Your editorial “Sign and forward” (IE, November 5) is strange and disappointing. You are wrong in saying that those who are campaigning for Kiran Bedi, don’t understand how democracy works. We do. But is ours a democracy in the real sense? Had it been so, there would have been no need to intervene. We all know that nepotism and political considerations form the basis of key appointments by the government. If thinking minds concerned about the worrisome state of affairs in our system have opted to raise their voice for appointment of a person of unimpeachable integrity to the key post of CIC, it augurs well for our system and for our democracy. The initiative needs to be applauded rather than criticised.

— M.C. Joshi Lucknow

Duties shared

In his address at the 30th general session of the Jamiat Ulama-i-hind, Home Minister Chidambaram has propounded a theory which needs to be rebutted. He says that “it is a duty of the majority to protect the minority”. He does not seem to realize that under the Constitution all citizens are equal, with the same rights and duties. Thus it is the Constitution that protects all citizens, irrespective of their religious denomination. Moreover, in a democracy there are no permanent majorities and minorities.

— P.R. Dubhashi Pune

Taslima too

It was heartening to read that M.F. Husain is set to return to India (‘Ready to return...’, IE, October 31). It is a triumph of secularism over fanaticism. In order to balance the scale, it is high time another celebrity, Taslima Nasreen, be allowed to return. She was forced to flee the country by the government and by extremists protesting her modern and progressive writings. Just as the Congress-led government is working vigorously to remove the innumerable court cases against Husain for his controversial paintings, it should also make the atmosphere in the country congenial for Taslima to return, live a peaceful life and continue her creative pursuits howsoever contentious they may be.

... contd.