The Gandhis must go

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Refer to ‘No takers for Gandhi family covenant’ (Nous Indica); the Gandhis have become a liability for the Congress and the nation at large. The family lacks the ability to lead, and hence, it does not appeal to the masses. Rahul Gandhi, for example, has a “nervous, unformed quality” about him, as former US President Barack Obama once pointed out. From embarking on Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to spending time with porters at a railway station, the Gandhi scion’s best efforts to connect with the masses are falling flat. The Gandhis are holding on to the Congress as if they own it. It is unfortunate that the family is putting itself above the party.

Virender Singh Lather, Karnal

Congress a rudderless ship

Apropos of ‘No takers for Gandhi family covenant’; the family has lost much of its sheen. The party that was once helmed by stalwarts like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi no longer has a competent leader. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi lack the leadership skills that Nehru and Indira had. Despite being in politics for decades, Sonia remains an ‘outsider’. Rahul may have come a long way since he was labelled ‘Pappu’ by his detractors, but he is not capable of anchoring the party. The Congress is committing one political blunder after another. The Gandhis and the Congress must treat all coalition partners as equals.

Wg Cdr CL Sehgal (retd), Jalandhar

Boost for housing

With reference to ‘Housing for all’; the Central Government has done well to improve rural housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin. Announcing a fresh scheme in the interim Budget for housing for the middle class is another step in the right direction. Owning a house is every person’s dream. It is unfortunate that though the middle class plays a key role in keeping the economy running, most people in this group have no choice but to live in rented accommodation. The construction of two crore houses over the next five years will be a boon for many people across the country.

KR Bharti, Shimla

US-India ties

Refer to ‘US drones’; after a hiccup, the US has finally cleared the sale of MQ-9B drones to India in a deal worth nearly $4 billion. The White House had its way after some posturing because scuppering the deal would have undermined its policy objective of positioning India as a counterweight to China and seeking its help in ensuring the safety of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf region at a time when the situation is volatile there. Surprisingly, the US administration has taken a call on selling drones to India despite the ongoing probe into the alleged plot by an Indian national to kill designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

A belated honour

Apropos of the report ‘Bharat Ratna for LK Advani, architect of Ram Mandir movement’; PM Narendra Modi announced the government’s decision to confer India’s highest civilian honour on BJP veteran LK Advani, the man who shaped the Ram Janmabhoomi movement which witnessed a fitting finale with the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya recently. Advani is largely credited with the electoral and political rise of the saffron party in the late 1980s and the 1990s, which is evident by the fact that the BJP — which won only two Lok Sabha seats in the 1984 General Election — bagged 85 in the 1989 polls, 120 in 1991 and 161 in 1996. The honour for Advani (96) was long overdue.

Kumar Gupt, via mail

Reader’s tryst with The Tribune

I welcome The Tribune’s decision to launch three four-page daily pullouts — Delhi Tribune, Haryana Tribune and Himachal Tribune — to deliver hyperlocal news to readers. I was introduced to The Tribune by my teacher in school. Seven decades on, my bond with this paper is as strong as ever. It is commendable how the newspaper, despite the many vicissitudes during its journey from Lahore to Chandigarh, has faithfully upheld the legacy of its founder Dyal Singh Majithia and is going strong as a leading daily.

Mohinder Singh, New Delhi

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