Opinion Letters to the editor: Restoring trust

This refers to T.P. Sreenivasan’s article ‘More continuity, less change’ (IE, May 12). The writer has appropriately concluded that the focus of the new government, as far as foreign policy is concerned, will be to ensure continuity and peaceful domestic development. At present, our foreign policy appears to be based more on internal political compulsions rather than national interest. As a result, our relationships with almost all our neighbours are confused and strained. The new government must give priority to improving them. Mutual trust and understanding must be restored. Confrontational stances must be avoided.
— Ashok K. Ashu- Patiala

Fair questions
Christoohe Jaffrelot’s assumptions about the BJP’s ideology itself needs moderation (‘Myth of moderation’, IE, May 12). His dismissive “martyr” taunt for those killed in the anti-cow slaughter movement was in bad taste. The prohibition of cow slaughter is a directive principle of state policy and is enshrined as a goal of government in the Constitution. Why does the writer feel it is communal if the followers of a culture that is animistic lobby for cow slaughter to be banned? Again, the abrogation of Article 370 and adoption of a uniform civil code (this is also a constitutional goal, part of the directive principles) are fair concerns and can by no stretch of the imagination be dubbed as exclusivist.
— Ajay Tyagi- Mumbai

Advertisement

A bellwether
This refers to the editorial ‘About Meerut’ (IE, May 12). I agree that whichever political coalition comes to power, its main challenge will be to step up to the problem of communal polarisation because of the elections. What has happened in Meerut is just a bellwether. The BJP is largely to blame for it. The party leadership let its prime ministerial nominee, Narendra Modi, play the communal card, both openly and subtly.
— Satwant Kaur- Mahilpur

Apropos  of the editorial ‘About Meerut’, the recent clash between two communities over a dry well is a reflection of the deep polarisation in Uttar Pradesh, for which all political parties share the blame. The people must desist from falling into the trap of politicians. One also witnessed the gradual erosion of the party machinery during this election and the increasing importance of personality cults. These parliamentary elections were essentially presidential in nature. This is a bad sign for our Westminster-style democracy. No political party showed any spirit of sportsmanship. The discourse during Election 2014 plumbed new depths.
— Parthasarathy Sen-New Delhi