LETTERS

Israel's designs

The Cover Story "A campaign of terror" (April 26) made depressing reading. The hapless Palestinians have been made refugees in their own land thanks to the armed incursion of Israel. But for the United States' advice to Israel to observe restraint, Yasser Arafat would have been killed long ago.

U.S. diplomacy has failed to contain the violence. The United Nations too is a silent spectator to the repressive measures of Israel. Israel's action could only be counter-productive, which is evident from the number of suicide bombers waiting to die for their motherland.

Saudi Arabia's "land for peace" plan may work. The immediate need is to withdraw the Israeli forces from the West Bank. Arafat can be persuaded to ask his people to stop attacking Israel if only he is given the respect he deserves. Ariel Sharon should be restrained from his aggressive designs. The Palestinians too should observe restraint.

D.B.N. Murthy
Bangalore

U.S. President George Bush's vision of a state in which Palestinians and Israelis would coexist is rather obscure. The picture, as you have pointed out, is not wholly rosy. There is no end in sight to the Arab-Israeli dispute.

R. Ramasami
Tiruvannamalai,
Tamil Nadu

Aijaz Ahmad's article "The Nazification of Israel" gave a deep insight into the Israeli highhandedness, with the backing of the U.S., in dealing with the Palestinians.

The motivation behind the U.S.' support to Israel and Israel's compulsions to put down terrorism can be understood, but the process of Nazification is horrendous. It is surprising that this is done by the very people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

Israel knows well that the killing and humiliation of innocent Palestinians can neither snuff out their resolve to live honourably nor put an end to terrorist activities. The solution lies in declaring an immediate ceasefire in accordance with the U.N. resolution and Arafat demonstrating his resolve not to support terrorist activities against Israel.

The Israelis have to accept that they have to co-exist with the Palestinians. Nazification is no answer to this problem.

Brig. V.K. Agrawal (retd)
Dehradun

Ayodhya

I have been a subscriber to Frontline for the past four years. I preserve the copies for reference whenever I write articles for a news feature syndicate whose clientele is in northern and northeastern India. I respect your objectivity.

I belong to a generation that is at least a decade senior to that of Cho S. Ramasamy whose comments on the growing tinging of news presentation was published in your group's flagship daily. I subscribe fully to his views and probably have a stronger opinion.

In the Cover Story ("Temple interrupted", April 12) which Sukumar Muralidharan wrote after visiting Ayodhya to gather first-hand information, to suit the points he wants to make, I find no reference to another functioning temple for Sri Rama, which is locally called the "Ammaji temple", built and maintained by the family of Prof. M.A. Venkatakrishnan of Chennai. The Tamil magazine Kumudam published an article on this recently. The sum and substance of this article is that local Muslims and Hindus are willing to co-exist as each section realises that it benefits from the tourist traffic that is generated because of the sacredness attached to Ayodhya. The local population would be happy if both the Hindutvavadis and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesmen would withdraw from the scene and leave them to co-exist.

Raghu Tagat
Chennai

The mayhem in Gujarat that followed the dreadful Godhra incident has exposed the the Bharatiya Janata Party-led State government ("Communal calculations", April 12).

The provocative statements by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the aftermath of the Godhra incident intensified the communal violence. With its failure to uphold secularism, the Gujarat government has violated the basis of the Constitution. The National Human Rights Commission's comments indicate that the government adopted a partisan attitude. Its dismissal is necessary to restore peace and normalcy in the State.

Bishal Das
Baripada, Orissa

Belying Narendra Modi's claim that his government contained communal violence within 72 hours of its outbreak, violence continued unabated for more than a month in Gujarat. The NHRC has refuted the Gujarat government's claims. The State government, instead of containing the well-orchestrated violence against Muslims, connived at the inhuman and brutal actions of the Hindutva forces. It has lost credibility.

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee's dramatic speech can hardly restore confidence among Muslims. How can they trust the Prime Minister when he is accompanied by a person whom they hold responsible for the continuance of the mayhem? Only the dismissal of Modi can restore their confidence and save the secular foundations of the Constitution. A mass campaign has to be launched for the ouster of Modi.

Basab Basak
Kolkata

The communal flare-up in Gujarat is a direct result of the pre-meditated attack on kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya. The opposition and the media are quick to put the blame on the Ayodhya issue. Hindus alone should not be blamed for the situation. It is true that killing one another in the name of religion is not the solution to the problem, but as human beings Hindus could not have swallowed their anger in such a situation.

The BJP fails to remember that it is in power only because of the Ram temple issue. Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee also needs to be reminded that he had declared in Parliament on December 6, 2000 that the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya was an expression of national sentiment that remained unrealised. One should respect the feelings of the people (the majority community). Vajpayee misled the nation by failing to make a serious effort to talk to the parties concerned. However, when push came to shove, he threw up his hands, putting the blame on both the parties saying they were unwilling to reach a compromise on the issue.

It is sad that over 500 people (mostly innocent ones) died and property worth crores of rupees was damaged in the communal carnage. As the citizens of the land of sufis and sadhus, people belonging to both communities must respect each other's religious sentiments and take steps to defuse the tension.

S. Balakrishnan
Jamshedpur

Warm felicitations on your publishing the feature essay "A proud pair of macaws" by S. Balasubramanian, Editor of Ananda Vikatan (March 29).

This exotic (South American) parrot is, of course, gorgeous and fascinating. Balasubramanian has been a path-breaker. Through his pioneering innovation and hobby, he has created a deeper awareness of the value, variety and beauty of wildlife. He merits unstinted praise from readers. Exemplary as his role has been, may his tribe increase - as well as that of the Macaw.

Unfortunately, there is no recognised body of authentic bird veterinarians in India, in contrast with the accepted fraternity of veterinary doctors for animals. This special difficulty has to be borne in mind.

Psittacosis is a disease carried by parrots and transmitted to human beings. Symptoms include nausea, chills and high fever and could lead to pneumonia and death.

Far from being a wet blanket, may I know the present state of veterinary services relating to birds in India? I reliably understand that the safest avian pet of India is the mynah. All other birds demand circumspection and counsel from an expert.

P.R. Krishna Narayanan
Kochi

Note: It is true that psittacosis, known as "parrot fever", can be transmitted to human beings. However, it is a rare disease and the chances of a Macaw or another species of parrot contracting it are slim. If left untreated, psittacosis can produce the results mentioned in the reader's letter. With modern antibiotics, it can be safely treated and there is certainly no cause for alarm or even special concern.

The CPI(M)

The 17th congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) resolved to create a political alternative that will combat communalism and neoliberal economic policies ("Agenda for an alternative", April 12).

A strong Union government devoid of a fundamentalist and parochial outlook is the need of the hour. It is heartening to note that a statesman like Jyoti Basu is in the forefront of the effort.

Under Jyoti Basu's chief ministership, West Bengal remained free from the evils of communalism, casteism and regionalism for more than two decades. The CPI(M)-led government in West Bengal is loyal to the basic principles of the Constitution. It also set an example in running a coalition successfully for about 25 years.

Buddhadev Nandi
Bishnupur, West Bengal