The Hindu : We are Indians first

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 25, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

We are Indians first

Sir, — The recent incidents of violence in Assam are a matter of grave concern. As pointed out in your editorial, "Assam's shame" ( Nov. 21 ), the events are reprehensible and unacceptable. Such misdeeds of linguistic chauvinism coupled with growing restlessness among the unemployed youth points to the dangerous situation that can arise if narrow parochial sentiments go unchecked. It is time for us to redeem the pledge that we are Indians first.

B. Suresh Kumar,
Coimbatore, T.N.

Sir, — The ransacking of the Railway Recruitment Board office in Mumbai by Shiv Sena activists is deplorable. The reorganisation of States on the basis of language has done us more harm than good. We are foreigners in our own country when we are in another State, as the "sons of the soil" theory has gripped the minds of average Indians.

R.V. Venkatraman,
Tiruchi, T.N.

Sir, — The continuing violence against the Biharis in Assam demonstrates the determination of

ULFA to create instability in the State. The public in Assam, whose sentiments the ULFA intended to exploit, should symbolically condemn the killings by taking out a peace rally and showing solidarity with the Biharis. This would be a moral defeat for the ULFA and help improve the tarnished image of Assam.

Sutirtha Sahariah,
New Delhi

Sir, — Violence in Assam; the Shiv Sena disrupting railway recruitment in Mumbai — these are the outcome of parochialism and jingoism. When our federal structure is assailed by such fissiparous tendencies, and the nation is bleeding, leaders of the BJP and the Congress are indulging in mudslinging. Do we not have leaders who can address the people on radio and television to assuage the ruffled feelings?

Jayshri Balaji,
Tiruchi, T.N.

Sir, — The Railways should give up the move to recruit khalasis through the Recruitment Board. The earlier system of recruitment by the divisions concerned to provide jobs to the local people should be restored.

V. Narayanan,
Chennai

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