L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Affirmation of a functioning democracy

HK Dua in his front-page editorial “It’s affirmation of a functioning democracy” (May17) has rightly held that the victory of the Congress-led UPA has really pulled the nation out of the jaws of political instability. The voters seem to have approved the UPA’s economic policies as well. Opportunists and criminals in politics have been marginalised.

One can also hope that corruption will be controlled if not completely rooted out. The credit for this victory goes to Mrs Sonia Gandhi and youth icon, Mr Rahul Gandhi. Dr Manmohan Singh’s honest and corruption-free image cannot be downplayed either. Dr Singh’s government ran smoothly and worked honestly for the development of the country.

DR KAMALJEET KAUR SEKHON, Patiala

II

The verdict shows the maturity of the Indian electorate. Election results prove that the days of communal, caste-based and negative politics are over. The message is loud and clear: the people will vote for honest, sincere and development-conscious leaders. Absence of the Left influence on the ruling coalition will brighten the prospects of crucial economic reforms in insurance, pension and banking sectors. India can now look forward to progressive and growth-oriented policies.

DR MANDEEP SINGH, Yamunnagar

III

Mr Dua has correctly praised the Indian voters who have shown their maturity by giving the mandate to the UPA. By enabling the Congress-led UPA to touch almost the halfway mark, our wise electorate has ruled out the possibility of blackmailing and arm-twisting by smaller parties.

One can say that our democracy is not only functional but very effective as well. Another bright side of the verdict is the defeat of the so-called musclemen like DP Yadav and Sadhu Yadav.

ARUN HASTIR, Babehali, Gurdaspur

IV

The BJP’s defeat is its own doing. Its entire focus was on projecting Mr LK Advani as the next Prime Minister. All other issues got little attention. Further, the BJP did nothing to shed the communal label.

A fair share of credit for the Congress victory, especially in UP, must go to Mr Rahul Gandhi. He should be inducted in the Cabinet and groomed for the next five years. Any haste, at the behest of the sycophants, should be avoided. Besides, Dr Manmohan Singh should contest elections and enter the Lok Sabha, if only to silence his critics.  

WG-CDR C L SEHGAL (retd), Jalandhar

V

The editorial was a correct diagnosis of the voters’ maturity. The voters, through their mandate, have clearly shown faith in democracy and voted for a stable government.

Perhaps, young voters within the age of 18 to 23 years held the key. Anyway, the electorate has reposed faith in the policies and programmes of the Congress, as well as in the abilities of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh.

SIMMI MOHINDRU, Jalandhar City

VI

Hats off to the democratic maturity and political wisdom of the Indian electorate. They have pulled the country out of the mess of coalition compulsions. They have outwitted politicians and the media and stunned political pundits. The “masters” have played the masterstroke and asserted their authority. Their message is loud and clear — serve to survive or face the music.

SHANTI SWAROOP SHARMA, Dharamshala

Nepal’s dilemma

An apolitical army and an independent judiciary (“Nepal on the boil: Challenges ahead for the new government” by G Parthasarathy, May14) are a must for a vibrant democracy. A Maoist indoctrinated army and the people’s court, the epitome of judicial anarchy, cannot help the cause of democracy.

 Dictatorship is not a word that exists in the lexicon of socialists. People’s voice is the voice of God and doesn’t need a dictator’s hammer.

PRAN SALHOTRA, Gurdaspur

Suu Kyi must be freed I strongly endorse the editorial “Let Suu Kyi be free” (May 18) and join the democratic forces the world over to demand the end of Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention. It is a blatant violation of human values and rights to keep the champion of democracy in detention for ambiguous reasons. Ms Suu Kyi is a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Her National League for Democracy did win an election (1990) with a thumping majority and she was entitled to become the Prime Minister of Myanmar. It is the moral duty of all democratic countries and the UN to raise a strong voice for her release and restoration of democracy in Myanmar. The military rulers of Myanmar must understand that if anything happens to the 63-year-old leader it will be a permanent blot on Myanmar. They should also know that imprisonment cannot kill the spirit of those who are born to fight for the cause of humanity. We know the day is not far off when the military regime will meet its ultimate fate. SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala