1. The Election Commission's direction to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer to file criminal cases against Varun Gandhi, BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit, for allegedly making anti-Muslim speeches at a meeting is a step in the right direction. The communal overtones in the speech attributed to him have vitiated the atmosphere. He should be stopped from contesting the election. - Shahid Jamal, New Delhi.
2. Varun's speech as telecast in a few television channels was undoubtedly anti-Muslim. He has not only violated the model code of conduct but also gone beyond the limits of moral ethics. His puerile and immature speech makes one wonder whether he belongs to the same class of political leaders as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. - R.M.Manoharan, Chennai.
3. The statements attributed to Varun are disturbing. That such heightened frenzy against the people of a community is being created in the election battlefield is difficult to digest. Although the BJP adopts a public posture of being committed to nationalism, it has been proved time adn again that it carries a heavy and dangerous agenda of divisiveness and hatred. - N.Sekar, Salem.
4. Actually what Varun Gandhi said is nothing new. His elders in the BJP such as Praveen Togadia, Narendra Modi and L.K.Advani have been saying the same kind of things for years. The question is: are such people fit to be our representatives? In our country, politicians think they are rulers, not representatives. Until that perception changes, other changes are difficult to contemplate. - M.Yawar Baig, Hyderabad.
5. It is a matter of shame that a young politician like Varun Gandhi on whom the nation has great hopes should be exploiting religion for votes. Like any other politician, he looks at the electorate as Hindus and Muslims, not Indians. - Arjun Bagvath, Chennai.
6. Varun's speech has become the focus of attention because he is Indira Gandhi's grandson. Otherwise, inflammatory speeches by politicians in public meetings are common. Leaders permit their party workers to use foul language against a community and political opponents. If it leads to trouble, they respond in an elusive manner or distance themselves from the comments and the speakers. It is time for political parties to control their cadre. - R.Prathaban, Kancheepuram.
7. Why find fault with Varun for his hate speech when every institution has been communalised? Communal elements have penetrated government bodies, business houses and even educational institutions. They are sustained and reared by political parties which want to consolidate their vote-banks. The people should reject such forces and help to defeat the communal, divisive, fascist and anti- national elements in the coming election. - Asra Kamal, Hyderabad.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 19, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s.Shahid Jamal, R.M.Manoharan, N.Sekar, M.Yawar Baig, Arjun Bagvath, R.Prathaban, Asra Kamal and The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.
2. Varun's speech as telecast in a few television channels was undoubtedly anti-Muslim. He has not only violated the model code of conduct but also gone beyond the limits of moral ethics. His puerile and immature speech makes one wonder whether he belongs to the same class of political leaders as Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. - R.M.Manoharan, Chennai.
3. The statements attributed to Varun are disturbing. That such heightened frenzy against the people of a community is being created in the election battlefield is difficult to digest. Although the BJP adopts a public posture of being committed to nationalism, it has been proved time adn again that it carries a heavy and dangerous agenda of divisiveness and hatred. - N.Sekar, Salem.
4. Actually what Varun Gandhi said is nothing new. His elders in the BJP such as Praveen Togadia, Narendra Modi and L.K.Advani have been saying the same kind of things for years. The question is: are such people fit to be our representatives? In our country, politicians think they are rulers, not representatives. Until that perception changes, other changes are difficult to contemplate. - M.Yawar Baig, Hyderabad.
5. It is a matter of shame that a young politician like Varun Gandhi on whom the nation has great hopes should be exploiting religion for votes. Like any other politician, he looks at the electorate as Hindus and Muslims, not Indians. - Arjun Bagvath, Chennai.
6. Varun's speech has become the focus of attention because he is Indira Gandhi's grandson. Otherwise, inflammatory speeches by politicians in public meetings are common. Leaders permit their party workers to use foul language against a community and political opponents. If it leads to trouble, they respond in an elusive manner or distance themselves from the comments and the speakers. It is time for political parties to control their cadre. - R.Prathaban, Kancheepuram.
7. Why find fault with Varun for his hate speech when every institution has been communalised? Communal elements have penetrated government bodies, business houses and even educational institutions. They are sustained and reared by political parties which want to consolidate their vote-banks. The people should reject such forces and help to defeat the communal, divisive, fascist and anti- national elements in the coming election. - Asra Kamal, Hyderabad.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 19, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s.Shahid Jamal, R.M.Manoharan, N.Sekar, M.Yawar Baig, Arjun Bagvath, R.Prathaban, Asra Kamal and The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.
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