Your cover story on the assembly elections in Karnataka was interesting. I liked the interview with Mallikarjun Kharge, which was revealing (‘Modi is a PR bubble that will burst one day’, May 7). But can Kharge make a difference? I don’t think so. The Congress needs a strong and decisive leader who is capable of taking on Narendra Modi in every sense—tit for tat.
Also, the Congress should not become the fulcrum around which an opposition alliance is built. The grand old party of Indian politics should take a back seat and let opposition parties come together to oust Narendra Modi. What’s the harm, after all, if Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal or Nitish Kumar call the shots, and senior Congress leaders abide by it!
Amarnath Gopinath,
On email.
I was disappointed after reading your cover story. It was only after the BJP came to power in 2014 that Karnataka got its first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). In the past eight years, double the number of rail tracks were electrified in the state. When the Congress-led UPA government was in power, there was no development at all in Karnataka.
It is a matter of joy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dedicated the Bidar-Kalaburagi railway line to the nation. The plan was conceived when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, but it was delayed by successive governments. Shame on these leaders who have looted the country. Kharge, according to me, was ‘selected’ as the president of the Congress, and not ‘elected’.
Anil Deshpande,
On email.
Kharge is the remote control of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The Congress had a chance in 2024, if Shashi Tharoor were at the helm. With Kharge, one cannot expect anything different from how it used to be. Even if the Congress wins Karnataka, it is going to be because of the popularity of Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. Kharge would have no role in it.
K.V. Prasad,
On email.
India should help Sudan
PowerDrive (May 7) on Sudan was informative; it gave a fairly good idea of what is going on in Sudan and the nature of the ongoing conflict between two generals—from the military and the paramilitary. After reading the column, I was able to fathom the miseries being afflicted upon ordinary citizens of the country by personal rivalry and clash of ego-centric groups under the control of two greedy people, who are only interested in looting the mineral-rich country.
India and other peace-loving nations must use their good offices to resolve the crisis for the good of the common man of Sudan, as a continuation of the efforts Indian soldiers undertook during World War II to free the country from Italian occupation.
Narendran R.
Vettiyattil,
On email.
It looks absurd to me when the army and the paramilitary of a country fight each other. It is never going to happen here in India. Sudan should not have been in the place that it is in today; hope there is end to the chaos in the coming days.
Devika Chandran,
On email.
Fine reads
Your interview with former cricketer Sourav Ganguly was interesting. Ganguly opened up on the IPL, World Test Championship and ODIs, and what he thought of current players. Kudos to Neeru Bhatia for a fine chat (‘India has all the chances of winning WTC final’, May 7).
I enjoyed reading what Shobhaa De had to say about Sachin Tendulkar on his 50th birthday (‘Detour’, May 7). I am sure all the fans of Tendulkar would have loved reading it. Kudos to De for such a wonderful column.
Raghavan Rajagopal,
Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu.
Valid concerns
Namrata Zakaria can support same sex marriages, but her points to deem the concept as valid does not appear logical (‘Chic magnet’, May 7). Yes, the right to love a person of the same sex cannot be questioned, but, then, it can never be a conjugal bond, like in the case of a man and a woman.
Sanath Kumar T.S.,
On email.
Zakaria’s column was interesting. When Hindu mythology is full of stories of gods changing gender, why does Indian society have reservations about same sex marriages? Procreation is not the sole purpose of life. There are couples who are opting to not have children. Everything need not be measured according to the social purposes served by the institution of marriage.
Vismay Mathur,
On email.
Heart wrenching
The harrowing ordeal of the hapless Rohingyas is well portrayed in your cover story (‘Life on the brink’, April 30). The saga of 12 lakh Rohingyas was heart wrenching and needs world attention with top priority. No stone should remain unturned for bringing the Rohingyas to the land they belong to.
Kurien Samuel,
On email.
Nitish is no match for Modi
Some political parties are gung-ho that Nitish Kumar is spearheading the move to dethrone Narendra Modi (‘Foes with Benefits’, April 30). But Nitish is no match for Modi, who has been serving the nation without a personal axe to grind whereas all other politicians are working for their own interests.
The BJP, with Modi at the helm, is doing public oriented business, and, therefore, cannot fail. Nitish has had a long tenure as the chief minister of Bihar, and he has reduced Bihar to a labour supplying company. Daydreaming is good as it provides solace, but daydreams are after all dreams and will remain such for Nitish.
Laljee Verma (retired air marshal),
On email.