P.V. Narasimha Rao saved it from bankruptcy (‘The mind of the insider’, IE, December 24). But cronies could not tolerate his success, just as no reference is made to the contributions of Patel and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Rao was punished for keeping the Gandhi family out of power and for daring to create an impression that the Congress Party without the Gandhi family could actually lead the country. Rao was a great success and great son of India. His contribution in making India a world power was immense. It was, after all, Rao who played a decisive role in combatting terror in Punjab.

— N.D. Chandruka Delhi

Burden of innocence

• This refers to ‘Baazee.com’s run-in with the law’ by Manoj Mitta (IE, December 23). The law appears to be unconstitutional since it wants innocence to be proved, not guilt.

— Ajay Agarwal Dallas

Laloo’s last laugh

• What more shall we expect from that old fox called “Laloo” (‘Laloo as thermostat’, IE, December 22)? He acts like a joker, but beware, he is the most cunning politician on earth, who cleverly plays on people’s communal and caste insecurities.

— P. Venkatraj Bangalore