• Shekhar Gupta’s ‘Our Chinese wall’ was interesting. The areas where the recently reported transgressions have occurred in Ladakh are well within the Johnson-Ardagh Line. The 1947 maps India inherited from the Raj show the northern boundary in accordance with that line, so India’s assertions of alleged intrusion by China have due legitimacy.

The larger issue, however, goes beyond border transgressions. What India now needs (and Gupta points that out clearly) is a pragmatic and energetic foreign policy based on realpolitik, not diplomatic obliqueness — a policy that takes into account the defence forces’ threat assessments, their suggested roadmap for our northern and eastern borders and speedy development without undue anxiety or panic.

— Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)

Mohali

• While Shekhar Gupta’s opinion that we shouldn’t be paranoid vis-à-vis China is correct, it’s equally necessary to not lose our guard. China’s “rock painting” exercise was perhaps a recce to test the Indian army’s resolve, and not a larger attempt to nibble at our territory. But if our response, both diplomatic and military is low-key, then such exercises may morph into territorial acquisitions. A more effective policy may be to tell China — without being aggressive — that while confrontation is undesired, mischief will not be ignored.

— Abhishek Dwivedi

Thane

Waxworks

• The Supreme Court’s order halting work on Mayawati’s extravagant statue parks is welcome. This should be followed by bold decisions to ensure that this serves as an example to others so that such large sums are not wasted on one’s whims but go towards welfare measures for the hapless population of backward states like UP.

... contd.