Fringe Benefit

Even though I believe that political parties must stop using religion to further their own interests, I fail to understand why the Congress should protest against Narendra Modi or the BJP ("Gujarat's Icon, India's Anxiety", November 25). What Modi is espousing is what the Congress has been propagating for years-the only difference is that Modi is fighting for the Hindu vote bank while the Congress did it with Muslims. The feeling among Hindus today is that while the Muslims have been appeased for a long time in this country, they have been marginalised. As long as this feeling remains, the Modis of this world will continue winning.

Bhiku Gopaldas, on e-mail

A victory for Modi in the elections will herald an end of secular politics in India. While claiming to be the new face of Hindu revivalism, he has completely missed the essence of Hinduism and what it stands for. It is time the Gujarati voter realised that the state has suffered enough and that they cannot afford to be swept away by the wave of saffron aggression.

Dr Tina Garg, on e-mail

Gujarat experienced a drought and an earthquake but it is in Modi's reign that the state has become a byword for systematic slaughter. If Modi comes to power it will signal the reaffirmation of hardcore Hindutva. If the Sangh implements the Gujarat model all over the country, it will lead to anarchy.

Rajat Ghai, on e-mail

The BJP's position today is akin to that of a cancer-afflicted patient who has been merrily consuming carcinogenic products. Whether it is able to fight the disease successfully or not will depend upon the kind of treatment it is willing to undergo and the extent of damage done to its body politic.

Navneet Dhawan, Delhi

If the BJP wins in Gujarat, it will provide breathing space to the NDA Government in Delhi. It will also prove that lotuses do indeed bloom in muddy waters.

Diptansu Sharma, Guwahati

It is a matter of grave concern that a land which is heir to Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of non-violence is encouraging leaders like Modi who propagate violence in the name of God.

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

Rather than personal sentiments, voters in Gujarat should be guided by what the next government in the state can offer. In that sense, the only thing that should matter is whether it can offer them a better place to live in.

Sumana Mukherjee, Pune

The coming polls will be a referendum not only on the Gujarat Government but also on the BJP. It will be a pointer to what the Indian electorate's mindset is and what we can expect in the next general elections.

Jinu Mathew, on e-mail

The Preferred One

You may believe that Gujarat wants to vote the BJP back to power because of a hate wave but the fact is that there is no hatred involved ("The Triumph of Hate", November 25). People will vote for the BJP because they have faith in the party and none in the Congress, which is led by a foreigner and follows a divide-and-rule policy.

Neeraj Sharma, Delhi

"The fact that the US is keen to use force against Iraq clearly shows that its weapons are more dangerous. Shouldn't the US get inspected by a UN team first?"

Puneet Satija, Amritsar

Your prediction that the BJP will win a landslide victory in the forthcoming assembly elections is an untenable proposition since Modi has done incalculable harm to the prospects of the party by his perpetuation of Hindutva and his inept handling of the affairs of the state. In reality, he has signed the BJP's death warrant.

Karanam Rao, Hyderabad

If your opinion poll really reflects what the voters want, it is a sad reflection of the sense and sensibilities of the people of India and Gujarat. Human values, the capability to distinguish right from wrong, humanity and compassion will all be consigned to the dustbin of Indian history.

Raju M.J., Chennai

Forget the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel in building the polity of Gujarat, most people involved in business and trade have in the past six months been affected by the hate wave unleashed under Modi. Your cover story has read the minds of millions who have suffered.

Sooryakant Parikh, on e-mail

What's the big deal if Modi encashes his infamy? Sholay became a superhit because of Gabbar Singh and not Jai or Veeru.

Rajneesh Batra, Delhi