Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Shocking call

Gujarat BJP functionary Jashubhai Patel's announcement of a reward of 1 kg of gold for the eyes and right thumb of painter M.F. Husain is extremely shocking. Gujarat is a sensitive State. Such inflammatory speeches will only add fuel to the embers of communal fire. Unless the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat Governments act fast and put down anti-social elements such as Mohammed Yaqoob Quereshi and Mr. Patel with an iron hand, more people will be encouraged to endanger secularism.

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.

* * *

This refers to protests against cartoons on Prophet Muhammed. It is every government's obligation to maintain law and order, whether violent protests are justified or not.

The right to freedom of expression should not affect the normal life of others. Those who had a problem with the cartoons should have protested peacefully. There is always scope for a dignified and civilised way of getting your point across, one that was surely missed by everyone who protested violently.

S. Jagadish,
Bangalore

* * *

It is unfortunate that the letters are against Mr. Quereshi, whose sentiments have been hurt. The readers, it seems, have not properly understood the mental agony of those who were forced to give vent to their feelings — a normal practice in our democratic tradition.

Whatever happened was normal. Bandhs, protests and damage to national wealth do take place and they are quite acceptable in our system. Only poor Shiv Sena was asked to pay up once. That should not deter our leaders and they should carry on with our national tradition.

N. Gopalan,
Bangalore

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