Mumbai on the Brink
Twenty years after Ayodhya, India’s commercial capital is riven again by fear and communal violence.
Vote- bank Politics
The eruption of communal violence in Mumbai or Assam does not augur well for secular India (“Mumbai on the Brink”, September 3). People using cyberspace to disseminate abhorrence towards a minority group add fuel to the fire. Besides, it also reflects the inability or unwillingness of the state and Central governments to take control. India must guard against and apprehend such troublemakers at all cost. If communal violence is an ugly offshoot of India’s diverse religions, one hopes with the concerted efforts of the authorities this offshoot does not blossom anymore. SANJIV GUPTA, Australia Instead of Mumbai on the brink, it may be India on the brink because the secular fabric of India is
The omnipresent social media has served as a handy tool for anti- India elements to woo and instigate moderate Muslims and gullible youngsters into violent protests.
NALINI VIJAYARAGHAVAN, Thiruvananthapuram
slowly crumbling into pieces and communal feelings are creeping in among the people. Unless this is checked, there will be chaos and communal clashes all over the country. Politicians should stop inciting people against each other or the outcome will certainly be disastrous. Politicians should not play with people’s sentiments and refrain from disturbing communal harmony. RANJIT SINHA, New Delhi The narration of events was heart- rending. The simmering tension between different communities in India on account particularly of religious faith is often largely promoted by political parties to consolidate their vote banks. A soft- pedalling approach of the Government towards Pakistan, a source of all
evils in India, is at the root of tribulations we have been forced to bear. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost because of the insensitive and indifferent attitude of any party in power. GAUTAM KANTHARIA, Ahmedabad
Stop the Blackmail
Blackmail system of alliance politics (“Minister for Eastern Railways”, September 3) is fast ruining our country’s economy. The Prime Minister is forced to dance to the tunes of regional allies such as Mamata Banerjee, thus undervaluing his post. Even the most bitter critics of price hike opposed Banerjee’s diktat against a hike in rail fares. Things can and must be improved if blackmail alliance politics is to be effectively checked. The rule should be to appoint persons who have not contested any election in the last six years as ministers. This will eliminate the influence of domineering leaders of alliance parties, giving real power to ordinary parliamentarians. SUBHASH C. AGGARWAL, Kanpur
Dangerous Liaisons
It has been observed since ages that few people such as Gopal Kanda, equipped with power and money, succeed in exploiting women physically and mentally (“Call of the New Sirens”, September 3). Unfortunately some women, who prefer to have money and borrowed power at any cost, are willingly trapped into such manipulative tactics of men. These illegitimate relationships which shower money and luxuries on women and their families flourish without any objections from either end. However, the situation takes an ugly turn when the expectations exceed beyond a point, leading to a tragic end to the tale. Women have to remain conscious and careful before entering such relationships. P. K. SRIVASTAVA, Delhi
Taint Again
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke on expected lines again (“Coal Scam Tars Prime Minister”, September 3). The great democrat that he assumes himself to be, he said he had bowed to the wishes of Opposition- held states but failed to mention Congressruled states would also benefit from the act. He defended his actions under the plea that coal block auction would be time consuming and the delay would result in the projects getting delayed for want of coal. Strangely, there is no progress in any of the blocks till now. Had the UPA tried, the auctioneers would have started work by now. The Prime Minister’s speech is pure rhetoric and worthy of the archives. M. M. KALE, Manipur
Breathe Easy
The rat race for supremacy (“How Healthy is India Inc?”, September 3) has brought stress to Indian corporate executives beyond words. The country is witnessing an unprecedented rise in diseases. Faulty lifestyle, food that is not nutritious, spraying of insecticides on every crop, pollution, and too much stress are taking a toll on their health. They need to de- stress themselves through yoga, meditation and regular excercise. Eating and sleeping habits have to be modified to function effectively in this highly competitive environment. V. K. TANGRI, Dehradun
Wasseypur Strikes
Revenge is the central theme (“The Real Gangs of Wasseypur”, September 3) in Anurag Kashyap’s two- part film Gangs of Wasseypur. Through the article, it is clear that Wasseypur and its neighbouring areas have seen their fair share of violence and the movie helped in bringing it to notice for the world to see. Urbanisation, with its advantages, seems to cast a dark cloud over Dhanbad. It also seems to be the reason for the gang fights over generations that take place in the city. MAHIMA CHOPRA, Pune