One definitely appreciates the organisational skills of Narendra Modi (?Self made?, Dec 25), who led the BJP to a convincing victory in the Gujarat polls. However, the ?claim all? approach of Modi is difficult to accept as the state?s progress can be attributed to the combined effect of many different factors and not just Modi?s rule alone, as some partisan propagandists have made it out to be. Agriculture sector growth was largely due to benefits of the inter-state Sardar Sarovar dam project that was initiated decades ago. The locational advantage of Gujarat and the fabled entrepreneurial skills of its people have contributed in no small measure to the state?s rapid industrial growth.
?Vijay Mullaji
What goes around
Even as Benazir Bhutto?s assassination needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms, one has to keep Pakistan?s present travails in proper perspective. Whether one likes it or not, they are largely self-made. Pakistan?s military leadership and intelligence agencies raised and nurtured the jihadis since the 1980s, chasing the mirage of ?strategic depth? in Afghanistan and to ?bleed India to death? in Kashmir. Even after 9/11, they have been going soft on jihadis. When Indira Gandhi was assassinated, The New York Times pointed out that, ?A democratic constitution can survive assassinations?. The tragedy for Pakistan is, first, it not a democracy, and second, it is reaping now what it sowed.
?P Senthil Saravana Durai Hyderabad
