The Hindu : What traditions?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

What traditions?

Sir, — The Samajwadi Party leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, has said that the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, acted hastily on the advice of so-called intellectuals who had no understanding of the practical functioning of Indian politics. But it is their very understanding of the "practical functioning" of politics that led the intellectuals to voice their concern to the President.

Mr. Yadav further said that the President should be mindful of the constitutional traditions before embarking on such steps.

What "constitutional traditions" does Mr. Yadav want Dr. Kalam to follow? The "tradition" of the President acting as a mere rubber stamp?

Raghav Venkatesh,
Gulbarga, Karnataka

* * *

Sir, — Mr. Yadav has said that those opposing the polls reforms ordinance had no understanding of the practical functioning of Indian politics. Every man on the street, let alone intellectuals, knows that all political parties depend on economic offenders and looters of public money for their functioning. No wonder the parties are unanimously opposed to the Election Commission notification directing candidates to furnish information about their assets and liabilities.

It is the concern of the intellectuals who opposed the ordinance to change this dirty functioning of Indian politics.

Nirmala Asokan,
Chennai

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