A de-hyphenated foreign policy is conducive for India’s national and strategic interests as New Delhi’s recent stand in voting for a resolution against recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital shows (“The road still runs through Ramallah”, January 12). In the wake of China’s growing assertiveness in every sphere, and with the giant economies following a policy of appeasement with it, such a policy is also needed in order for India to maintain a key influence in foreign relations. There are many countries that safely practise this without making compromises on safeguarding their national interest. In a world of interdependency and an uncertainty about the stability and longevity of alliances and blocs, ‘de-hyphenation’ will also be in keeping with the legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru’s NAM.
Shreyashi Panja,
New Delhi
That water desalination jeeps are to be gifted by Israel’s Prime Minister to India — these are independent, integrated water purification vehicles that can produce drinking water as per WHO standards — should open our eyes and make us introspect. We always boast that we are superior in technology but it is a pity that many of our villages do not have potable water ever seven decades after Independence.
K. Manasa Saanvi,
Hyderabad
