Sir,

DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi suggestion to the Centre to snap ties with the Sri Lankan government as a protest to end war in the island nation will not serve a purpose. Instead, it will make things worse.

If the Centre takes decision to snap ties with the Sri Lanka, then the government will not leave any moral right to express its anguish and put pressure on the Sri Lankan government.

The government will have to choose another channel to express its views to the Sri Lankan government. No country in this world will relish the interference of another country in their internal matter.

The LTTE must drop their arms and be ready for talks with the Sri Lankan government to end the ethnic crisis in the island nation. The LTTE should not assume the power of sole representative for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils.

It should invite other groups representing Sri Lankan Tamils for talks with the island nation government. There is a vast difference between supporting supporting the Tamil people’s cause and encouraging a banned organisation LTTE.

They LTTE has killed our Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Indian soil and that too in Tamilnadu. T R Jawahar has rightly said in his article ‘Lessons from Sri Lanka’ in News Today on 18 April that the unfortunate masses  massacred in the crossfire over the decades will haunt the Tamil conscience for ever.

C L Narasimhan, Saligramam.

Split verdict

Sir

Election Commission’s split verdict (2-1) on issue of disqualifying Sonia Gandhi from contesting elections reveals the bitter fact of Commission divided on mode of their appointments in different regimes. While N Gopalaswamy appointed in BJP-ruled NDA regime voted in accordance with BJP requirement, other two Election Commissioners appointed in Congress-led UPA regime voted in favour of Sonia Gandhi!

In general, almost all EC decisions reflect biased views of various Election Commissioners in tune with voice of political rulers having appointed them. Situation can and must be avoided by appointing Election Commissioners through consensus amongst Prime Minister and Opposition Leader. Already such a system is working well and without controversies in selection of Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Information Commissioners. There is no reason that same procedure may not be adopted in selecting Election Commissioners too.

S C Agrawal, Delhi

A shocking comment

Sir

It is shocking to note the comment of Chief Minister of Tamilnadu M Karunanidhi that LTTE chief V Prabhakaran was not a terrorist. The later was announced as a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case by the Union of India in the year 1991. After a lapse of 18 years, the Tamilnadu Chief Minister has come out with such a comment is highly shocking.  Will his alliance partner Congress agree with him in this line?

M V Mukundhan, Nanganallur