Communal poison

The article “Rid our body politic of communal poison” (Oct. 11) by Markandey Katju correctly points out that communalism is a modern phenomenon and that there is no evidence of communal riots prior to 1857. Communalism is an ideology, and communal violence and riots are manifestations of this ideology. Every secular organisation and individual should join hands in this fight against communalism.

Shubhneet Kaushik,

New Delhi

The argument that the poison of hatred was injected in Indians by the British has some logic. But it is also true that our politicians have used it over the years as a potential weapon to further their vote bank considerations.

Deepak Singh,

Kanpur