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'Why is Bal Thackeray allowed to go scot-free?'

How Readers reacted to Pritish Nandy's last column

Dear Mr Nandy,

After a gap, a meaningful column from you highlighting where the BJP is going wrong and what it should do and where the Congress went wrong and how they are doing. Hope you will keep writing such columns instead of those on unworthy issues like 'dog killing'.

Balan

Date sent: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 16:22:45 GMT
From: "Vivek Lamba" <vlamba@hotmail.com>
Subject: Role Reversal

It was great to read the article. This is a real mature and unbiased analysis of the current state the country is in. I feel that a person of your stature can turn the tides and lead the country to the new millennium. I agree that to solve a problem, we need to know what the problem is. Once we know we are wrong, only then can we begin fixing things. If we feel we are always right and everybody else is wrong then we will keep going in circles. Despite all the big hype of India Inc we still are finishing last in all the business ventures. My feeling is we need excellent and aggressive leaders to pull us out of the mess we are in. I am a fan of your exceptional talents. Please keep it up!!!

Vivek

Date sent: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 12:32:59 +0530
From: "AVIJIT GHOSH" <AVIGHOSH@DEL3.VSNL.NET.IN>
Subject: Pritish Nandy's column

I have always enjoyed reading Pritish Nandy -- his poetry, his short story translations, his long political interviews, his scoops. I like his style of writing -- short jabbing sentences with the occasional colourful turn of phrase. He is always good for a counterpoint. Which is what this article is all about. Liked it very much.

Date sent: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 10:06:11 +0000
From: Vinay Rao <rao@cambridge.scr.slb.com>
Subject: Pritish Nandy on BJP looking like the Congress

Call me naive, but here I am in England and looking at the warmth and sincerity with which John Major, the former PM is helping novice Blair with the Northern Ireland quagmire. I wonder if such a thing will ever happen in India. The last time I saw it was when P V Narasimha Rao's government sent Salman Khurshid, Farooq Abdullah and A B Vajpayee to the Human Rights Convention, I think in Geneva, to beat the vote that Pakistan under Benazir Bhutto was planning to hold. It was a resounding success. We not only won the vote but there was a general feeling of goodwill all around.

Right from the Janata Party days, we all knew how good Vajpayee was in the external affairs ministry. He had the foresight to tap China and Israel without making it a huge media, spin-doctored event. It is unfortunate that the government didn't last and the initiatives have not been capitalised upon.

It is the same man in power today. Not the ultimate arbitrator but significantly more respected than many of his predecessors -- Gujral, Deve Gowda, Narasimha Rao included. If he does not have the capability to run the economic machinery, he can definitely find one reliable, trustworthy man who knows the business. The name of Manmohan Singh comes to mind. In the past, even a country as fractious as Pakistan has held onto the same foreign minister even when the governments changed. In this case, there is a much stronger reason for having a coherent economic policy.

Years ago it was decided to keep the legislature, executive and judiciary separate. Now, is it time to separate the economy too? Removing the money from the hands of the government and having a system of excellence and ability to understand the global and national economies is prerequisite.

The governments were never non-communal. Not for a moment, since the Rath Yatra have I believed that there was a secular party. But feeling good about one religion is alright. Just don't let it colour your view of other things. There are too many aspects that need careful, objective analyses.

Talking about the highly disciplined cadres of the RSS, why are they bent on meddling with the government? Aren't they apolitical? Why don't they channel their discipline and do something constructive for a change. Like planting trees. Like cleaning the cities. Like spreading the ideas of alternative fuels. Like being watchdogs for corruption. Like volunteering to do pollution checks. I could list a million things like this which are crying out for manpower -- and all they think of doing is scream bloody murder at some policy statement. Why is the Shiv Sena allowed to run unchecked? Are they not governed by the same law as you and me? Why then is not a single Sena man arrested when they go about burning theatres, digging up pitches? Why is Bal Thackeray allowed to run free when he is clearly inciting violence and mayhem. Is the legal system any different for him?

Vinay Rao

Date sent: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 20:58:47 -0500
From: "Pradeep" <jupiter@iaol.com>
Subject: Role Reversal

I expected a well-informed article from a person of your calibre. You failed to mention the limitations and the hindrances that the BJP faces from its allies, Opposition, the Indian and the foreign media. When people have given 50 years to the Congress, the BJP at least deserves 5 years, don't they?

I have been in the US for the last 10 years and am used to the myopia and insularity that the Western world and the Western media has against Hindus and India. But it really hurts when it comes from one of us. Every Indian has to do his part for a bright and prosperous future but since the BJP came to power people expected things to change overnight. Let us all give the BJP a fair chance and weigh everything with the same weight.

Date sent: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 16:39:27 -0500
From: "Suresh Chandra" <schandra@CallSciences.COM>
Subject: Role Reversal

I am not sure I have a read a single article of yours on Rediff that does not use the word 'pimp' and 'thug'. I see the anger and frustration in your writings. Right, I feel the same way. That made sense when you were just a freelance journalist. Now you are an MP. You must try to do something about these things, and tell us what you are doing to actually change some of these idiocies, rather than complain about thugs roaming the power houses etc...

Do something. Talk to people. Talk to Vajpayee, talk to Advani, give them your intelligent input/ analysis/thoughts, show them what they fail to see for themselves. Interact with beauracrats/officials/host of others that have powers to steer the nation into the right direction, for you have proximity and access to them now. Propose amendments/resolutions/legislations. I am sure you can find many intelligent, forthcoming, and patriotic Members of Parliament out there that will be willing to give you their shoulder.

This is one great opportunity you have to actually to get down to the business of doing something, making your voice heard to the right people that can actually make a difference. Please, for the all the love of our Mother India, do something while you can and not fall prey to the stupid partisan politics and petty name-calling.

Suresh

Date sent: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 15:42:29 -0500
From: Kaushal Rege <regek@rpi.edu>
Subject: Pritish Nandy's column

With due respect to Pritish Nandy, the column smells of impatience. It is evident that the government has faltered more than once in its days in power. But to expect miracles in a year full of instability borders on the ridiculous. India hasn't seen a prime minister who is bent on performing as much as Vajpayee is in the past two decades and more. It is indeed heartening to see that he has begun tackling the problems. It should be kept in mind that those ruling the country today have been extremely vociferous opposition members. Changes take time and a year isn't sufficient to come out of that mould.

It is indeed disheartening to see the BJP change for the worse. But before we talk about the 'rejuvenation' of the Congress, the squabbling in Delhi should be a reminder of the of that institution. There is no leader in the Congress to match Sonia Gandhi's charisma. Yet, winning three assembly elections at a time when the BJP's credibility was at its nadir isn't exactly a one-person achievement.

India always tries options, reposing tremendous faith especially in untried ones. Sonia Gandhi is an untried option. But the party she leads is very much the same. Barring a few respectable faces like those of Jairam Ramesh's and Manmohan Singh's the party is made of the same lot that is so very much responsible for India's decadence. To say that the mature behaviour of Sonia Gandhi has matured the Congress is more of an illusion.

+ That the government is being pulled in different directions and has faltered on crucial issues is a fact. To bring out the optimist in every Indian, this government is trying to perform unlike the Deve Gowda or the Gujral governments. Experiences will teach the government to put its act together and deliver. It is time now that the allies stop pulling the government in opposing directions by sending confusing signals to the Indian people and the world. Nandy while writing the column should have noted that he is an ally of the BJP government and views such as these may cause the government more trouble.

Kaushal Rege,
TROY - 12180

Pritish Nandy

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