The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Shocking

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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Shocking

This refers to the report that the Taliban in Pakistan’s tribal regions has demanded that Sikhs there pay jaziya (religious tax). It is shocking that in modern times, people can be made to pay money for following a religion of their choice. Has the Taliban ever paused to think what would happen if similar treatment were meted out by fanatics belonging to other religions to Muslims where they are in a minority? The Taliban is only doing harm to Islam, not protecting it, by resorting to such moves. The stand of our Muslim leaders on the issue is commendable.

M.N. Balachandra,

Bangalore

The enforcement of jaziya is the result of the pusillanimity of the Pakistani civil regime in dealing with the extra-constitutional usurpation of the Swat Valley by the Taliban and its other attempts at establishing a theocratic state. A large section of Indian Muslim leaders has rightly condemned the medieval act. The movement against such tendencies will be strengthened the world over if Muslim intellectuals combat the outdated misinterpretations of Islam. The effort will also help in creating more favourable conditions for strengthening the secular fabric essential for the removal of disparities and discrimination.

Kasim Sait,

Chennai

Voter turnout

The article “Celeb crusades & the death of politics” (May 4) attributes the miserable voter turnout in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the country in general, and Mumbai in particular, to the death of politics. Politics implies conflict and cooperation within a society and it can never die.

The low turnout, therefore, points to the decline of democracy. With 42 per cent turnout in Mumbai, the party that secures 22 per cent of the total vote will emerge the winner. Is this the democracy we boast of?

Eeshit Narain,

New Delhi

Maximum participation by the electorate is a sine qua non for the survival of a democracy. Why is the Indian voter, especially the more knowledgeable urban voter, displaying increasing apathy to the fundamental right and duty towards his country?

Because of his cynicism towards all things political, towards the unprincipled brand of politics practised by all, including even those leaders who, till recently, carried an image of honesty and integrity. The need of the hour is introspection by the political class. It should find ways of regaining its credibility.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,

Bangalore

Some leaders, including L.K. Advani, have demanded that voting be made compulsory. Before making such a demand, they should do some soul-searching. The main reason for the low turnout is that almost all political parties have only leaders, not followers, in view of large-scale defections.

Party workers themselves do not know who their leaders are since there are last-minute changes in the leadership — they find that the person for whom they have worked for years has defected. If political parties do not act responsibly, nothing can be done to increase the percentage of voting.

K. Vittal Shetty,

Bangalore

Election 2009 has so far been devoid of any meaningful issue. Possibly, our politicians, as a class, have lost the feel of the people’s pulse.

It is a matter of great concern that democracy has become a cow which is being milked by parties which care for nothing other than power for themselves.

Dilbag Rai,

Chandigarh

As a young Indian, I was excited about the election but I did not go to the polling booth, first because I am visually impaired and I have heard from my peers that there is no privacy for people like us. Braille EVMs exist only in name. Secondly, a host of families from my neighbourhood came back frustrated as their names were missing from the voter lists.

Is the Election Commission aware that names go missing from the voter lists; houses are wiped off the map; people who are alive are declared dead; and the religion and even the gender of many people have been changed?

Shadab Husain,

Lucknow

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