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Uncalled-for resolution on Afzal

The Pakistan parliament's move to pass a resolution condemning the hanging of Afzal Guru is a clear case of double standards. It is an attempt by the beleaguered neighbour to deflect attention from its inner problems and interfere in India's internal matters. The House also called upon India to hand over the body of Afzal Guru to his family. Who is Pakistan to dictate terms to India on how to deal with its own citizens, and who is Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who moved the resolution in the National Assembly to decide how the Kashmir issue should be tackled. If Pakistan is really concerned about Afzal Guru who does not even belong to that country, why did it refuse to accept the bodies of its own soldiers who were killed in India in the Kargil war?

It is mainly the politicians and the separatists who are blowing up the issue out of proportions like what Pakistan has just done in its National Assembly.

COL R D SINGH (RETD), Ambala Cantt

Disarmament a blunder

The incident of killing of 5 CRPF personnel by jihadi militants could have been avoided, had the Congress-NC government in Jammu & Kashmir not forbidden paramilitary forces from carrying firearms while dealing with mobs. Unfortunately, the so-called secular leadership of the country is busy pleasing the jihadis in a big way, causing a blow to the security of the country. The J&K government should review its decision.

JAI PRAKASH GUPTA, Ambala Cantt

II

There is little doubt that the latest attack on the CRPF camp could not have been launched by terrorists without the support of separatist elements in the Valley. It is also true that such freak attacks cannot be effectively prevented, especially when the political leadership in J & K seems to be vertically divided on a joint strategy in their fight against terror.

Unfortunately, both the ruling party and the Opposition in J & K seem to be more concerned about scoring brownie points on the unfortunate aftermath of such dastardly acts (editorial "Attack a reminder, not return of terror”, March 15). While the security set-up certainly needs to be tightened, the editorial rightly advises all political parties in the state to work for peace rather than fanning fissiparous tendencies.

GOVIND SINGH KHIMTA, Shimla

Politics and ideology

This refers to the write-up ‘Ideology disappearing in politics’ by S Nihal Singh (March 15). A search for ideology in the present-day politics is like searching a needle in a haystack. In fact, ideology in politics is relatively a new concept. It has its origin only in a secular and multi-party democracy. It would be futile to look for this element in other forms of political set-ups. Monarchy, which had been in vogue till the 16th century, makes no bones of its character of passing on the political power through succession in the ruling family. History is replete with examples that such successions, too, were not governed by any ideology. Unscrupulous conspiracies were order of the day in such successions and the rightful heirs were also denied, many times, to occupy the throne. Communism, which boasts of its concept of equal distribution of resources among all, hides many skeletons in its cupboards in the name of party discipline. In a nutshell, ideology has never been a point of honour in the realm of politics.

L R SHARMA, Sundernagar

Death of Ganesh Pyne

With the passing away of the legendary painter, Ganesh Pyne, in Kolkata, the world of art has been left poorer. It is a two-fold loss for the art, as he was not only an artist who gave contemporary Indian art a distinct style but his style too was unique.

Although he was highly influenced by the paintings of Rembrandt and Indian artist Rabindranath Tagore, it was his strong zeal, commitment, discipline and genius which made him one of India's most famous artists.

No wonder, his art dealt with death, depression, fantasy, dream, myths and Kolkata, the city he loved and never left. As a painter, his journey started in 1946 when he had his first brush with mortality and the innate brutality of human beings during the communal riots of 1946 and these experiences resounded throughout his artistic works.

Pyne was an incorrigible introvert. He will be also remembered as the only artist in the contemporary art scenario to have worked extensively on the characters of Mahabharata.

DILBAG RAI, Chandigarh