Dharmapuri tragedy

Sir, - I am disappointed at your Editorial, `A serious setback' (Feb. 4). While I expected a blitzkrieg against the barbaric act of torching innocent girls at Dharmapuri, following the conviction of the AIADMK supremo in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case, the title of the Editorial suggested you were more worried about her political prospects than the loss of lives on which, of course, you touched and said ``people who do not respect judicial verdicts and resort to barbarism as a form of protest have no place in a democratic society''. I strongly feel that such incidents must not occur even in autocracies.

The electronic media is also focussing on Ms. Jayalalitha's political prospects rather than on the loss of innocent lives.

It is a pity even the Chief Minister has not condemned the incident in his inimitable Tamil prose, though he has expressed his sympathy for the victims and announced ex-gratia payments.

It appears that we have accepted such horrendous crimes as the price for a democratic polity. God save this country!

V. Ramachandran,

Chennai

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : No licence to defame