Four years ago, it took 10 young men with AK-47 rifles from Pakistan to create havoc in our country. But their actions were limited to Mumbai. Now some Pakistan-based elements have found a cheaper alternative — of posting morphed images and inflammatory material exaggerating the Assam violence on the Internet to disturb peace and harmony in India (“Pakistani websites behind morphed images, says Home Secretary,” Aug. 19). The root cause of the trouble lies within, in the fragile relationship among our States. The much touted unity in diversity is a myth.
Kaplan Deb,
Dubai
Blaming Pakistani websites for the exodus of people belonging to the northeast from some of our cities, including Bangalore and Chennai, is laughable. While rumour-mongers should be dealt with sternly, it is time we addressed the fundamental problem which could be fanned to create such a snowballing effect.
Can anyone with a computer and an Internet connection create a mass exodus in any part of the world? What the opportunists did was to aggravate an existing problem. It is time our politicians refrained from instigating people on the basis of language, region and religion for survival. And it is time opportunities were created in the northeast for employment.
Ramji Raghavan,
Chennai
The crisis shows how the ill-intentions of a small group can influence a large community. Such incidents are impossible to predict. The government should do everything it can to allay the fears of people belonging to the northeast. The decision to ban bulk SMSs will surely help reduce the mass hysteria.
M.S.N. Prasanna,
Tenali
The ethnic clashes in Assam, the violence at a protest organised by some Muslim organisations at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, and the recent exodus of the north-easterners are three unfortunate developments. But looking at them together, one cannot but conclude that some forces with ulterior motives are out to destroy India’s unity and integrity. Considering the gravity of the issue, political parties should set aside their differences and ensure that the divisive forces are defeated.
Dileep D. Anand,
Alappuzha
Rumour-mongering, responsible for creating a sense of insecurity among the north-easterners, spread rapidly through social networking sites which have crept into our lives. It has once again reinforced the demand that the sites be brought under a regulatory mechanism.
No doubt, the social media has brought about a plethora of progressive changes but it is time we plugged the loopholes which allow it to be exploited.
Tanmay Rai,
New Delhi
