"Before enforcing the two-child norm, we should find out how emancipated the women sarpanch actually are. Their position as elected representatives do not ensure them any say in family matters."

-Udaya Shankar Mishra, Thiruvananthapuram

"The Uma Bharati episode shows how our politicians never let go of old issues. The parties in power and out of it are milking the Hubli incident for all its worth to gain as much political mileage as possible."

-K. Chidanand Kumar, Bangalore

PICTURE SPEAK
"Knockout Panch", India Today, September 6	"Uma's Tricolour War", September 6

Saffron Strategy

In India, we have seen sadhus and sadhvis surrender themselves to the divine ("Uma's Tricolour War", September 6). But recently we were witness to the surrender of the saffron-clad Uma Bharati before the court of law. Is it an expression of politics coloured with religion or religion tainted with politics?

George olivera, on e-mail

The convoluted character of the Hindutva mandarins is so obvious in their attempt to confuse the people about the intentional breach of prohibitory orders and to paint it as the emotive issue of one's right to hoist the national flag. The fact that these leaders are not even ashamed of this blatant subterfuge shows they are propagandists of the first order.

Daniel, on e-mail

Bharati's crime cannot be compared with the others in the UPA's hall of shame, specially the Union ministers from Bihar. People are too scared to file complaints against them or even testify as witnesses. The only way to ensure that justice is done is to transfer all cases related to these ministers out of Bihar.

Aditya Rathi, Mumbai

Politicians nowadays come in various hues with varying degrees of allegiance to a particular agenda. The attempt to give a makeover to Bharati's political image is a knee-jerk reaction by the BJP in order to capture lost ground. Such moves might even thrive due to the paucity of discerning voters in the country.

Kailash Mehta, Mohali

The Idgah ground at Hubli is used as a vegetable market and for holding fairs and public meetings. In fact, the Karnataka High Court had said that the ground was a public place. One fails to understand how the Karnataka Government can claim to have served the cause of secularism by initiating action against Bharati for hoisting the national flag on a public ground.

J.S. Acharya, Hyderabad

One cannot compare Bharati's resignation with Sonia Gandhi's refusal to accept the prime minister's post. Bharati was forced to resign after the court dismissed her plea for quashing the non-bailable warrant against her and, therefore, her act cannot be termed political martyrdom.

Krishnan, Kinassery, Kerala

The only reason why the Dharam Singh Government has reopened the cases against Bharati is to divert the attention of the people from the tainted ministers in the UPA.

A. Srikantaiah, Bangalore

Nothing can do greater damage to India than inciting communal passions. While the Karnataka Government would have been damned either way-by arresting or exonerating Bharati-the BJP and the Sangh Parivar have been offered a trivial issue on a platter which they can exploit electorally to the hilt. Using the national flag as a crutch to further political ambitions is shameful.

V.B.N. Ram, on e-mail

Arresting Bharati was a political blunder on the part of the Congress, just as comparing this case with that of the UPA's tainted ministers was an error. It is bound to boomerang on the UPA and the only way out is to drop the tainted ministers as soon as possible.

Praveen Verma, on e-mail

The charges against Laloo Prasad Yadav are far more serious than those against Bharati. Her humiliation at the hands of her opponents is unfortunate.

Asoke C. Banerjee, Kolkata

The emergence of Bharati as a dynamic leader will definitely work in favour of the moribund BJP and it will leave no stone unturned to exploit the situation to the hilt.

Deepak Kumar, Begusarai

Write Master

If writing is an entrancing craft V.S. Naipaul is undoubtedly one of its best practitioners ("Tyranny of the Ideal", September 6). If excerpts from his latest novel Magic Seeds are an indication to go by, this can never be his last book. Many more magic spells are awaited.

Suresh Behera, Ranchi

INDIA ALSO RAN

Booting out the politicians and bringing in qualified professionals is the only way we can expect any improvement in Indian sports ("The Good, the Bad, the Ugly", September 6). The time to act is now. Lt-colonel Nageshwant Roy Vaid, Delhi The bad and ugly will continue to dominate until people start considering sports a viable career option and sportspeople get the recognition they deserve. Deepali Bajaj Singh, on e-mail After so many decades of participation in the Olympics we still don't seem to have our game plan worked out. Gurveena Gill, on e-mail

Forging Ahead

The huge strides made by the Indian-Americans is evident from the crucial role they are playing in the US presidential elections ("Big Time Role", September 6). Will this pave the way for the end of discrimination against immigrant communities in the US?

Gautam Bhatia, Delhii

Power of Two

The combination of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh will manage to do well so long as they avoid the pitfalls of coalition politics ("The Rule of Two", August 30).

R.P. Milind, Jamshedpuri

Recipe for Disaster

I was shocked by the findings of your Mood of the Nation opinion poll ("Upper Hand", August 30). Reservation in the private sector is not the way to set social wrongs right. But the government encourages people to depend on the crutches of reservations and subsidies to get ahead in life.

Kshitij Nanavaty, on e-maili

Small Problem

Even though people say that smaller states will lead to better governance I feel that only politicians and bureaucrats will benefit ("Reform Brigade", August 23). They will get more states to misgovern, more departments and corporations to interfere in and more funds to divert for their own use.

M.M. Kale, on e-maili

Fair News

A free and fair press is a prerequisite for a better India ("57 Ways to Make India a Better Place", August 23). The media should give importance to real news and not just opinion of some select individuals.

N. Balakesavan, on e-maili

Corrections

Instead of the review of Thalassa Ali's book A Beggar at the Gate, the review of The Weekenders was printed ("Fragile Fusion", September 13).

The photograph supposedly showing heptathlete J.J. Shobha was actually that of Soma Biswas ("The Good, the Bad, the Ugly", September 6). The correct picture is carried alongside. The errors are regretted.

-Editor

Index