* This refers to Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s ‘The Malegaon precipice’. Political doublespeak may come naturally to the political class and may also help them capture certain vote-banks; but when they forget the issues or the context, it could have dangerous consequences for the institutions of the state. The BJP’s pre-committed position on the Malegaon blasts case, vis-à-vis Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Purohit, is not just unfortunate as it questions the methods, techniques and objectives of the state but it also shows a profound disrespect for our investigative agencies. If a national political party mobilises religious groups against the functioning of the state on a very vital issue like terrorism, even before the investigative agencies have done their job, we might be sowing the seeds of further resentment, discontent and rebellion. Rajnath Singh and the BJP must understand that India is a secular state and that to confront the serious problem of terrorism we must align with reality and not with any religion or community.

—Ved Guliani, Hisar

Double vision

* This refers to the editorial ‘The offence of defence’. BJP leaders are blatantly speaking in favour of the Malegaon blasts accused. Now take the case of the Jamia VC’s proclamation that the university would provide legal aid to the students accused of terrorism. That declaration was lambasted by the very saffronites who are now defending Pragya Singh and Lt Col Purohit even more loudly.

—Sabir Ali Chauhan, Aligarh

Dis-alignment

* Against the background of the investigations going on regarding Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Purohit, who are alleged to have been involved in the Malegaon blasts, you have rightly commented in your editorial ‘The offence of defence’ that the BJP is an adept code-switcher, shifting between the soft touch and Hindu hardsell depending on context and convenience.

... contd.