The Hindu : Normality first

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 20, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Normality first

Sir, — The people of Gujarat, especially the riot-affected, should be given a chance to return to a life of normality before they could exercise their franchise. Conducting elections in the present scenario would be a mockery of democracy. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which is keen on early polls, should understand that catering to humanitarian needs is more important than elections.

Sutirtha Sahariah,
New Delhi

Sir, — Many leaders of the Sangh Parivar have raised questions about the right of the Election Commission to decide not to hold the Assembly election in Gujarat now. When the BJP leader, Arun Jaitley, says that the job of the commission is only to conduct elections, he fails to note that in a case like Gujarat creating a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections is an integral dimension of conducting the election. The critics of the commission may claim that the situation in Gujarat is normal. The public is aware of the facts gathered and released by various non-political and constitutional bodies. Hence, the commission's decision not to hold the election in Gujarat in October is fully justified.

S. Lazar,
Tiruchi, T.N.

Sir, — The Election Commission's decision is welcome. This is a realistic estimate of time to bring back normality and prepare the voters' list. Some of the BJP leaders have criticised the commission attributing to it motives for the delay in announcing the poll schedule. The Election Commission is an independent body with powers to conduct free and fair elections when it deems it fit. There should be no confrontation between it and the Centre on the Gujarat elections.

D.B.N. Murthy,
Bangalore

Sir, — The Election Commission's decision has thwarted the BJP's attempts to come back to power on a wave of hatred and bigotry. It is becoming increasingly clear that the State-sponsored atrocities on the minorities were perpetrated keeping in mind the necessity to polarise the Hindu vote to the BJP's advantage. The oft repeated rhetoric "let the people decide" is a mischievous attempt to gain democratic sanction in a vitiated atmosphere of communal divide. Given time, the people of Gujarat will look back on the riots as a sad and unfortunate event of recent history.

George Paul,
Salem, T.N.

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