Not restrictive

Sir, - Mr. Kuldip Nayar in his article `A draconian measure' (August 1) has alleged that the Union Ministry's circular, which prescribes guidelines for holding international conferences, is violative of the norms of a free society. It needs to be pointed out that the memorandum is not restrictive but only regulative. It does not apply to all seminars, but only to those which deal with sensitive issues such as religion and human rights. Further, such seminars are not prohibited altogether; they may be held with the permission of the Home Ministry and the Finance Ministry. Again, the scope of the memorandum extends only to invitees from Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Should national security be bartered for a favourable world opinion regarding the openness of our society? Even with regard to individual's rights the formula our courts have adopted is the balancing of considerations of national security

against those of individual freedom. The impugned memorandum in no way seeks to stifle the internal freedoms of the people of India; and on that count the references to the Emergency are sadly misplaced.

P.R. Renganath,

Chennai

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