The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Advani's remarks

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Monday, Jun 20, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Advani's remarks

One wonders what prompted BJP president L.K. Advani to describe Jinnah as a secular leader and regret December 6, 1992, while in Pakistan. Although the BJP has let the matter pass for the moment, Mr. Advani's Pakistan yatra has made him a political sinner in the eyes of his own partymen and the unelected superpower, RSS.

Aneesh J. Nair,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Mr. Advani goes to Pakistan, declares the founder of the country secular, hails the peace process and says it should be made irreversible. A week latter, he is party to a statement declaring Jinnah communal. A fortnight later, the party of which he is president writes to the Prime Minister expressing concern over the handling of the peace process.

Kumar Rahul,
Hardwar, Uttaranchal

* * *

Jinnah did not support the idea of Partition until 1937. It was only when the Congress refused to share power with the Muslim League that he became the champion of the Muslim cause. Mr. Advani's description of him was befitting. It has enhanced the image of the BJP in general and Mr. Advani in particular. It has also exposed the Congress, which has always portrayed Jinnah as communal.

P.A. Huq,
Coimbatore

* * *

In 1937, when the Congress and the League started working in provincial Ministries, the rivalry between the two came into the open. Nehru wrote to Jinnah saying there were only two forces in India — British Imperialism and the Congress representing Indian nationalism. Jinnah replied saying Hindus and Muslims of India had nothing in common. The rift was complete.

Jinnah called for Direct Action in 1946, which resulted in the Great Calcutta Killing. Then came Noakhali and Punjab. Had Jinnah been secular, all this would not have happened.

B.D. Prasad,
Vizianagaram, A.P.

* * *

What is past is past. We must take what is good from history and avoid referring to the bad.

Srinivas Goud,
Hyderabad

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