Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Gujarat polls

During election time, politicians indulge in mudslinging without sparing a thought for the consequences of their broadside against one another. A wrong cannot be righted by another wrong. Even if Sonia Gandhi provoked Narendra Modi, as he claims, he should not have implicitly justified the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a fake encounter.

Of course, Ms Gandhi could have avoided using intemperate language. If the Hindutva forces are voted back to power, the people of Gujarat cannot be saved from the clutches of communalism.

K. Ramachandran,

Madurai

All parties seek votes on the basis of caste, creed, and religion. None of them is fair during elections.

P.D. Damia,

Siliguri

The war of words between Ms Gandhi and Mr. Modi represents a common occurrence in politics across the country.

The Election Commission’s interventions hardly bear any fruit. But the people no longer care for such accusations and counter-accusations. The need of the hour is a leader who can rise above such politics.

G. Sri Charan,

Hyderabad

Ms Gandhi is in the spotlight following her “merchants of death” remark. If the elimination of Sohrabuddin can be talked about in justifiable terms by some politicians, even while it has resulted in arrests and trial, Ms Gandhi’s remark is not out of place.

She has expressed her opinion in the best interests of the people of Gujarat in the overall context, which includes the Gujarat riots.

Cho Vaidheeswaran,

Chennai

It is a matter of shame that the BJP and the Congress have resorted to communalism in some form to garner votes. Whether Mr. Modi will lose or win is another matter. The fact that hate campaigns persist is a cause for concern.

The need of the hour is to build a healthy society, not to draw religion into politics. Both parties should stop the blame game and concentrate on the people and the State.

Inamdar Ramchandra,

Bangalore

It is an irony that Mr. Modi cannot contest even one election without Muslims. If Mian Musharraf was indispensable in 2002, Sohrabuddin’s name has been invoked in 2007. The admirers of his hate speeches forget that the Gujarat police killed not only Sohrabuddin but also Tulsi Ram Prajapati, a Hindu.

By claiming to speak for them, Mr. Modi is accusing five crore Gujaratis of endorsing murder. It is a shame that by creating paranoia, he actually makes Hindus appear frightened of Muslims.

M.H. Jowher,

Ahmedabad

Mr. Modi has claimed that his speech was twisted and that statements not made by him were attributed to him by the media. If his claim is true, it will revive the argument over the objectivity and credibility of the media. Of course, not all newspapers are biased. Journalism is an important weapon. It should be used in a responsible manner. The plural fabric of India cannot be allowed to be taken for a ride by irresponsible reporting.

Arul Anandan,

Chennai

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