Your cover story pointed to a very disturbing trend sweeping across India ("The Return of the Hawkish Hindu", February 4). It is ironical that while Afghanistan and Pakistan are striving to abandon religious extremism, Hindu fundamentalists in India are opting for the same suicidal path. The Government should realise that by encouraging Hindu fundamentalism with a view to garnering votes it is tearing apart the pluralistic, intricately woven social fabric of India. The silver lining is that our vibrant democracy is capable of tiding over any Hindu jingoism engulfing our country.

Nalini Vijayaraghavan, Thiruvananthapuram

Letters Willow-the-Wisp That something is wrong with the administration and selection at all levels was highlighted in your article on the state of junior cricket in India ("Young, Promising, Undone", January 28). The evil that has reduced the gentleman's game to an abysmal state is avarice. My friend, R. Chinnadorai, prince of Pudukkottai and a former Tamil Nadu Ranji Trophy cricketer, used to say how in his playing days in the 1950s, a state player got Rs 5 a day towards expenses. And quite often it was Chinnadorai who footed the bill of the entire team. C.G. Prasad, Chennai You have unfairly ignored the contribution of Anurag Thakur to the uplift of cricket in Himachal Pradesh. It is thanks to Thakur that the state team is playing in knock-out tournaments, stadia are coming up in Dharamsala and Sundernagar and an academy is being set up in Una. Thakur should not be criticised because there is nothing wrong with what he has done. Virinder Rathour, Jalandhar

The Hindu backlash is the most unfortunate, though inevitable, outcome of the insensitivity of our media to the aspirations of the Hindus who are being treated as second-class citizens in their own country. Little wonder then that even liberal Hindus in the country perceive organisations like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal as saviours of Hinduism.

Raji Mani, on e-mail

It was disturbing to note that we are moving towards becoming an intolerant society, putting security and development on the backburner. Sadly, the militant mood is created and engineered by political parties rather than any Hindu fundamentalist movement.

Suja Nambiar, Karaikal

The BJP's top leadership, which has been painting Pakistan as a centre of religious bigotry and lawless terrorism, can hardly win the support of the international community if its participation in democratic elections is seen to be handicapped by its need to create mass hysteria even while ignoring the rule of law and the Indian Constitution. If the Ayodhya issue is whipped up again, Pakistan will have one more opportunity to besmirch India's image and describe it as one in the grip of fascist forces.

Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai

It was disturbing to read that Hindu militancy is on the rise, especially in relation to Ayodhya. It will be tragic if India follows Pakistan on the ruinous path of religious extremism. We should shelve all divisive issues and try to emulate China's example of pursuing economic growth with single mindedness.

Saurav Sen, on e-mail

Religious militancy is a hydra-headed monster, sometimes taking the form of fanatical beliefs and rabid intolerance, and at other times exhibiting itself as stark terrorism. However, all forms of religious aggression are equally detestable and deplorable.

Wing Commander S.C. Kapoor, Noida

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