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Journalism of Courage
•This refers to Shekhar Gupta’s ‘The rurban mind’. He has rightly observed that “in this rapidly developing (urbanising) India the rural urban divide is blurring, even in voting behaviour and the party that understands this closing of the gap between the urban and the rural mind will rule this new India”. But one really wonders why the Congress party, which is perhaps the most power savvy, fails to see this new ground reality and has remained confined to its old rhetoric. This is despite the fact that it has, of late, failed to win the voters’ confidence both in rural and urban areas. Karnataka is the case in example.
— S.K. Gupta
Alms and the men
•This refers to the editorial about the Madhya Pradesh minister describing reservation seekers as beggars
‘Reserve, deserve’. If begging it is to seek reservation then Brahmins will qualify first: historically they have been alms seekers in our caste system. The minister has unwittingly done a disservice to economically weaker sections (EWS) among upper castes who have to compete with OBCs, STs and SCs on the one hand and with their rich and resourceful caste brethren on the other.
Upper castes must mobilise themselves across the country and support those political parties or interest groups who will fight for them in securing reservation for EWS among the upper castes.
— Suman Upadhyay
Faridabad
Overcommitment
• The ongoing Gujjar agitation, no doubt, is highly deplorable as it is seriously affecting the life and liberty of hapless innocent citizens of the region who are the worst sufferers for no fault of theirs. Although the Vasundhara government is now trying to work out an amicable solution to defuse the crisis, it also needs to be mentioned that it is the BJP which is responsible for the present mess. It had promised ST status to Gujjar community in its election manifesto during last state elections.
— Hemant Kumar
Ambala
Nepal turns a corner
•According to Manjushree Thapa’s ‘A nation in a hurry’ , a “new” Nepal would determine how it will function and flourish within the democratic parameters of governance. Having had the monarchy evacuated under the Maoists, whom they gave their mandate to rule them in a republican mode, the people of Nepal must now forget their wounds and lift their morale to collectively make their country into a vibrant democracy.
— Satish Lothe
Nashik
Guilty trap
• The editorial, ‘Unseemly all round’, really says all that the ordinary citizen feels about the unfortunate Arushi murder case. Citizens in a democracy expect and even believe in the civilised idiom that any person has to be presumed to be innocent until proved guilty.
— Satish Dayal
New Delhi
