Sorry India...

These days, Maharashtra and Maharashtrians are under a great stress. We are experiencing a great guilt, humiliation and shame because of the deeds of our leaders. Let me start with Raj! The underlying theme of his philosophy may appear compelling to some; however I would argue that the way he expressed his feelings was way too hostile and against the principles of democracy. Second, let’s think about our ‘big’ force of cabinet ministers. Despite in possession of significant power in the national affairs, our ministers have reduced themselves to mere spectator in the ongoing migration issue. Do we want to see Mumbai to become a city in Bihar or Patna? The UP and Bihar leaders have succeeded in hijacking the real issue of development and corrupted entire north Indian air against Maharashtra and Marathi.

Third, we witnessed a series of blasts rocking major cities in India and especially the most recent one in Mumbai. In response to this incident, which was literally shaking the whole country for three continuous days, our Home Minister might be busy in changing his dress. All the inefficacies that Mr. Shivraj Patil has demonstrated during his political stint so far are very well represented by his stereotypical verbal condemnation of each such terrorist attack. Why are we Indians so patient as to listen to this kind of oxymoronic language on each single occasion? What a pity that a brave nation, whose history is inundated with examples of actions and sacrifices have to put up with the non-effective “verbal actions” of their so-called leaders!
I think this attitude of shear dishonesty and inaction has percolated to all levels of Indian politics. The recent Mumbai incident has exposed the political handicap of Maharashtra state in great details. Words are not enough to exhibit how coward our politicians and we are! When we condemn terrorist incidents as “coward attacks”, I think a little bit of self reflection will do us a great good. Who is the real coward? A handful people from a dilapidated land manage to hold a whole big nation at ransom. In retrospect, I will not hesitate to say that their act was braver and more courageous than ours. At least those guys were loyal to their cause. In the contrast, we Indians are a bunch of people who are loyal only their own selves. Amidst the gung-ho we not only wasted a lot of time choosing our new CM and Deputy CM, but also showed an unprecedented tolerance while putting up with the great ‘comments’ and ‘actions’ from our former CM and Dy. CM. Mr. Antulay’s comments in the Loksabha are just an indicator of how hopeless Indian political system has become. Kudos to the leaders and kudos to the people of the nation who can tolerate such crap

Riot regularities

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/22804.html

THERE is a lot of noise these days about the screening of Parzania in Gujarat. What happened to the Mody family and others in Naroda Patiya is certainly bad. But such things happen to everybody during riots. Many were badly affected by the Mumbai blasts as well. Also, during the discussions on Parzania, why do we forget the 58 burnt alive in Godhra? Many in that tragedy may have lost their fathers, mothers, sons or brothers, but following our sick-ular principles we easily forgot their names. Why such discrimination?

— Abhishek Chaudhari, Mumbai

Reply in concern of above letter

http://www.indianexpress.com/story/22923.html

Film also Godhra

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY support the letters to you by M. Ratan, A.K. Sharma and Abhishek Chaudhari and detest the comments by Dara Mody in his article, ‘Parzania was a thin thread...’ and by the frustrated Rahul Dholakia in ‘Why is this family left to fend...’ (IE, February 9). Dholakia does not know the spirit of the Hindus and of the Gujarati Hindus as claimed. He is only concerned about his film. Through Parzania, I am afraid Dholakia wants to provoke communal disharmony in Gujarat, and he is using one Mody to meet his detestable desire against Narendra Modi and the peace-loving people of the state. Let him make a film on the 56 burnt to death alive in that coach in Godhra.

— Kedarnath Aiyar Mumbai