Sedition law
Mahatama Gandhi spurned the sedition law unequivocally by calling it the “prince among draconian laws”, and Jawaharlal Nehru castigated it in no uncertain terms as “obnoxious and objectionable” (Cover Story, February 15). Yet, the sedition law (124A of the IPC), enacted by our colonial rulers in 1870, still hangs menacingly over us like the sword of Damocles. This shows the patronage it has got from political leaders of different hues over the years.
In 1973, the Indira Gandhi-led government added vicious fangs to the law, making sedition a cognisable offence. Section 124A of the IPC needs to be repealed lock, stock and barrel to ensure the free speech and freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.
Ayyasseri Raveendranath, Aranmula, Kerala
Rafale
The undeniable transgressions by the Modi government in the Rafale deal, exposed with evidence by N. Ram, the legitimate doubts of common people raised at multiple forums and the specialist views of an ex-professional of HAL have rendered the rejoinders of the NDA government infructuous and too clever by half (“L’affaire Rafale”, February 15). The government talks a lot, does little, spends a lot on publicity and evades pointed questions about its wrong-doings.
The reduction in the number of aircraft purchased at a higher cost and the preference for a private Indian partner to the neglect of HAL strongly raise the spectre of suspicion. The Modi government has refused to institute a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the deal. It made tall promises but has performed poorly and, in spite of its propanda, will be shown the door by the people.
B. Rajasekaran, Bengaluru
Precarious coalition
Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was upset over the heckling by Congress MLAs over his poor performance, and when he decided to step down, it shook the Congress high command and the State Congress chief quickly reined in the party’s legislators to save the coalition from falling apart (“High drama again”, February 15). This is not the first time that Kumaraswamy is facing the heat from his coalition partner. Legislators close to Siddaramaiah have been criticising his governance at every opportune moment. It is time the Congress mended its house. Otherwise, the coalition government may not last long.
K.R. Srinivasan , Secunderabad, Telangana
Sabarimala
The Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, does not allow non-Hindus inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine (Cover Story, February 1). Even Indira Gandhi was not allowed entry in 1984 since she had married a non-Hindu. However, responding to a PIL on the issue, the Supreme Court has asked the temple authorities and the State government to consider allowing people of different faiths entry into the temple. There are a number of temples and mosques across the country that do not allow women entry for various reasons.
Ashok K. Nihalani, Pune, Maharashtra
Indian Science Congress
The laboured efforts of some of our “scientists” will only reinforce the long-held view in some circles that India is a land of snake charmers and rope-trick magicians (“Science circus”, February 1). This will undermine the fact that India has the talent to produce Nobel-winning laureates or people capable of heading large multinational conglomerates. If India is to progress and be a part of the modern world, we must accord the highest priority to science and technology. A country’s economic potential, its defence capability and global standing depend on the scientific and technological prowess that its people as a nation achieve. Successive Indian governments have laid great emphasis on science and technlogy, and it was towards this end that Nehru built many of our modern scientific institutions. He was convinced that India needed a “scientific temper” to deliver the aspirational needs of our citizens. But we should not get distracted with myths and scientifically unsustainable claims.
H.N. Ramakrishna, Bengaluru
Brazil
It is no surprise that Jair Bolsonaro won the election as right-wing politics is on the rise across the globe (“On the rampage”, February 1). But countries ruled by right-wing parties have become self-centred and inward looking. Bolsonaro’s victory particularly is a cause for concern as his extremist policies on the Amazon forests could prove detrimental to the world. Bolsonaro might pull Brazil out of several key organisations like BRICS, the UNHRC and even the Paris pact just as Trump has done.
Vidhya B. Ragunath, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
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