It's not religious

Sir, - In your editorial, ``Selective Focus'' (Sept. 29), you have correctively justified the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Its activities are seditious and vociferously anti-national in collaboration with foreign terrorist movements. A religious hue should not be given to this ban, but unfortunately Opposition parties, with an eye on the Muslim vote-bank, speak with double standards. Our Prime Minister, while addressing a group of Muslim leaders, has correctly expressed the view that a fight against terrorism is not a fight against Islam.

We have a fully secular Constitution. We had been taught by Gandhiji and Nehru to protect the minorities even if jeopardising the major Hindu community's rights. Even the present Government is following this tradition, despite its close affinity with the Hindutva forces.

As you have pointed out, the Sangh Parivar, especially the Bajrang Dal, is pursuing hate campaigns against the minorities, but this comes under law and order and should be dealt with as such. Their actions should not be compared with the SIMI. Though selective, the banning of the SIMI is a timely move.

S. Venugopalan,

Chennai

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