Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Iran vote

This refers to the editorial "An unnecessary escalation" (Feb. 6). The Indian vote in the IAEA, favouring the majority decision to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council, is a clear deviation from the UPA Government's commitment to an independent foreign policy.

J. Jayashankar,
Mayiladuthurai, T.N.

India's vote is shameful. It is obvious that the U.S. has burgled our sovereignty. At the same time, the courageous and firm decision of Cuba, Venezuela and Syria is praiseworthy.

M. Vetriselvan,
Udayarpalayam, T.N.

The Indian vote was an inch in the right direction to become a junior partner of the U.S. But we have a few more miles to go to become a client state. Hail the U.S. for its arm-twisting tactics.
E. Arvind,
Bangalore

Nations sitting pretty with nuclear arms in the name of self-defence are preaching others on the need to curb proliferation. The nuclear weapon states should first destroy the deadly weapons.

Ushadevi & S.B. Rao,
Ruwi, Muscat

The editorial has rightly said the vote will aggravate the crisis. Iran Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki's statement "we do not have any obligation to the additional protocol (any more)" is a pointer.

K.S. Thampi,
Chennai

The Iran vote does not truly represent the majority opinion of democratic India. On such critical issues, in which even the partners in the ruling coalition hold divergent views, should not a joint session of Parliament be convened?

K.R. Mohan,
Chennai

India's vote is tantamount to uprooting the foundation of the Non-Alignment policy. The U.S. directed and staged the Vienna drama to legitimise its hostility towards Iran. It is an irony that all nuclear weapon states stood together against a country, which sought to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Those in power should read their history textbooks again to realise that our forefathers fought valiantly against imperialism.

Shameer Uliyil,
Kannur, Kerala

The UPA Government has shown that it can muster the will to take correct decisions. Whether it was on airport privatisation or Iran, it did not buckle under the pressure of allies.

Sushil Mehra,
Bangalore

That India is prepared to lose a friend for an unreliable ally known for discarding allies once their utility is over is surprising.

Yasir Mohammed Rafi,
Bangalore

Iran has a democratically elected Government. But it is not allowed to enrich uranium. Pakistan, on the other hand, has been under the military-mullah rule for the most part of its existence. But it can have nuclear weapons. The U.S. does not mind. The Left parties should seriously reconsider their support to the U.S.- satellite Government.

K. Ashok,
Udupi, Karnataka

The resentment of the Left parties to the Government's recent policy decisions, which according to them are a clear violation of the NCMP, and the Congress' indifference are a clear signal to the people that their honeymoon will not last long.

K. Govinda Bhat,
Edathala, Kerala

One wonders what the Left parties will do. Will they issue another strong statement warning the Government not to take them for granted? The Government does not seem to take them seriously. The Left seems unhappy with almost anything and everything the Government does but continues to extend support to keep the "communal forces" at bay. Is the threat of communal forces so serious that the Left does not mind compromising even national pride?

S. Sudhir Kumar,
Waltham, Massachusetts

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