M A I L B A G

Slogans didn’t impress the voters

Apropos of H.K. Dua’s front-page editorial 
“The big change” (May 14), the people have asserted their will to bring about an unexpected but stupendous change. They want performance and good governance. Rhetoric, slogans and hollow promises no longer bewitch them. Perhaps their hopes and aspirations had been belied. So making good and judicious use of their right to vote, they have voted the NDA out.

In fact, the people were not impressed by “India Shining” and “Feel-Good” slogans as they were convinced that it was only the upper starta of society that was shining while the middle and the lower starta were reeling under myriad of problems.

The issue of Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin also did not cut much ice with the people. The employees felt smothered. The alleviation of poverty, misery, unemployment and drudgery remained a far cry. All this tilted the balance in favour of the Congress.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

II

When the Congress boat was sinking under Sitaram Kesri’s leadership, Mrs Sonia Gandhi saved it and faced the BJP-led NDA squarely and boldly. Now she has led the party to victory through the ballot box. Mrs Sonia Gandhi, even without experience, could cash in on the various scams during the NDA government and anti-people policies.

The Congress is not a cadre-based party. It is a motley party of opportunists, rich kulaks, and power hungry elements. Where is the “real” Congress of pre-Partition days? The Congress, despite its victory, has ceased to be a party of dedicated workers, selfless patriots and tall leaders. Mrs Sonia Gandhi cannot restore the Congress to its past glory. For, it is merely one of the parties which is at the mercy of the vote bank leaders and the Left. The people are caught between the BJP and the Congress who are playing a see-saw game. Parliament is still hung.

Mr H.K. Dua has rightly suggested that the new government should follow such policies which will make India strong, prosperous and happy. It remains to be seen how the new Prime Minister will rise to the occasion.

Prof HARI SINGH, Kheri Jat

III

Today everyone talks about the major role played by Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders in bringing a Congress-led government at the Centre. However, they forget to thank Mr Narendra Modi, Mr Bal Thackeray and Mr Vinay Katiyar, the triumverate which played a major role in awakening an ordinary Indian by their oratory skills.

Everyone was forced to think what would happen to the Indian democracy when these people get a mandate on their own. Their attacks against Mrs Sonia Gandhi generated a sympathy wave in her favour. This, I feel, ultimately proved too costlier for the BJP and its allies in the elections.

Dr SURENDRA GUPTA, Ludhiana

IV

The arrogance of outgoing leaders, growing unemployment, tinkering with the autonomy of institutes like IIMs and, above all, lack of insight had led to the NDA’s defeat in the elections. To add insult to injury is the lack of grace with which the defeat is being taken by the NDA leaders.

Dr ANIL GROVER, Chandigarh

V

H.K. Dua has rightly opined that Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been an outstanding leader who provided a stable government. But the clique around him is caste, creed, clan and self-oriented. The ‘feel-good’, therefore, hardly trickled beyond the already well-to-do influential people. Hence the voters’ decision to change the government through the ballot box. The question of Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin hardly carried any weight. With tremendous revolution in communications, the humanity has come to be a global brotherhood.

K.L. NOATAY, Shimla