The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Gujarat verdict

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Monday, Dec 24, 2007
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Gujarat verdict

The Gujarat verdict is a setback to the values of pluralism, secularism, multiculturalism and democracy. The BJP won the elections by dividing the Gujarat electorate on communal lines.

Narendra Modi ran a sectarian, foul and demagogic campaign, which implicitly justified the cold-blooded murder of Sohrabuddin Shaikh in a fake encounter. He has emerged as the mascot of a muscular, hard-line version of Hindu nationalism.

T. Marx,

Karaikal

* * *

Mahatma Gandhi hailed from Gujarat to travel the secular path to establish an inclusive society. In the same land, political leaders have misguided the people to tread the polarised path of fundamentalism.

A. Krishnamurthy,

Chennai

* * *

The Gujarat electorate has rejected the propaganda that the Modi government is communal. The people have voted for good governance and corruption-free administration.

Rathnavel Srinivasan,

Chennai

* * *

The people of Gujarat have shown that they have left 2002 behind. The opposition parties need to introspect. Only positive politics can win. Divisionary politics no longer works. For India’s sake, the Congress should build its base all over again and end dynastic politics.

Anand Vardhan Bandi,

San Jose, California

* * *

The Congress defeat in Gujarat is entirely due to its wrong approach. The party did not seek to convince the people on how it would take Gujarat towards further prosperity. It relied more on the politics of appeasement and the rebel factor in the BJP.

T.R. Nanda Kumar,

Dehra Dun

* * *

The Gujarat election results have shown that voters do not think of the past, as they are realistic. They think only of the present and future. Mr. Modi should put his hardline Hindutva on the back burner and work for the all-round development of the State.

George Olivera,

Mysore

* * *

The lesson in the Gujarat verdict is: you cannot win by casting aspersions on others. The BJP’s victory under Mr. Modi’s leadership should be seen as a victory for performance and not for any particular party. In a democracy, opportunities are given to all promising parties. If they perform, they win. If they do not, they are shown the door. Let us hope all parties will understand that the people cannot be cheated by slogans and lengthy speeches alone.

B.R.K. Murthy,

Bangalore

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