LETTERS

EMPTY RHETORIC

THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘This versus that’ (IE, February 21). The PM’S comment in Fatehpur does not behove his office. Such barbs trigger unsavoury retorts and must be avoided by all concerned. There has been little talk on how to extricate Uttar Pradesh from insecurity, corruption and blatant communalisation. The BJP has not fielded a single Muslim candidate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had won the hearts of people in 2014 by championing the cause of vikas for all and there is much he has to do on that front. But he should eschew the kind of rhetoric he has been using in the UP elections.

Parthasarathy Sen, New Delhi

WHERE’S ‘VIKAS’?

THIS REFERS TO the editorial, ‘This versus that’ (IE, February 21). Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the impression that he would personally focus on vikas and eschew references to faith and religion — that task would be left to others in the BJP. But his recent comments show that he does not pay heed to such distinctions. The PM should remember that he was elected on the plank of development.

J. Akshay, Bengaluru

ONLINE ILLUSIONS

THIS REFERS TO the article, ‘A new divide in class’ (IE, February 21). MOOCS are an opportunity to supplement the education provided through formal institutions. These courses cannot and should not replace the traditional classroom ecosystem. The online knowledge delivery system should not be a source of bridging the knowledge divide. The idea of replacing teachers with custommade online lectures goes against the basic idea of education which encourages diversity and plurality of thought.

Amit Verma, Bareilly