THE case of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh is only one among the very long list of subversive activities that the Central Intelligence Agency has been engaged in since its inception in 1947 (“Saga of resistance”, September 26). The story began in 1948 with the CIA’s infiltration and disruption of the Italian elections where it helped the mafia elements gain ground. Overthrowing democratically elected Jacob Arbenz (Guatemala, in 1954), helping “Papa Doc” Duvalier become dictator (Haiti, in 1959), assassinating Patrice Lumumba (Zaire, in 1961), overthrowing Prince Sihanouk (Cambodia, in 1971), overthrowing and assassinating Salvador Allende (Chile, in 1973) are a few of the crimes against humanity that the CIA is believed to have committed. Through the CIA, the U.S. has been perpetrating its hegemonic control over the world.

Dr. Nutan Thakur,
Lucknow

Communalism

THE Cover Story (“Communal Fire”, September 26) was thought-provoking. Today, communalism has put the country under tremendous strain, posing a serious threat to its unity. A sustained propaganda against communalism on all fronts can go a long way in shifting the emphasis to India’s secular tradition.

Vinod C. Dixit
Ahmedabad

Nuclear deal

THE report on the India-U.S. nuclear deal (“Hidden side”, September 26) was informative. But is the deal feasible? Why is the government pursuing it at a breakneck speed? Even if we get into the deal, it will meet hardly 13 per cent of our power requirements. And there is the danger of radiation and leakage from nuclear plants. It will benefit only the U.S.

In place of nuclear power, we should try to tap other sources of power that are available in plenty in India – such as wind energy, solar energy and hydro power. They are safe, pollution-free and cheap.

S.P. Sharma
Mumbai

NATURE has played havoc in Bihar by flooding a good portion of the State (“A snake in knots”, September 26). The Bihar government should give a tax holiday to the flood-affected people for a decade. They should be given rail and air travel concessions, electricity and water free of cost or at concessional rates, free schooling and scholarships, house-building material, agricultural tools, food and medicines.

Mahesh Kapasi
New Delhi

THE Bihar government faces a huge challenge of evacuating people, providing them shelter in relief camps and preventing the outbreak of communicable diseases such as cholera. Reports from the affected areas and the relief camps show that the most vulnerable among the displaced people – women, children and the elderly – find themselves deprived of food and shelter.

And as is often the case in such situations, hoodlums and criminals have descended like a pack of hyenas to feed on the misfortune of the victims.

Photographs of people at relief camps tell a tragic story that reflects poorly on India. A nation that claims to be on a rapid march to prosperity cannot tolerate such divergence between perception and reality.

A. Meghana
Hyderabad

BY convening a national convention of Muslim women in New Delhi, the All India Democratic Women’s Association has taken a welcome step (“From the margins”, September 26).

While a large section of the majority groups consider them untouchables, or as belonging to the “other side”, they remain “outsiders” even in their own community, facing a lot of discrimination and hardship. There is a need to look into their problems in a holistic manner and come up with solutions that help ameliorate their conditions.

Amitabh Thakur
Lucknow

Art

THE series of articles on Indian art by the art historian Benoy K. Behl were excellent. The photos and description of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain historical monuments were informative. However, a substantial body of Indian art of the past 800 years that was influenced by West Asia has not been covered.

Geo Mathews Kalpakkam,
Tamil Nadu

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