The Hindu : Respect the mandate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Respect the mandate

Sir, — This has reference to your Editorial "The apprehensions remain" (Dec. 26). The majoritarian agenda is neither obscene nor creates animus in a democratic set-up so long as all the players in the political playground do not breach the rule of law or the Constitution. In fact, democracy is all about respecting the wishes of the majority and any attempt to denigrate it is anti-democratic. The mobilisation of Muslims on the religious plank by political parties such as the Indian Union Muslim League, which restricts its membership to Muslims, is acceptable to the Congress and the Left parties and, still worse, they align with it for narrow political ends. Appeasement of minority would alienate the majority and allow the growth of majority fundamentalism. The mandate of the majority should be respected.

K.S. Kasinathan,

Chennai

Sir, — One will find that it is only the universal outlook, Loka samastha sukhino bhavanthu, is tolerant and allows other religions to exist and grow side by side. Since August 15, 1947, due to the misguided secularism of the late Jawaharlal Nehru, the majority was taken for granted and, at their cost, he pampered the so-called minority and spoilt the nation.

P.M.G. Pillai,

Mannar, Kerala

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