The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : BJP protest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 22, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

BJP protest

Sir, — The agitation launched by the BJP to protest the arrest of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, is dangerous. It is an attempt at politicising and communalising the issue.

L. Alamelu,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — It is unfortunate that the BJP should protest the arrest of a person allegedly involved in a heinous crime

P. Venkataramaiah,
Hyderabad

* * *

Sir, — The BJP and other Hindutva forces should realise that the Acharya is suspect in a murder case with the police claiming sufficient evidence against him.

Taki Tabi,
New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — One wonders whether the party would have agitated if the head of any other religion had been involved in a similar incident.

J.M. Manchanda,
New Delhi

* * *

Sir, — The BJP is playing to the gallery. It seems to have found a means of survival.

Madhu Singh,
Ambala Cantonment, Haryana

* * *

Sir, — Sushma Swaraj has termed the arrest of the Kanchi Acharya an insult and an assault on Hinduism, motivated by the `anti-Brahman' vote-bank consideration of the Dravidian parties. Is she aware that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is a Brahmin by birth, and a frequenter of temples?

Similar statements by BJP and VHP leaders betray an ignorance of the subtleties of the communal-caste-political realities in this part of the country.

K. Suryanarayanan,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The RSS has charged that a campaign is afoot to tarnish all revered Hindu icons. It should understand that a society that does not rest on blind faith is free to evaluate and re-evaluate its leaders from time to time.

G. Shikaripur,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — An official of a Hindu temple was murdered and the police have arrested the person allegedly responsible for the murder. Incidentally, the accused is the head of a Mutt.

Does it mean the police action is anti-Hindu?

Kovedha Swaminathan,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — There is no need to raise such a hue and cry if the Acharya is not guilty. Too much protest will only strengthen doubts.

Prakash Devikere,
Davangere, Karnataka

* * *

Sir, — That a very powerful, popular religious leader is being tried for an offence like an ordinary citizen adds to the credibility of our democracy.

H.V. Visweswaran,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — No politician has ever thought it worthwhile to take up the cause of the jail inmates accused of petty crimes, who are yet to be proved guilty but have spent more time in jail as undertrials than they would have if proved guilty.

How we wish our politicians were reformers and not mere rabble-rousers!

Shivani Nag,
New Delhi

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