This refers to the news analysis “ >Dissent, thy name is sedition? ” (Sept. 17). The absence of specific laws governing the limits to the responses by the police, the state as well as agitators during a popular protest is the primary issue. It has given rise to vandalism and violence by agitators; ad hoc and impulsive police action that is heavy-handed and the use of open-ended charges like ‘sedition’ by the state to stifle popular dissent.
Dissent is common in a democracy. Therefore, it is important to enact specific laws to moderate and rein in the state’s response while instituting guidelines for protesters to conduct themselves peacefully.
Varigonda Kesava Chandra,
Singapore
The Centre and the Tamil Nadu government are responsible for the unrest in Kudankulam. They have not won people’s confidence. The villagers are not against the nuclear power plant; they are only concerned about the aftermath of a nuclear accident. In view of the Fukushima disaster and the fact that the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy are yet to get justice, it is only natural for people in and around Kudankulam to be concerned.
T. Anand Raj,
Chennai
