Letters to the Editor

Karnataka

The Cover Story (August 16) on the political drama in Karnataka blew the lid off the BJP’s moral high ground. The race for the 2019 election exposed the hypocrisy of many political parties. Debates on people’s issues were wittingly given a go-by in the campaign. The ruling party’s dangling carrots lured many opposition candidates. While campaigning, Narendra Modi’s public claim that 40 of the TMC MLAs were in the BJP’s basket was an unsavoury way to deflate the opposition. Democracy was taken for a ride, and all eyes were fixed on the hefty purse and the bonanza electoral victory would bring.

Mumbai’s star hotels have been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Karnataka witnessed the ugliest ever horse-trading. That Congress could not keep its flock together made things easier for the change of guard to take place. No one took seriously the BJP’s denial that it had little role to play in rocking the boat. Yediyurappa’s behind-the-scenes drama came to light swiftly.

C. Chandrasekaran, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

WHAT was enacted in Karnataka and Goa was repulsive without even a fig leaf of democratic principles to cover it. In comparison with the MLAs of the present day, who can be bought, sold and resold, one feels that the MLAs of yesteryear were angelic. The BJP could succeed in Karnataka and Goa for the time being, but indications are aplenty that these misadventures will end up as pyrrhic victories for the BJP.

Ayyasseri Raveendranath, Aranmula, Kerala

IT is unfortunate that the BJP is out to destabilise non-BJP governments by hook or by crook (“Devious designs”, August 16). It managed to bring down the Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka by enticing a few Congress and JD(S) MLAs to stay away when the confidence vote took place. The BJP became the ruling party with a thin majority pending re-election to the vacant seats. Defection politics has won once again!

In Goa, the BJP managed to entice 10 Congress MLAs to defect to the ruling party. In all these instances, the voter is cheated as his/her choice of a candidate from a political party stands nullified when an MLA lured by money and power defects to another party.

It is time for Parliament to amend the anti-defection law so that any defection automatically disqualifies that person and he/she has to seek re-election. That could make party, hopping more difficult.

D.B.N. Murthy, Bengaluru

THIS is with reference to the article “Leadership vacuum” (Cover Story, August 16). There is no need to look far to find the reason for the Congress party’s dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 and 2019. The ego of the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family was the reason. When Manmohan Singh, one of the best economists in the country, was appointed the Prime Minister in 2004, the economy improved, and the Congress party got a majority in the 2009 election. Manmohan Singh became Prime Minister again. Unfortunately, in his second term, he was widely seen as being remote-controlled by the Gandhi family. As a result, the party lost to the BJP in 2014. It is clear that even senior leaders of the party feel that it cannot survive without the stewardship of the Nehru-Gandhi family, but people of the country no longer have faith in the family. The Congress Working Committee must accept this fact.

Ashok K. Nihalani, Pune, Maharashtra

THE senior Congress leader Karan Singh’s remark that a delay in electing a new president of the party will only make matters worse cannot be brushed aside. Rahul Gandhi should have taken the lead and listed out a few probable names for the leadership. Certain State leaders of the Congress have said that only a member of the Gandhi family can keep the flock together. This possibilty has not only added to the confusion in the party but kept the field open. Any further delay in filling the post will only spell doom for the party.

K.R. Srinivasan, Secunderabad, Telangana

Cow vigilantes

THIS is with reference to the article “Victim as accused” (August 2). Instances of cruel treatment of animals are increasing. Many old cattle are made to walk long distances or are crammed into trucks for transit in many States. Some sustain injuries while being loaded or off-loaded or die in transit. They are provided with water and fodder only rarely during their long journeys. Hence, the laws pertaining to cattle may be implemented only to stop such cruelty to animals. For the general welfare of the country, there must be an end to mob lynching. One hopes that it is brought to an end through the united efforts of both the Centre and the States.

A.J. Rangarajan, Edison, New Jersey, U.S.

Our origins

THIS has reference to the review of Tony Joseph’s book “Early Indians” (“Of India’s genetic roots”, August 2). Thanks to the science of genetics, the question of ancestry of all the people of the world has been settled once and for all. I feel that the author could have made the book more accessible to lay readers by presenting more examples. Certain Dravidian outfits will be disappointed to read that Dravidians are also migrants to India, even though their migration was “pre Aryan”, and that Dravidian languages have their roots in Elam (present-day Iran). The book is a blow to those who interpret history through the language of religion and politics.

S. Neelakantan, Salem, Tamil Nadu