03-13-2006, 12:00 AM
Playing with fire
This refers to the editorial "Playing with fire in U.P." (March 11). Our politicians are shortsighted and do not see beyond votes. It is no surprise then that they mix religion with politics. They do not realise how dangerous it is to pull the delicate strings of secularism that bind the people of all communities together. What is the difference between terrorists and politicians who stoke the embers of communal fire for their vested interests?
Tripti Vachher,
Dehra Dun
* * *
The BJP's accusation that the UPA is pursuing policies of minorityism is unacceptable. Minorityism and vote bank politics have long been woven into the warp and woof of the saffron brigade's poll plank. The BJP has always drawn political mileage from minorityism, leaving the minorities in the lurch. People staying in glasshouses should not throw stones at others.
A.K. Muneer Hudawi,
Kuzhimanna, Kerala
* * *
With terrorism assuming alarming proportions, what was restricted to border regions at one point of time has become a daily affair. There is no doubt that terrorists have a well-entrenched network in various parts of the country and enjoy local support too. Lack of political will to be proactive, failure of all parties to stand united, lack of determination among the police, and unmitigated corruption, among other things, have made the task of terrorists easier.
Sudhir Shivaram,
Bangalore
* * *
Our police forces and internal intelligence agencies continue to remain ill equipped, poorly funded, and deprived of political direction. The tendency to indulge in the blame game, as demonstrated by the BJP after the Varanasi blasts, indirectly helps terrorists. To win the battle against terrorism, parties must see attacks as a threat to India rather than to a particular community.
Sutirtha Sahariah,
New Delhi
* * *
The BJP's proposed National Integration Twin Yatra is another political gimmick. Saffron man L.K. Advani embarks on the beaten track of yatras whenever the party's fortunes dwindle. While the purpose is sheer politics, the gullible people are taken for a ride with yatras. Such moves are dangerous.
Rocky Sharma,
Dharwad, Karnataka
* * *
The BJP bandh to protest the Varanasi explosions was unfortunate. A bandh call is an occasion for vested interests to instigate violence and perhaps that is what the perpetrators of the blasts wanted.
This is not the time for confrontation and all political parties should realise this.
M.V. Pattabhiraman,
Secunderabad
* * *
As expected the Varanasi blasts have come as a shot in the arm for the saffron brigade. The proposed yatra is a political gimmick and an effort by Mr. Advani to shore up his position.
Shadab Ahsan,
Gaya, Bihar
* * *
The bombings in Varanasi are most condemnable. Those who indulge in such heinous acts are not Muslims. The Quran forbids attacks on places of worship. No problem is solved by acts of violence and killing of innocent people.
K. Mohammed Uzair,
Chennai
* * *
Efforts by some to communalise the situation and gain political mileage would be beneficial to neither the country nor any community. No religion preaches bombing of places of worship.
Abdur Rahman Qasmi,
New Delhi
* * *
India is committed to secularism. But terrorists take advantage of this to destabilise the country.
Surendra Reddy Kandi,
Ongole, A.P.
* * *
Protests leading to death and violence in the name of religion are the result of a lack of maturity and tolerance. We should not surrender our awareness, conscience, and independent thinking to fundamentalists and their ideology of exploiting religion for propaganda.
P. Vinod Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram
* * *
The reference to Kandahar in the editorial is uncalled for. No responsible government could have allowed a planeload of its citizens to be blown up. It is not fair to accuse the BJP on a damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don't basis.
M.K.B. Nambiar,
Mahe
* * *
When the BJP seeks votes, it is accused of indulging in minorityism. And when it embarks on yatras, it is seen as an attempt at stoking the majoritarian sentiment. The BJP is a political party and whatever it does to expand its base need not be anything other than politics. Its yatras are just another name for road shows conducted by all political parties.
Mohan Shenoy,
Bangalore
* * *
The article "Understanding the harvest of hate" (March 11) lucidly drives home the point that hatred born out of the fires of the Partition is still ravaging India. It is a historical fact that Uttar Pradesh was the hub of separatist politics. India's long border with Nepal and its proximity to the porous borders of Bangladesh make infiltration for jihadists easier.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bangalore
* * *
The argument by some that terrorist acts are born out of inadequate appraisal of Muslim aspirations is simplistic. There has been a gradual build-up of jihadi pockets and their network has spread to almost all the States. To play down the seriousness of the situation with an eye on votes or propagation of a secular image would be suicidal.
