The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate must show greater responsibility and political maturity and desist from taking up and raking up sensitive and divisive issues during the election campaign (Editorial, “ >Divisive tactics again ,” May 7). Mr. Modi appears to have built up an image of good governance in Gujarat over a decade. In such a situation, why bring in religion? One fails to understand why the BJP and Mr. Modi are blind to Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act. If local BJP leaders wanted to go in for a religiously themed backdrop at the rally, Mr. Modi could have gently but firmly declined to have it there.
J.P. Reddy ,
Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh
Building a Ram temple at Ayodhya may be a matter of faith for 80 per cent of the Indian population — and is one of the core issues for the BJP — but this is not going to feed the people, provide potable drinking water to all, ensure 24-hour electricity supply to cities and hamlets, good roads and social and economic empowerment to all people. Politics is about power passed (on) over by people to political leaders by means of periodic elections, with which political leaders are expected to serve the people in the most befitting manner, and without any discrimination.
M.Y. Shariff ,
Chennai
It would be naive on our part to expect Mr. Modi and his cadre in the BJP to lend an ear to the exhortation in the editorial to “show greater responsibility and political maturity in taking up sensitive and divisive issues even in the heat and desperation of a campaign.” His subtle invocation of Lord Ram had a definitive purpose of banking on the electoral value of the “Ram Card” in order to guarantee his coveted journey to a prime ministerial stint.
S. Balu ,
Madurai
The sure-fire way for the BJP to garner vote banks is to communalise its electoral campaign given the high stakes in Uttar Pradesh. It is naive to say that the BJP resorts to this communal discourse to counter the caste mobilisation of the BSP and the SP. As a mainstream party with a difference, the BJP needs to tread cautiously, even at the height of a frenzied campaign.
P.K. Varadarajan ,
Chennai
Religious symbols have been used in electioneering. In Kerala for instance, some allies of the Congress use the green flag with a religious symbol during electioneering. Is this a crime?
S.V. Vijayan ,
Bangalore
