I was aghast at reading Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Giriraj Singh’s statement that there would be no place in India for Narendra Modi’s critics and that they only belong in Pakistan (“Modi critics belong in Pakistan,” April 20). Critics exist everywhere and Mr. Singh, through this statement, has proved that he is one too.
J.C.Moryani,
Ooty
Giriraj Singh’s remarks bear testimony to the arrogance of BJP leaders and should be condemned in the strongest terms. Not long ago, Atal Bihari Vajpayee had made certain statements about Muslims that were later withdrawn. The late Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, M.S. Golwalkar, had said that Muslims should behave better or leave the country. This is a genetic problem in the Sangh Parivar. But for the fact that this is election time, the BJP may not have reacted this fast by distancing itself from Mr. Singh’s remarks. This outrageous attitude stems from the confidence that the BJP is gaining from the poll predictions. Popular will would be known only when the results are out.
S.V. Venugopalan,
Chennai