The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Unnecessary

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Monday, Mar 10, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unnecessary

This refers to the controversy generated by the remarks of Kashmir Singh, released from the death row of the Kot Lakhpat jail in Pakistan, after 35 years. Unlike diplomatic spies, the jobs and lives of other spies are highly risky. It is common knowledge that if caught, countries do not recognise them as being on duty.

Whether or not Kashmir Singh was a spy, there are many holes in his so-called revelations. One day, he says he worked as a spy for the military intelligence and, the next day, he says he was quoted out of context. He has lost the goodwill of both Indians and Pakistanis. Pakistan Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney is right in saying that Singh has affected other Indian prisoners’ chances of release.

Capt. T. Raju,

Secunderabad

Mr. Singh’s open admission that he spied for India (which he subsequently denied) will result in adverse consequences for other Indian prisoners languishing in Pakistani jails. More important, it has placed Mr. Burney in an embarrassing position.

R. Murali Kumar,

Srirangam

Mr. Singh’s unwarranted comments, openly in a press meet, and the charges levelled by him against the government have caused much humiliation and embarrassment to the government. His utterances have dealt a blow to the efforts of the two governments to help other ill-fated prisoners.

B. Gurumurthy,

Madurai

The government is to blame for letting Mr. Singh speak to the media. It will be solely responsible for the inability to secure the release of other Indian prisoners from Pakistan.

H. Murugesh,

Coimbatore

It was the non-stop media hounding that made Mr. Singh say what he did. He might have been ignorant of the consequences of his statement. The electronic media should be more responsible in reporting matters of national interest. Or, they should hound cricketers who are being treated as though they are war veterans.

G. Shankar,

Chennai

Mr. Singh has done a disservice to all those languishing in Pakistani jails. It is highly improbable for a man who allegedly indulged in espionage activities not to know the damage his statement can cause. One does feel his utterances are engineered to sabotage the improvement of India-Pakistan relations.

Vasa Srinivasa Murthy,

Visakhapatnam

This is irrespective of whether Mr. Singh was a spy. Spying for one’s country is a peculiar form of legal offence. Once caught, the individual is punished while the organisation (intelligence agency) commissioning the spies is let off. It does not come to the operative’s aid even if he worked under its instructions. This is violative of natural justice.

J. Prabhakar,

Hyderabad

Even though there may be some justification in the government’s inability to do much for Mr. Singh’s release, there is no excuse for the utter disregard it showed to his family. Mr. Singh is a true patriot who risked his life for the country and we, as a country, have failed him miserably.

Sanjita Banerjee,

Hershey, Pennsylvania

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