Excellent research
Without following the beaten track of black or white binary, your cover story did a commendable job in unscrambling Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the man, and the myths surrounding him (‘The man, the melange’, October 4).
That he was a champion of civil liberties and kept himself above the narrowness of communal chauvinism clears the cobwebs around his persona. Your story, hopefully, will be an impetus to look deep into Mookerjee’s life, separating the grain from the chaff.
Raveendranath A.,
On email.
Your cover story on Mookerjee was outstanding, and it gave us so much of information. I was surprised to read that Mookerjee was never influenced by religious considerations. But, then, he could foresee the separatist tendencies in Jammu and Kashmir. It is not an exaggeration if I say that Mookerjee was the first Indian to sacrifice his life for Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP, today, is harping in on Mookerjee’s legacy, and why not! As part of the Union government’s renaming spree, many social schemes carry Mookerjee’s name.
Tapesh Nagpal,
On email.
Your cover story was a waste of precious pages. What were you going to achieve with this story? Who is your target? By revealing everything about Mookerjee, can anything in the BJP or the RSS change?
When the country is facing so many other issues, your interest in Mookerjee is indigestible. Hope you will bring us the pulse of the country through other cover stories.
Jayaprakash Reddy,
On email.
Why blame Army?
I went through your report on the Shopian encounter. I feel such a report, on a case of mistaken identity, will only help in tarnishing the image of our security forces (‘Innocent dead’, October 4). What do the so-called human rights activists have to say about the cold-blooded killing of a sarpanch, some months ago, in Jammu and Kashmir?
Do you think highlighting such incidents will boost the morale of the Army, huge battalions of which are presently deployed in the inhospitable mountains of eastern Ladakh, face to face with a belligerent Chinese army?
The Army believes in the highest traditions of the country, and will not condone any wrongdoings on its part.
K.V. Chandrasekharan,
Bengaluru.
It is good that the Army has admitted that three men from Shopian were killed mistakenly. A hefty compensation should be paid to their families at the earliest. The Army, the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police should make sure that such incidents do not happen.
Sukhbir Singh,
On email.
More awareness needed
I am sure that the Narendra Modi government will not alienate the farmers (‘Sowing anger’, October 4). It will never take that risk. The Union government needs to create an awareness campaign to convince the farmers that the bills would help them. There is so much of misinformation regarding the bill. Farmers in India have poor bargaining power. It will help the farmers big time if they are able to sign contracts with private companies.
Devender Tokas,
On email.
The leaders of the Akali Dal know well that the farm reform bill will only benefit farmers. To say that the state mandis will be destroyed in the process is not a wise argument. Why should there be an infrastructure created to procure food grains? Why are we underestimating the farmer? Let them decide for themselves and be competitive.
Nandu Kishore,
On email.
Good job, India
Meenakshi Lekhi makes a very valid point when she said that no country has been 100 per cent successful in containing the virus, while also saying that there have been more hits than misses in the management of Covid-19 (‘Forthwrite’, October 4). One needs to realise that Covid-19 has affected almost everyone in the world in some manner or the other. It is unfortunate that there have been so many deaths in India. But, one also needs to realise that by and large the government of India has handled this crisis well.
I agree with Lekhi who said India will do well only when all states perform well.
Vyom Prakash,
On email.
India is one of those few countries in the world that has handled the pandemic well. We have one of the highest recovery rates in the world. So what if the number of positive cases is rising. At least we do not hide the figures, in the manner that some of our neighbouring countries do it. We are on the right path. I also appreciate Lekhi for having written the column after she tested positive. Let us hope that the majority of us will not get affected with the virus. But, just in case we test positive, let us put a brave face.
Gaurav Mitra,
On email.
And, into that trap
What Richard Nixon thought of Indian women half a century ago has lost relevance. Let the Watergate disgraced president rest in his grave (‘Last Word’, October 4).
His secretary of state, Henry Kissinger, is now 97, and out of sight and out of mind, and on wheelchair. He has no role to play in politics and his past speaks a lot about his anti-India rhetoric.
Navtej Sarna reiterated the established truth that Kissinger is not needed for India to influence American system. Sarna was, subconsciously, guilty of slipping into the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s trap by allowing him to have an entire page, knowing fully well Dr K turned redundant everywhere, several decades ago.
Parthasarathy Mandadi,
On email.