The Aam Aadmi Party’s stature is increasing with each passing day, but to defeat the BJP in Gujarat and form the government is easier said than done (‘Order of battle’, September 4). The AAP is gaining strength and will win considerable seats in Gujarat. But as long as Narendra Modi remains the prime minister, people in his home state would prefer to have a BJP government there. The AAP will rule Gujarat only after 10 years. Now it should focus more on Himachal Pradesh and Goa, where it has a better chance. AAP leaders should not put all their eggs into one basket. Instead, let them take one step at a time.
Dinesh Kumar,
On email.
The AAP is emerging as a strong political party, but it is wrong to bank on electoral freebies. Freebies should be regulated. You are fooling people by giving them freebies, which are a burden on the state’s exchequer. You can protect the marginalised sections of society in other ways.
Vrinda Gopinath,
On email.
You may love or hate Kejriwal, but you just cannot ignore him. He has all the traits of a successful politician.
Kejriwal saw the vacuum created by the Congress and is now trying to fill it. Initially, nobody took him seriously. But that is not the case today. Kejriwal, at present, is not challenging the regional parties, but it is only a matter of time. Today, both the ruling BJP and the Congress have realised his gameplan and are trying to checkmate him. ‘Lotus Attack’ is a double-edged sword—it will be a make or break for Kejriwal. Things will be clear in the coming months.
Dilip Gurjar,
On email.
Naidu’s legacy
The biggest achievement of Venkaiah Naidu has been the breaking of the linguistic barriers in Parliament, wherein new languages have been encouraged and some others have been used after very long hiatuses (‘My vice presidential years’, September 4). The country hopes that his successor, Jagdeep Dhankhar, will continue the legacy.
Saikrit Gulati,
On email.
Encourage sports
When a man finds unblemished vision and mission in his life, everything else becomes secondary to him (‘Mud, mat and Mudhol’, September 4). The sacrifices made by Ningappa Genannavar’s father, Prakash, who had to sell his goat for Rs3,000 in order to manage his son’s traveling expenses, were heartrending. I wish the government of Karnataka would fund children who excel in sports.
Sudarshan,
Bengaluru.
Complete nonsense
When the entire social fabric is torn to pieces and the economy is reduced to a mess by the current dispensation, one just cannot understand where from your columnist Meenakshi Lekhi draws the temerity to propagate unseen prodigious reforms in modern education, health care, urban development, social justice and economic modernisation. (‘Forthwrite’, September 4) Do you believe that the ISRO was created in 2017, in the same way as she deliberately misleads us (the poor readers), as if it is a creation of her government?
The less said the better for Lekhi’s comments on Covid-19. But, yes, the global perception must have changed as we were forced to believe in thalis and diyas as remedies against the virus.
My predicament is how I should convince myself that THE WEEK (my favourite periodical) is not helping the propaganda machine, incessantly engaged in carpet bombing us with falsehood?
Vasant Shankar Deshmane,
On email.
Open your mouth, gurus
Millions of Indians felt ashamed when Bilkis Bano was gang-raped, and the decision by the Gujarat government to release the rapists was shameful (‘Last word’, August 28). If today there was a candlelight march for Bilkis, which woman or girl would dare to participate in it? Can she reveal her face or identity? I don’t think much of an imagination is needed to know what will happen to them if they conduct a candlelight march for Bilkis.
Barkha Dutt asked us when confronted with a real-time travesty, why are we not more angry? Her question is just. I would like to ask a similar question: There are so many spiritual gurus in our country in every religious group, who have unimaginable influence on the minds of millions of their followers and devotees. Why don’t they speak about these inhuman acts? Don’t these things disturb them? Are these gurus limiting themselves only to the ‘after life issues’ of their followers?
K.L. Prasad,
On email.
Indian architecture
Your Independence Day issue covered all possible facets of a nation’s history, but it has inexplicably excluded the journey of Indian architecture during this period. While it touched upon other forms of art, there was no mention, not even a footnote, about architecture, universally accepted as the mother of all arts. The architectural journey of the nation, since independence, has been as significant and eventful as its socio-political journey—both inevitably intertwined. It deserves an equal, if not more, attention.
Rajesh Malik,
Bengaluru.
Thank you
I am in love with THE WEEK. We receive a different issue every week. Your use of vibrant, attention-grabbing illustrations sets the magazine apart from other periodicals. The magazine is filled with several enduring and priceless articles filled with ample anecdotes.
I want to sincerely thank the editor and his team for their dedication and laborious work. I eagerly anticipate new issues.
Pradeep Kumar,
On email.