Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Mind your language

Sir, — Your Editorial, `Mind your language' ( July 22 ) is a caustic reminder that we need to take a fresh look at our old saying — not only to say the right thing at the right time, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. You are right when you say, "A political party is entitled to put greater emphasis on its programme and achievement than on its leaders" but in our tu-tu, mein-mein culture, who bothers about the country and the party's achievement?

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad, U.P.

* * *

Sir, — The Editorial brings out the need to "preserve the tone and tenor of a civilised political culture." While the foreign origin issue of Sonia Gandhi has become stale, the stand that the Prime Minister "is beyond the pale of democratic scrutiny" is equally out of place. The "tone and tenor" of the present day political leaders are entirely different from those of the Nehruvian days. The present day leaders throw mud on each other in public, perhaps to attract media attention. It is in the political wisdom of both the parties to settle and carry on with creative action in the interest of the nation.

C. P. Velayudhan Nair,

Kochi, Kerala

* * *

Sir, — Your Editorial was excellent. It certainly seeks to fulfil the media's role of leading, enlightening and educating the polity. The thinking but silent citizen, concerned with norms in public life, is sick of hearing political leaders trading personal attacks against each other. Not long ago, there was a one-hour bashing session on television by a head of Government over the foreign origin issue of Ms. Gandhi. Similarly obnoxious is a sarcastic taunt against the Prime Minister, pointing to his old age.

One is reminded of the decency and decorum observed by leaders in the distant past.

Today, instead of parties being based on ideologies, they are built around personalities.

R. Ramachandran,

Chennai

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