Koran and Muslims

Published : Jul 28, 2006 00:00 IST

THIS has reference to A.G. Noorani's review article "The Koran and Muslims" (July 14). People fighting over religion is nothing new in human history. The reason does not lie in the faith of the believers. The question is not whether Islam and the Koran teach extremism or not; the question is how each of us, as followers of different faiths, receive our teachings. If one goes through the teachings of different religions, one inevitably finds them almost similar. Which religion or religious preacher worth his name would talk about values other than truth, justice, equality, freedom, liberty, respect, orderliness, saintliness and so on. Which religion would not condemn cunningness, capricious behaviour, immoral acts, greed and lust? And yet, we find ourselves fighting bitterly over religion because we are all human beings with our vices and imperfections; because, we learn only as much of the religious teachings as suits our mental makeup.

Amitabh Thakur LucknowLTTE gesture

THE recent comments of the ideologue of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam regarding Rajiv Gandhi's assassination are nothing but absurd ("Inviting India", Cover Story, July 14). One cannot kill a former Prime Minister and get away with it.

A mere regret after 15 years with the intention of dragging India again into the Sri Lankan issue should be viewed with utmost caution.

India need not be a passive spectator, but the bitter experience of the past should be kept in mind before getting involved in the present crisis.

Titus George DubaiZarqawi's death

THE Iraqis are a fractious society in which the three major groups - Shias, Sunnis and Kurds - do not see eye to eye on many fundamental issues ("End of hunt", June 30). In the anarchic situation that prevails in Iraq since the end of the Baathist regime, it should not have been difficult for the American intelligence to penetrate Zarqawi's network and gather precise information about his movements. However, what really cost Zarqawi his life was the sectarian colour he had given to the resistance movement.

Besides targeting foreign troops and symbols of the Iraqi government, Zarqawi attacked Shia targets, hoping that this would lead to a civil war.

Dr. G. Raghavendra BangaloreGM seeds

IT is highly disturbing that the GEAC is in a hurry to clear large-scale field trials of Bt. Brinjal ("Seeds and protests", June 30). Independent studies show adverse health effects arising from GM crops in all parts of the world. The field trials of Bt. Cotton in India have already led to the total contamination of the cotton chain.

Neither the government nor the companies have so far come forward to own responsibility for the failure, let alone redress the victims' grievances.

India should be totally free from GMO food or feed. As Europe has successfully banned GM food, India also should be firm in its stand.

R. Soundararajan Nagapattinam, T.N.

MOST objections articulated by activists quoted in the article are baseless. First of all, the Indian government is not approving these crops without scientific review. The charge by Kavitha Kuruganti of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture that companies are making meaningless presentations is not true. The only top biotech scientist quoted in the article is Dr. Pushpa Bhargava, the former director of CCMB, Hyderabad. He is quoted as saying that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee does not have specialised scientists, which shows he is ignorant about the constitution of the committee.

His charge that nowhere in the world is there a satisfactory system of assessing risks is baseless. Not only are there some of the best regulatory review systems in North America and the European Union, but they have demonstrated their effectiveness. Food insecurity is an important issue in the developing world. Biotechnology can be a part of the solution.

Shanthu Shantharam Ellicott City, USAMalaria

THIS has reference to the article "Malaria malpractice" (June 30). The most important issue is malaria prevention and effective mosquito control and eradication.

Scientists have recently found that some fish feed on mosquito larvae, thereby helping to control mosquitoes. Dichlorophenyl trichloroethane, better known as DDT, was the most effective agent ever invented for preventing insect borne disease. DDT has long been stigmatised by environmentalists spearheaded by Rachel Carson. However, her claims on DDT still remain controversial, because no causal link between DDT and cancer in humans has been established. The Stockholm convention in 2001 urged all countries to phase out the use of DDT. This is a setback in the fight against malaria in countries like India where sanitation and health care are inadequate.

M.M. Gurbaxani BangaloreShun U.S.

FACED with dire security threats post-9/11, it is natural that the United States is behaving like a frightened rat ("Divide and rule", June 30).

In such a grim scenario, when the U.S. should be worrying and planning for its own security, how can it think of "security architecture" for the Asian continent? It would be prudent for India to join hands with China, the emerging economic power, and Russia, than grow under U.S. tutelage and bite its poisonous bait of "reining in China".

K.P. Rajan MumbaiIran

IT is heartening to know that there will not be another dubious war led by the U.S., this time against Iran ("Towards talks," June 30). In fact, the stand of Russia and China on this issue has been commendable. Without their stubborn stand and the insistence of the E.U-3 for a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue, war would have been inevitable. The U.S. has been the most uncompromising player, rejecting even the suggestion for direct talks with Iran's leaders. The new proposal by the E.U-3 is much milder compared to the ones thrust on Iran earlier. It would be pragmatic for it to accept the proposal.

Abhiram ThiruvananthapuramANNOUNCEMENT

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