Contrasting behaviour

Sir, - The way the Tamil Nadu police arrested the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, is most disgraceful. As an old- timer, I may state that the police did not act in such a sordid manner even during the British Raj. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, then president of the Indian National Congress, says in his book, ``India wins freedom'', that late on August 8, 1942, he returned to his home in Bombay after attending the meeting of the All- India Congress Committee which had welcomed the `Quit India' resolution the working committee had passed earlier.

The Maulana was staying with Bhulabhai Desai, a Congress member of Central Legislature in New Delhi. Bhulabhai Desai had heard from a police contact that all Congress leaders would be arrested early next morning and may be transported out of India, perhaps to South Africa. So he was waiting at that late hour for Maulana who was very tired and was in no mood to listen to such rumours. The next day Maulana got up at 4 a.m. and later settled down to write a letter to the U.S. President, Roosevelt, sending a copy of the `Quit India' resolution since Roosevelt had been taking an interest in India's freedom. Later Dhirubhai Desai, son of Bhulabhai Desai, came to Maulana with a sheet of paper. It was a warrant brought by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was standing in the veranda. Maulana asked Dhirubhai to inform the Deputy Commissioner that he would take a little time to get ready. Maulana had his bath and then dressed. He also gave necessary instructions to his Private Secretary who had by then joined him. And then smilingly he turned to the Deputy Commissioner saying `I am ready'. It was 5 a.m.

What a contrast it was.

Mahindar Singh,

New Delhi

Sir,- I disagree with the

general tone of the write-up by Mr. Upendra Baxi,` Hysteria, justice and revenge' (July 6). We should embark on a meticulous analysis of why a by and large peaceful State like Tamil Nadu should be thrown into turmoil? It is probably due to the vengeful thirst of a ruler who herself is mired in a spate of corruption cases which might very well ruin her political career.

B. R. Sajith,

Thiruvananthapuram

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