ATTACK ON THAROOR

India is not the country it used to be. It is a shame that BJP youth wing activists attacked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s office in Thiruvananthapuram over his recent statement. It is suppression of the freedom of expression and a blot on democracy. Making a statement against the BJP does not make anybody an anti-national like the BJP always tries to paint them to be. People must understand their hypocrisy. Md. Faheem Hyderabad I was offended by Mr Tharoor’s remark of a Hindu Pakistan. I strongly believe that India is a secular country and will remain secular. But the news about the vandalism at his office makes me think that what he said was correct. It is very unfortunate that in India, in the past couple of years, the secular, sincere and peaceful youth have taken to violence. Violence does not solve any issues. There are more powerful ways to counter the views of a person. Mohd Noman Arshad

Adilabad

HELMET RULE

It is a good move by the state government to stop filling stations from selling fuel to bikers without helmets (No fuel without helmet, DC, July 17). However, the government must first teach them the basic disciplines like desisting from haphazard parking and taking sudden turns without warning, etc. The government should also encourage common the citizens to pass on photos and footages of such violations to the traffic police so that defaulters can be traced and punished. Sabatini Stephenson Hyderabad

UOH HOSTELS

It is disheartening to note that round the year the University of Hyderabad is in the news for some or the other reasons. The latest is its hostels using plastic sheets to prepare idlis (UoH J&K hostel using plastics to prepare idlis, DC, July 17). I wonder why the officials concerned do not look into such matters and solve such matters immediately. Kailash Kulkarni Hyderabad Every Monday the best letter of the week wins `300. Email your letters to info@deccanmail.com, editor@deccanmail.com, or fax them to 27805256. You can also send them to Editor, Deccan Chronicle, 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad-500 003.