Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Cabinet reshuffle

The decision to shift Mani Shankar Aiyar from the Petroleum Ministry is shocking. His painstaking diplomacy to establish the India-Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project clashed with the Bush administration's policy of isolating Iran. As a columnist, he was an uncompromising critic of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Hence he was asked to surrender a key portfolio on the eve of President George Bush's visit to India. The willingness of the pro-U.S. elements in the UPA to toe Washington's line is fraught with grave implications for India's moral standing and international prestige.

Radha Surya,
Bloomington, Indiana

* * *

Mr. Aiyar's pro-active diplomacy in bringing about deals and cooperation with countries such as Iran and China was vital in making India's foreign policy broadbased. The fact that he has been replaced by Murli Deora, who is close to the U.S. and the capitalist establishment in India, is unfortunate.

V.R. Srinivasan,
New Delhi

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If, as some believe, Mr. Aiyar's spat with ONGC is the reason for the decision to shift him, it is unfortunate. The matter could have been resolved. It is the people who stand to lose by such hasty decisions.

D. Pranith Kumar,
Kharagpur, W.B.

* * *

At a time when energy security has become as important as defence, the Prime Minister has chosen to act in the most brazen way, sending the wrong signals.

S. Vasudevan,
Chennai

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It appears that the Prime Minister made up his mind during his U.S. visit to remove Mr. Aiyar from the Petroleum Ministry. In the Minister, he must have seen a hurdle in the way of India becoming a stooge of the U.S.

V. George,
Kottayam, Kerala

* * *

Ronald Reagan justified the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983 saying it was done in the national interest. One wonders why all other countries are not allowed by the U.S. to act in their national interest. Mr. Aiyar has been removed because the U.S. is unable to tolerate a person working for his own nation's interest.

N. Ramakrishnan,
Chennai

* * *

The actions of the Government pertaining to foreign policy and economic policy are a clear attempt at taking an unfair advantage of the Left's unrelenting adherence to a secular programme. The perceptible capitulation of our Government to U.S. pressure as indicated in the Mulford fulminations and the replacement of Mani Shankar Aiyar with Murli Deora in the Petroleum portfolio are clear pointers to the graduation of the Congress from aam aadmi to khaas aadmi. After all, the Red Fort has Diwan-e-khaas, reserved for the privileged, and Diwan-e-aam, a place for ordinary individuals, as conceptualised by the Mughal empire.

Kasim Sait,
Chennai

* * *

The UPA Government must remember that the voters rejected the erstwhile NDA Government's pro-America policy. By pursuing the same policy, it is dishonouring the people's verdict.

A. Jesu Raj,
Tiruchi, T.N.

* * *

The creation of a separate Ministry for Minority Affairs underscores the UPA Government's communal agenda. Instead of working towards the eradication of social fractures, the Government is institutionalising the politics of minorityism. How can a Government that has a separate Ministry to deal with minority affairs claim to be secular?

J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad

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The induction of Sushil Kumar Shinde, former Governor of Andhra Pradesh, into the Union Cabinet reinforces the impression of misuse of the Governor's office. It shows that even after becoming Governor, Mr. Shinde kept his political affiliation intact, which got him a berth in the Union Cabinet. As long as the practice of appointing active politicians as Governors continues, Bihar-like situations are bound to recur.

A. Anil Kumar Reddy,
Anantapur, A.P.

* * *

In 2004, Mr. Shinde who was elected to the Maharashtra Assembly was appointed Governor of Andhra Pradesh, making a byelection necessary. Now Mr. Shinde will have to get elected to either House of Parliament. What a mockery of the electoral system! The law should be amended to prohibit elected representatives being appointed Governors, MPs contesting Assembly elections, and sitting MLAs contesting for Parliament.

K. Krishnamurthi,
Chennai

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