Apropos of your cover story Be All, End All (May 5), I do agree that the BJP is a big player in the game of polarising voters, but so are the other parties screaming from the rooftops about their secular credentials. On the hunch that the development discourse will not work beyond a point in the caste-ridden politics of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the BJP dispatched Amit Shah to UP to oversee poll preparations. What followed later (Muzaffarnagar riots) was per script. But again, wasn’t the ruling SP equally guilty of stoking the fires to keep its minority votes intact? Mayawati, Congress, they are all playing this game too. Everyone plays the communal card, only that with the BJP and Modi it’s a whole-time preoccupation.
Vijai Pant, Hempur
This time around, it’s not just Modi or the BJP we have to fear but that most horrifying demon of all, the parent rss, which is bent on creating a Hindu rashtra by destroying the age-old secular fabric of India. What they don’t realise is that it will trigger a second holocaust after the Partition.
Narinder K. Sabharwal, Gurgaon
I thought journalism was about presenting the readers with an unbiased view of current happenings. But when a national magazine is so heavily biased, one does not know what to make of it. On one side, you are sad that an extremist is claiming power at the Centre, on the other you print an extreme version of a story. Which extremist would you want the readers to follow?
Savyasachi Hebbar, Bangalore
Modi seems to be backed by a band of bigots who reflect, articulate and put in practice his brand of nationalism.
R.V. Subramaniam, Gurgaon
Who would have known about these Giriraj Singhs and Imran Masoods if it were not for this overzealous media intent on grabbing headlines? These men are guilty of spewing venom but the media, including Outlook, is even more guilty for spreading it far and wide.
M.C. Joshi, Lucknow
The 2014 elections will be remembered for the vitriolic outbursts on the lines of “me, mine and my own” by those who thought it would further their cause. You can’t attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
A.S. Raj, on e-mail
Modi’s track record of development and the fact that there have been no riots in Gujarat after 2002 speaks for itself. So why keep denigrating him and portraying a picture of an India where Muslims would be discriminated against?
Sarang Kale, UK
The only thing the average citizen can now pray for is that these hate-mongers don’t come to walk the halls of power.
George Jacob, Kochi
The destiny of our country is being entrusted to those who seem exclusively interested in degrading the country’s spirit of ‘unity in diversity’. If the top leaders continue to be so narrow-minded and mean-spirited, who will guide the common masses?
Buddhadev Nandi, Bishnupur
I am in Hyderabad, India. Yesterday, I did something I’ve never done before in my life. I voted for the BJP. Thank you, Outlook, for I could not have done it without you.
K.E. Venkat, Raritan, US
