The Hindu : Unabashed lobbying

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 07, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Unabashed lobbying

Sir, — This has reference to your Editorial ``The Presidential election'' and the article by K.K. Katyal ``Choosing a President'' (June 3). It is very unfortunate that at a time when the nation is on the brink of a war with Pakistan, the political parties indulge in unabashed lobbying and manoeuvring to ensure their ``man'' (no party is recommending a woman candidate so far notably) to the highest office of President.

Weeks of discussions, closed-door meetings, appeals made on the basis of caste and religion and political jockeying in favour of one person or the other have lent a disagreeable air to the whole proceedings.

The NDA does not prefer a second term for K.R. Narayanan for his only ``sin'' of being active instead of remaining a ``rubber stamp''. How can he sit quiet when the Gujarat genocide claimed so many lives?

The preference to names like the Maharashtra Governor, P.C. Alexander or Abdul Kalam is another gameplan by the BJP to cover its ugly face with the ``secular'' mask.

The comparison of the President to an emergency light — which comes on automatically when there is a crisis and turns off when the crisis is over — by the former President, R. Venkataraman, is apt.

B.V. Kumar
Nellore, AP

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