S. Chidambaresa Iyer,
Chennai
This refers to the editorial "Playing with fire in U.P." (March 11). Our politicians are shortsighted and do not see beyond votes. It is no surprise then that they mix religion with politics. They do not realise how dangerous it is to pull the delicate strings of secularism that bind the people of all communities together. What is the difference between terrorists and politicians who stoke the embers of communal fire for their vested interests?
Tripti Vachher,
Dehra Dun
* * *
The BJP's accusation that the UPA is pursuing policies of minorityism is unacceptable. Minorityism and vote bank politics have long been woven into the warp and woof of the saffron brigade's poll plank. The BJP has always drawn political mileage from minorityism, leaving the minorities in the lurch. People staying in glasshouses should not throw stones at others.
A.K. Muneer Hudawi,
Kuzhimanna, Kerala
* * *
With terrorism assuming alarming proportions, what was restricted to border regions at one point of time has become a daily affair. There is no doubt that terrorists have a well-entrenched network in various parts of the country and enjoy local support too. Lack of political will to be proactive, failure of all parties to stand united, lack of determination among the police, and unmitigated corruption, among other things, have made the task of terrorists easier.
Sudhir Shivaram,
Bangalore
* * *
Our police forces and internal intelligence agencies continue to remain ill equipped, poorly funded, and deprived of political direction. The tendency to indulge in the blame game, as demonstrated by the BJP after the Varanasi blasts, indirectly helps terrorists. To win the battle against terrorism, parties must see attacks as a threat to India rather than to a particular community.
Sutirtha Sahariah,
New Delhi
* * *
The BJP's proposed National Integration Twin Yatra is another political gimmick. Saffron man L.K. Advani embarks on the beaten track of yatras whenever the party's fortunes dwindle. While the purpose is sheer politics, the gullible people are taken for a ride with yatras. Such moves are dangerous.
Rocky Sharma,
Dharwad, Karnataka
* * *
The BJP bandh to protest the Varanasi explosions was unfortunate. A bandh call is an occasion for vested interests to instigate violence and perhaps that is what the perpetrators of the blasts wanted.
This is not the time for confrontation and all political parties should realise this.
M.V. Pattabhiraman,
Secunderabad
* * *
As expected the Varanasi blasts have come as a shot in the arm for the saffron brigade. The proposed yatra is a political gimmick and an effort by Mr. Advani to shore up his position.
Shadab Ahsan,
Gaya, Bihar
* * *
The bombings in Varanasi are most condemnable. Those who indulge in such heinous acts are not Muslims. The Quran forbids attacks on places of worship. No problem is solved by acts of violence and killing of innocent people.
K. Mohammed Uzair,
Chennai
* * *
Efforts by some to communalise the situation and gain political mileage would be beneficial to neither the country nor any community. No religion preaches bombing of places of worship.
Abdur Rahman Qasmi,
New Delhi
* * *
India is committed to secularism. But terrorists take advantage of this to destabilise the country.
Surendra Reddy Kandi,
Ongole, A.P.
* * *
Protests leading to death and violence in the name of religion are the result of a lack of maturity and tolerance. We should not surrender our awareness, conscience, and independent thinking to fundamentalists and their ideology of exploiting religion for propaganda.
P. Vinod Kumar,
Thiruvananthapuram
* * *
The reference to Kandahar in the editorial is uncalled for. No responsible government could have allowed a planeload of its citizens to be blown up. It is not fair to accuse the BJP on a damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don't basis.
M.K.B. Nambiar,
Mahe
* * *
When the BJP seeks votes, it is accused of indulging in minorityism. And when it embarks on yatras, it is seen as an attempt at stoking the majoritarian sentiment. The BJP is a political party and whatever it does to expand its base need not be anything other than politics. Its yatras are just another name for road shows conducted by all political parties.
Mohan Shenoy,
Bangalore
* * *
The article "Understanding the harvest of hate" (March 11) lucidly drives home the point that hatred born out of the fires of the Partition is still ravaging India. It is a historical fact that Uttar Pradesh was the hub of separatist politics. India's long border with Nepal and its proximity to the porous borders of Bangladesh make infiltration for jihadists easier.
H.N. Ramakrishna,
Bangalore
* * *
The argument by some that terrorist acts are born out of inadequate appraisal of Muslim aspirations is simplistic. There has been a gradual build-up of jihadi pockets and their network has spread to almost all the States. To play down the seriousness of the situation with an eye on votes or propagation of a secular image would be suicidal.
S. Chidambaresa Iyer,
Chennai