The legendary Vajpayee

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was one of the country’s most-loved leaders. His appeal cut across traditional political boundaries. He was a paradox — a liberal and moderate politician and an avowed pracharak . A great leader with a bent for poetry and a pluralist approach to politics, Vajpayee always respected, and never offended, the feelings, sensitivities and sensibilities of other people.

He outgrew the RSS and won the hearts and minds of all his countrymen as an avuncular statesman.

A fine orator, he conveyed the niceties of his argument in slow, measured cadences with a wave of his head and hands — and forcefully at that. He accepted criticism without rancour. We are filled with nostalgia for his days.

As a man of sagacity, he believed that ‘we can change our friends, but not our neighbours’ and made a pitch for better Indo-Pak relations. His coinage, ‘ Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat ’ still resonates as the only plausible solution to the Kashmir problem. Atal Behari Vajpayee — the quintessential Indian leader — became a legend in his own lifetime. He will go down in history as a great statesman.

Maruthancode, TN

With reference to ‘PM's speech diversionary, lacklusture: Opposition’ (August 16), the Opposition, namely the Congress party, seems to be relying on its usual stance of severally criticising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 72nd Independence Day speech, terming it as yet another attempt to deviate public attention from the real issues the country is facing as it was full of rhetoric and empty promises. Interestingly, the Congress’ media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala could be seen keenly obsessed with the word 'Independence' when he categorically points out that “the nation needs independence from discrimination, independence from unemployment, independence from poverty, independence from lack of opportunities, independence from empty rhetoric and empty promises”. However, one wishes that he had also taken the trouble of looking back into the chequered history of the UPA-I and II regimes.

New Delhi

The recent amendments to laws on corruption passed by Parliament will have a far-reaching effect. The highlights of the amendments include taking prior approval for initiating investigation against allegations of corruption against public servants as well as for prosecuting them. This will bring much solace to the public servants. That the recent law is applicable to retired public servants, too, is laudable. As is known, the retired officials are liable for punishment up to a certain period after retirement for any acts of commission and omission during their service. These amendments provided more protection to public servants against unnecessary harassment from the investigating agencies.

Bheemavaram, AP

The ongoing flood situation in Kerala is indeed very distressing, particularly considering the extreme hardship and suffering of the local people. This is also an occasion to applaud the outstanding rescue efforts of all forces. At the same time, we need to look at the sordid state of affairs with respect to environment degradation caused by human intervention. Total disregard for laws relating to protection of fragile ecological assets and rapid deforestation are some causes. The choking of rivers with city garbage blocks water paths and causes floods with the slightest increase in rains.

Tourism destinations like Kerala, Uttarakhand and Himachal have borne the brunt of human greed and the locals have suffered. We now need tough measures like limiting tourists and tourism-related activities in ecologically fragile areas. This may be bitter medicine but in a business-as-usual scenario we will see more such disasters, more often.

Pune

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