Akhilesh Yadav gave his best shot in Uttar Pradesh. But I wish the effort that Yadav put in the last few months, he had put a year ago, and stitched an alliance to oust Yogi Adityanath and the BJP government in the state (‘Ride with the tide’, March 6).
There is no denying that Yadav continues to be popular in UP, and I am sure he will keep a check on Yogi.
Vismay Mathur,
On email.
It is a fact that the Samajwadi Party has a formidable presence in UP. The SP rule in the state, from 2012 to 2017, was not as bad as it is made out to be. The farmers in UP won’t forgive the BJP, despite the withdrawal of farm laws.
Shiv Rajagopal,
On email.
Reminded of naval blockade
The western powers have denigrated Russia for invading Ukraine (‘Bear on the prowl’, March 6). They also goaded Ukraine to join NATO, the US-led military alliance. Russia has, time and again, resented the idea, and is certain to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, as it could jeopardise Russia’s security.
All this reminds me of the naval blockade around Cuba in 1962, by the US, to prevent the Soviets from bringing in more military supplies. The US blockaded [USSR] and warned of a war, just because it threatened the security of the US. After parleys and tense negotiations USSR backtracked, removed missiles, and a certain war was averted. A somewhat similar situation is happening now, except that it has already led to an armed conflict. [In this case,] one has to replace the US with Russia.
Laljee Verma, retired air marshal,
On email.
Skewed
Anuja Chauhan’s arguments in favour of hijab are skewed and lopsided (‘Schizo-nation’, March 6). While agreeing that an individual should have the freedom to wear what he or she wants, Chauhan has conveniently forgotten the element of coercion these girls are subjected to, while forcibly being made to wear hijab or burkha.
Chauhan has no concern at all about the principle behind use of uniforms in educational institutions.
P. Sudhakaran,
Kollam, Kerala.
Chauhan’s column exposes the ‘schizo’ thinking of our intellectuals.
Muslim news readers or actors do not work wearing hijab. That does not mean they are not true Muslims. Neither religion nor personal comfort is involved here.
T. Sudhakar Bhat,
On email.
Road ends with Sania
There will be a huge void in Indian tennis after 2022 as there are no worthy successors to Sania Mirza in singles, doubles and mixed doubles (‘Poise and perseverance’, February 27). As far as women’s sports in India is concerned, there are worthy replacements in badminton, cricket, hockey and wrestling, with new names being heard regularly. However, the same cannot be said about women’s tennis in India, which will be a closed chapter after Mirza.
Parthasarathy Mandadi,
On email.
Divisive politics
I doubt if all ministers and a coterie of three hundred MPs of the BJP have understood what Shashi Tharoor has said about the illiberal democracy that the Narendra Modi government has ushered in (‘Last Word’, March 6).
The BJP’s attempts to openly play out divisive politics have demolished the foundation of constitutional democracy. It is bound to face the wrath of the people who now understand well what the Modi government intends to do (‘Last word’, March 6).
Karanam Rao,
Hyderabad.
Some info on Lata
I must praise THE WEEK for bringing out a beautiful cover package on Lata Mangeshkar, which gave a good insight into her (‘A voice in the white’, February 20).
One of filmdom’s greatest losses has been the non-collaboration between [music composer] O.P. Nayyar and Mangeshkar. One theory is that Nayyar had kept one song reserved for Mangeshkar when he composed for his first film Aasman (1952). On the recording date, Mangeshkar could not reach the studio; she apparently said that the previous recording had taken more time than expected. Nayyar then fixed the recording for the following day and again Mangeshkar could not make it. And this happened a few times more. Nayyar, who felt insulted, decided to never again work with Mangeshkar.
In 1990, the Madhya Pradesh government gave the ‘Lata Mangeshkar Award’ to Nayyar. This had a reward of 01 lakh, a huge amount in those days. At that time Nayyar was going through a financial crisis. But he politely refused. He said Mangeshkar had not even sung one song for him, and, therefore, it is not fair of him to receive an award that carried her name.
Dilip Gurjar,
On email.
Correction
In ‘A rogue and a gang of cheats’ (PMO Beat, March 13), it was written “Khrushchev had gifted Crimea... to Georgia”, that “Georgia threatened to join NATO” and that “Georgia is at the nasty game again.” Please read “Ukraine” in place of “Georgia”. The error is regretted.
Editor