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

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Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

BJP protest

Sir, — This refers to the editorial, "Fanaticising the issues" (Nov. 22). Almost with no stock of substantive issues to make its presence felt, the BJP is at it again — whipping up the frenzy of obscurantism against the rule of law.

S. Balu,
Madurai, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — For the BJP, which failed to draw mileage from its earlier protests on Uma Bharti's arrest and the removal of Savarkar's plaque, the arrest of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi has come as a blessing in disguise.

S.K. Choudhury,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — It is disturbing that a former Prime Minister and his deputy, and a former President, staged protests against the arrest of the Seer.

M.A. Sadanand,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — If the BJP and other Hindutva forces are really concerned about the Sankaracharya's arrest, they should try to prove he is not guilty rather than go on protest marches.

Kesari Naveen Krishna,
Vijayawada, A.P.

* * *

Sir, — The coverage of the incident in regional television channels made one wonder if the media had lost the ability to be unbiased. In this context, it was refreshing to read the editorial urging restraint and a fair trial.

Arvind Viswanath,
Dubai

* * *

Sir, — In Tamil Nadu, a section of the electronic media is controlled by the Dravidian parties, which have a stated position on a community. It bombards the viewers with sensational news on the investigation. The BJP's protest should be viewed against this background.

S. Ramamoorthy,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — The BJP is only echoing the sentiment of those who feel the police and the judiciary have treated the Seer more harshly than they have treated politicians charged with graver crimes.

V. Anantha Nageswaran,
Singapore

* * *

Sir, — No one was perturbed when Christian establishments and institutions organised protest rallies throughout the State to oppose the anti-conversion law. Is there a different yardstick for Hindus?

L. Ranganathan,
Srirangam, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — The Acharya certainly deserved better treatment. Instead what we see is a justification of the crudeness of the manner of his arrest. One need not be a fanatic to notice this.

T. Santhanam,
Chennai

* * *

Sir, — You have said the issue should not be politicised. But who has been politicising religion for the last 57 years? Can it be denied that over the last five decades, we have witnessed scorn being poured on Hinduism in the name of rationalism in Tamil Nadu? It is also not enough to say no one is above the law. Until everybody is seemingly above the law, protests and display of glee for political space will continue.

V.K. Narasimhan,
Yercaud, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — You have readily blamed the Sankaracharya's defence team for vitiating the atmosphere. But the first salvo was fired by the high-strung Public Prosecutor who not only called the Seer an "undeserving criminal" but also complained that the presence of a former High Court judge among the team of defence lawyers was "intimidating."

Priya Iyer,
Wilton, Connecticut

* * *

Sir, — No party has said anyone should be above the law; concerns have only been expressed over the manner of arrest, the truth in the allegation and a fair trial.

K. Sravan Kumar,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — When it is well known that dreaded criminals are allowed to get food from outside the jail, provided with television, cell phones and other cosy comforts, it would not have been too much to have met the basic needs of the Acharya, keeping his stature in mind.

H.P. Murali,
Bangalore

* * *

Sir, — Even before the commencement of the trial, many politicians in Tamil Nadu and a section of the media have passed the verdict. The case should be moved out of the State.

V. Balasubramanian,
Porayar, T.N.

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