The disclosure by Niels Christian Nielsen that the arms drop over Purulia in 1997 was sanctioned by the Centre to destabilise West Bengal's Left Front government is interesting. If true, it is clear that the Congress government at the Centre was bent on destabilising the West Bengal government so that it could impose President's rule. The presidential pardon for Peter Bleach, who arranged for the purchase of the aircraft used in the operation, and his Latvian crew further lend credence to Nielsen's claim.
It was under the same P.V. Narasimha Rao regime that MPs were bribed, and the Babri Masjid was destroyed.
Joseph Pushparaj
Secunderabad
Since 1977, the Congress has been trying to bring down the Left government in Bengal. The party has a long history of imposing President's Rule in States where the Opposition is in power. It is no different today.
K. Bade Saheb,
Kurnool
It is shameful that we still have among us leaders who are ready to make friends with our enemies from outside to serve their nefarious purpose. If the Congress does not allow the Left front, which is committed to peaceful transformation through the ballot, to function peacefully, naxalism will get its justification.
K.S. Parthasarathy,
Bangalore