Date:25/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/25/stories/2006022505861002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Depressing

The report "Bush plan demotes India" (Feb. 24) made depressing reading. The mandarins of North Block still do not seem to be in a mood to see reason. They are more than ready to toe the unacceptable Bush line. By categorising India as a country with a developing nuclear energy programme, the U.S. is pressuring us to follow its line of thinking. The demotion may be a warning that if Iran is in the firing line, India cannot be far behind.

T. Balakrishnan,
Kozhikode, Kerala

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Since independence, no government has so blatantly solicited the U.S. at the cost of our national interests as the UPA has.

Ironically we are bending our knee to please the U.S. at a time when we have opened up our vast market to multinationals and can deal with them on our terms. Even when starvation deaths were looming large and the country was facing economic bankruptcy in the past, we refused to be cowed down by U.S. dictates.

V.V.S.Mani,
Bangalore

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Is ours the country that had the courage to defy America and conduct nuclear explosions? The day is not far off when Mr. Bush will name India a rogue country.

V. Murugan,
Kottar, T.N.