The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Slipper `treatment'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 30, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Slipper `treatment'

Sir, — The sight of the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, waiting with footwear in hand for his turn to slap an effigy of the Petroleum Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, is a national shame.

K. Sreedhar,
Secunderabad

* * *

Sir, — The front page photograph (Aug. 28) stands testimony to the degeneration in the norms for observing protests. Leaders of responsible political parties are certainly expected to behave better.

Seshagiri Row Karry,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — It was disgusting to see Bal Thackeray and Mr. Joshi "slippering" an effigy of Mr. Aiyar for his alleged remarks against V.D. Savarkar. One shudders to think of what will happen to the nation if these people are voted to power.

K. Venkataramani,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — The jode mara picture was shocking. That Mr. Joshi should indulge in something like this is to mock the Speaker's post he held once.

S. Ganapathi Rao,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — The photo shows the depths to which the behaviour of the Shiv Sainiks has sunk. To see a former Lok Sabha Speaker enthusiastically awaiting his turn to use a slipper on an effigy of Mr. Aiyar is distressing.

Prem Krishnan N.,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Sir, — One does not expect anything better from Mr. Thackeray and his ilk. At least Mr. Joshi, having had the privilege of occupying the Speaker's Chair, could have been a little more decent.

S. Asad,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The sight of Mr. Joshi, holding a slipper in his hand with a smile on his face while awaiting his turn, produced a wave of anger and revulsion in me. Was there no other dignified way of protesting Mr. Aiyar's remarks? Can a former Speaker descend to such despicable levels of behaviour?

D. Samuel Lawrence,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — Leaders who claim to defend the `honour' of Savarkar do not seem to think much of their honour. What respect do Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Joshi hope to command from future generations after blatantly wielding chappals in full public view?

G.M.K. Ranga Rao,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — On the one hand, we have Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam calling for a code of conduct for all professionals and political parties. But after seeing the photo of Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Joshi with `chappals' in hand, I wonder whether it is possible to enforce a code of conduct for politicians. Ethics and accountability are meant only for the voiceless common man.

V. Pandy,
Tuticorin, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — A leader of Mr. Thackeray's stature need not have taken slippers in his hand though he is used to taking the law into his hands. While Mr. Thackeray's action was undoubtedly in bad taste, so was the publication of the photo.

Mukesh Kaushik,
Ghaziabad, U.P.

* * *

Sir, — The publication of the photograph and the report, though newsworthy, was tantamount to adding insult to injury. The front-page coverage could have been avoided.

V.S. Venkatavaradan,
Salem, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The Shiv Sena is a political party. It can give any `treatment' that it deems fit to an effigy of its political opponent. But did The Hindu have to publish the photograph on its front page? It was not in good taste.

G. Gururaj,
Chennai

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