The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Sudarshan's comments

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Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Sudarshan's comments

Sir, — RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan's latest charge is that Atal Bihari Vajpayee did not do a good job as Prime Minister. While the RSS is ostensibly blaming Mr. Vajpayee's poor performance on his family influence, does it not have more to do with the NDA's failure to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya? And the fact that Mr. Vajpayee chose to be the Prime Minister of all Indians rather than toeing the RSS line? Mr. Vajpayee was a good Prime Minister whose hands were tied by the Hindutva agenda.

Vijay Krishnan,
Coimbatore

Sir, — The leadership qualities of Mr. Vajpayee have been praised by leaders in India and abroad. He led and sustained one of the most difficult coalitions.

R. Bhatia,
Hardwar, Uttaranchal

Sir, — The sangh parivar is unable to garner support for a Ram temple as the people have realised that it is best not to open up controversial matters. It is unable to show the UPA dispensation in a poor light because the country is relatively peaceful. Its outbursts on the foreign origin of Sonia Gandhi had few takers and resulted in more sympathy for her. Left with no weapons in its arsenal, it is trying to make scapegoats out of Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani.

N. Nageswaran,
Chennai

Sir, — Instead of insisting on a Ram temple, why not the RSS initiate social reforms? Why resort to a short cut in the form of Ram temple? If building a temple can eradicate poverty, illiteracy, caste system and the like, governments can build thousands of temples. A Ram temple in Ayodhya is not the cornerstone of Hinduism. Hinduism has existed with, without and in spite of the RSS.

Velavartipati Vachaspati,
Ongole, A.P.

Sir, — Mr. Sudarshan's remark that Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani should make way for new faces (April 11) is timely. It is indeed time Mr. Vajpayee retired from active politics. His wisdom can always be borrowed whenever necessary.

Mr. Advani, on the other hand, does not seem to be acceptable to the entire BJP. No doubt the Vajpayee-Advani combine worked wonders for the party earlier but it was also responsible for the BJP's electoral debacle in 2004. It is better to retire honourably before being dethroned.

Baru Rajendra Prasad,
Hyderabad

Sir, — Mr. Sudarshan's observation clearly exposes the power wielded by extra constitutional authorities during Mr. Vajpayee's term. In this context, the BJP's criticism of Ms. Gandhi as super Prime Minister lacks credibility.

T. Anbumani,
Tiruchi, T.N.