It is quite improper and unethical to kill innocent children, women and old men in the name of religion or race. Gujarat cannot be and should not be allowed to become the cradle of fascist forces if we want our democracy to survive.

Dr R. B. YADAV DEHATI , Rewari

Policy of appeasement: The common Muslim has no objection if the Ram Temple is constructed at the site of the “Garbh Grih” (sanctum sanctorum) and the mosque is raised elsewhere. It is the politicians belonging to both communities who have messed up the compromise formula.

The Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamkoti Peetham, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, has made very sincere efforts to resolve the vexed issue. That the members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) gave a patient hearing to the Kanchi seer is all the more graceful. India is a secular country. It is an acknowledged fact that here the Hindus and the Muslims have to live together and share the common heritage. What is needed is the emotional integration of all communities. It is the appeasement of any community that is proving counter-productive to achieve emotional integration.

IQBAL SINGH, Bijhari (Hamirpur)

Law of jungle: All that happened at Godhra and later on in retaliation in other parts of Gujarat shows communalism, fundamentalism and fanaticism at their worst. There was a distressing picture of the law of jungle and barbarism of medieval times when man was uncivilised. Is this the progress we have made so far? In civilisation we have gone too far but in culture we have lagged behind. All moral human values have been thrown to the winds. This is cultural lag. This is the land of Gandhi, whose principles of truth and non-violence are held in high esteem.

But our leaders, national as well as state level, have failed us miserable as they, by pursuing petty vote-bank politics, go to any extent in exploiting religion for the promotion of their political interests.

K. L. BATRA, Yamunanagar

Barbaric: Gujarat, once known as the state of gentle and God-fearing people, has suddenly suffered a serious setback for its glorious name due to the disastrous design of a few fundamentalists on both sides of the communal divide. The soul of Mahatma Gandhi and the blood-choked soil of the state that gave birth to great leaders who fought for freedom must be cursing those indulging in communal conflicts. If the country's partition on the basis of religion was a crime against humanity, Gujarat tragedy has brought disgrace to every right-thinking religious person. A great Urdu poet Faani once wrote:

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari (Hamirpur)

Stubborn: What is actually required at this juncture is that our people must be immunised against demagogy and misinterpretation of facts. Let us not be credulous or stubborn as illiterates and insensitive as monsters. Only then we can be forward looking and modern. This alone will give us, as Mr Hari Jaisingh says, the norms of a human and civilised society.

HANS RAJ JAIN, Moga

Tragic flaw: Our tragic flaw is that all of us call ourselves Punjabis, Bengalis, Gujaratis, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs et al but not Indians which is the root cause of communal disharmony and disturbance. The policy of divide and rule is still pursued by political vested interests. One wonders why they are inconsiderate to the pangs of the nation.

TARSEM S. BUMRAH, Batala

Religion misused: It is a matter of grave concern that religion in India has been used, misused and abused not only by the clergy but also by politicians and this has encouraged politico-religious realingnments. The leaders who spread hatred among the innocent people must mend their ways and work for the betterment of society.