Hindutva at work

This has reference to the comprehensive coverage of the operations of the Hindutva forces at work in various parts of the country ("Hindutva at work", Cover Story, March 26). Recently the Prime Minister spoke to a group consisting mostly of family members of the Muslim leaders who had already joined the BJP. He pleaded for another chance for the BJP. A chance was indeed given to the BJP, relying solely on Vajpayee's image. But what happened in Gujarat and elsewhere is known to all. Also, the BJP, which had criticised the pro-globalisation stance of the Congress(I) before it came to power, has been implementing the same policies with an amazing dedication that has put the Congress(I) to shame.

K.S. ParthasarathyBangalore

* * *

The Cover Story, a product of thorough research, was excellent. From where do the RSS, the VHP and other Sangh Parivar outfits get money for all these activities? The source of their funding should be inquired into. Somebody is using the communal mask to implement a larger agenda.

S. Binu RajThiruvananthapuram

* * *

The Sangh Parivar is practising a pernicious politics based on religion. Even after the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the post-Godhra riots its conscience is not forbidding it to take up communal issues.

Ambika Sankar MishraBhubaneswar

* * *

This is with reference to the article "Non-resident nationalism" by Arvind Rajagopal. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America has been described as "the first branch of the Sangh". To set the record straight, the VHPA is not a branch of any organisation. Founded in 1970 and incorporated in the state of New York in 1974, the VHPA is an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt, volunteer-based charitable organisation serving the needs of the Hindu community in the United States. It has donated money to organisations such as the Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, Victims of WTC and Oklahoma City bombings etc., and participates in community service programmes like soup kitchens for feeding the homeless, as well as distributing blankets to the needy in winter. From time to time, the VHPA has raised funds for helping victims of natural calamities in India as well as meeting the educational needs of poor children.

The article fails to comprehend the present and past realities of time and place in its attempts to link ideologies prevalent in India with the organisations in the U.S. without accounting for the differing nature of the organisations themselves.

The term `Hindu nationalism' has no meaning and significance from the VHPA's perspective, but the author unsuccessfully tries to connect each and every aspect of its activities to something unrelated. He fails to grasp the full dimension and scope of the American organisations, the VHPA in particular.

Shyam TiwariVishwa Hindu Parishad of AmericaNational Media CoordinatorNew Jersey, U.S.

* * *

The slew of articles in the current issue brings out very clearly the fact that those who oppose the Sangh Parivar for whatever reason attempt to make Hindus feel ashamed of themselves. Such an orchestrated outcry seems to be the result of approaching elections as you sense a real possibility of the NDA coming to power probably with more seats in Parliament.

Subramanyam SridharanJeddah, Saudi Arabia

Drought

At least Frontline had the concern to cover the drought in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, parts of Maharashtra and the suffering of the people ("Drought and despair", March 26). Slogans like `feel good' or `India shining' do not bring relief to the people.

A. Jacob SahayamThiruvananthapuram

Evangelism in the U.S.

In this article "In God We Trust" (March 26) Vijay Prashad exposed the Togadias of the United States. Like the BJP in India, the Republican Party has come up with the open agenda of spitting venom arousing communal tension. The Democratic Party trying to prove who is more religious reminds us of the Congress(I) and its leaders like Digvijay Singh trying to prove to the people that they are more pious than BJP leaders.

A. Abdul FaizalChennai

Disinvestment

The government's rush to disinvest in public sector undertakings shows its eagerness to carry on its neo-liberal reform agenda ("To the market this March", March 26).

The realisation of the growth target will undoubtedly add some more polish to its `India Shining' campaign, but at what cost?

Disinvestment is good if the objective is to increase the efficiency of enterprises and inject some life into the stock market so that primary issues become feasible for entrepreneurs planning fresh investment.

On the contrary, the objective of the entire process, it seems, is to bridge the fiscal gap. But should we entirely depend on the huge instalment (to the tune of Rs.14,500 crores) of non-borrowed capital receipts or should we look to other means?

The only effect of the disinvestment process will be that the people, instead of holding bonds, will end up holding equities in public/private enterprises.

If the government's objective is to reduce the fiscal deficit, then there is no substitute for increasing tax collection and curbing wasteful expenditure.

Paramdeep SinghKanpur

India shining

This refers to your wonderful Cover Story on the NDA government's advertisement campaigns ("Is India shining?", March 26). I opted for the Voluntary Retirement Scheme and I often come across many victims of VRS or layoff or compulsory retirement on the streets of Mumbai. My brother, who runs a factory in the Rabale industrial estate in Navi Mumbai, says 50 per cent of the units in the sprawling estate are extinct.

Not for nothing that M.S. Swaminathan says: "We have entered an era of jobless economic growth."

K.P. RajanMumbai

* * *

The "feel-good factor" has blinded us so much that there is little concern for the unemployed. The 8.4 per cent growth, a 6000-plus Sensex and $100-billion-plus forex reserves are as immaterial to them as Sachin's centuries. In fact, even demoralising. For, the unemployed see the country's scorecard go up and contrast it with their own abysmal failure.

Umesh S. ShuklaAhmedabad