AIADMK needs Sasikala
Your exclusive interview with V.K. Sasikala was quite revealing; it is evident that Sasikala misses Jayalalithaa a lot even today (‘The sister speaks’, July 18).
With the AIADMK on a sticky wicket, the stage is set for Sasikala to lead the AIADMK, and bring the party back to power in 2026. Only Sasikala can unite the warring factions of the AIADMK. Many in that party secretly admire Sasikala and look up to her.
K.V. Prasad,
On email.
Sasikala was Jayalalithaa’s confidante, who stood by her in politics and life, in good and bad times. Their friendship, which was quite special, weathered many storms.
It is true that Sasikala is well-versed with the internal politics of the AIADMK.
T.V. Jayaprakash,
On email.
Sasikala is misunderstood by many. Good friends, Sasikala and Jayalalithaa stuck together like magnets. It is well known that Jayalalithaa did not live with her family. Hence it was natural for her to get close to a friend like Sasikala.
In the past, a few knuckleheads had the audacity to question the nature of the relationship between Sasikala and Jayalalithaa, thereby giving it a nasty spin.
Sasikala is still popular. All politicians in Tamil Nadu, including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, know well what Sasikala is capable of.
All said, the corruption cases against Sasikala are not going anywhere. She has to fight them legally and come clean.
R. Sairam,
On email.
Jayalalithaa’s life was full of controversies. So how she overcame them was what I wanted to know from Sasikala in the interview. Most of what Sasikala told you were in fact known.
Wish your reporter had probed further and got more information from Sasikala.
A.S. Nagesh,
On email.
Sasikala and Jayalalithaa were bosom friends, who were like sisters. It is wrong to say that Jayalalithaa fell into a trap because of her association with Sasikala.
I suggest Sasikala should write a book on Jayalalithaa. There are so many things about Jayalalithaa that the world wants to know.
Vikas Kapoor,
On email.
Sasikala’s exhaustive narration of events that led to her friendship with Jayalalithaa gave a ringside view of her political manoeuvring, as a ‘moving finger’ behind Jaya.
However, political developments that followed the hospitalisation and demise of Jayalalithaa presented a different scenario. Factional feud developed among AIADMK cadres. O. Panneerselvam, who was trusted by Jaya, expressed his dissent by resigning from the post of chief minister. Resort politics that ensued saw the emergence of E. Palaniswamy as chief minister and Sasikala as general secretary.
Sasikala has become a spent force in the AIADMK and she cannot stage a comeback.
B. Gurumurthy,
On email.
Your cover design (July 18) reminded me of the works of Karsh of Ottawa, Raghu Rai and Jitendra Arya.
Keep up the good work.
Shafi Mohamed,
On email.
Act fast
Certain life-saving drugs used for rare and dangerous diseases like SMA TYPE-1 are so costly that even the rich cannot afford them (‘Vial of life’, July 18).
Taking cognisance of this situation the Centre must provide these drugs free of cost for the treatment of such children and save their lives. At no cost can we let these children suffer and die without medical aid, merely because the treatment cost is prohibitive. Government should act fast.
Sunil Chopra,
On email.
The help that poured in for Ayaansh Gupta, diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, is testimony that compassion and love to fellow beings has not ebbed in this big, bad, bold world, where an outpouring of gory stories from the media is the norm of the day.
Let goodness flow freely into the tender veins of Ayaansh.
Krishnakumar G.,
On email.
Good job
The Big Picture (July 18) on a priest performing an exorcism on the banks of Sangam is a pointer that such practices still prevail not only in rural India but also in urban India. Many such occult activities are back. Such superstitions need to be erased forthwith.
The Big Picture demands of the nation to inoculate against such viruses that still exist and mutate in the minds of humankind, which are more dangerous than coronavirus.
Jithesh Kotheri,
On email.
Protect them
It was good to read about stepwells, which, to me, are quite nostalgic (‘Last word’, July 18). Stepwells should be preserved and protected as they play a significant role in water conservation.
Saurav Saxena,
On email.
You should be credited for throwing light on forgotten stepwells in India. An excellent source of conserving water, I wonder why conservationists have not brought this vital discovery to the notice of administrators. They are lying unattended and losing their purpose.
Repairing stepwells will help save water and ensure their optimum utilisation. The government must not allow them to decay any further and preserve the lifeline of humanity—water.
Shweta Chaudhary,
Delhi.
Milkha and Usha
‘Indomitable spirit’ (July 4) by Ramesh Tawde was a fitting tribute to the legendary Milkha Singh.
Singh and Usha were the only two runners who brought laurels to India, since both of them missed the Olympic bronze by a whisker.
A.L. Naik,
Karwar, Karnataka.