After writers and artists, it is the turn of scientists to voice their concern at the intolerance clouding the country’s political climate. (“ >More than 100 scientists speak out against intolerance ”, Oct. 29) The central government, with extreme canniness, dismisses all the protests as politically motivated. Worse, it puts the blame on the door of States, calling law and order a ‘State subject’. Such dilly-dallying is sure to close the doors to any form of scientific reasoning and rational thinking. Disputes need to be settled through negotiations and debates, not through violence. In the name of following a tradition, a custom or a culture, we should not allow obscurantism to influence us. It is time to include the term ‘scientific’ in the Preamble to our Constitution.
Victor Frank A.,
Chennai
