Selfish leaders

Instead of indulging in political gimmickry by inventing solution like ?United States of Kashmir?, Mirwaiz Umar would do well to stick to his principal obligation of a preacher.

Selfish leaders

HT Image

Apropos of the report Hurriyat to route Kashmir solution via Islamabad (October 25), it will be disastrous if attempts are made to spread religion-based separatism and arouse discontent in the Jammu and Ladakh regions where people including local Muslims have never questioned accession and are demanding integration with the Indian Union. Instead of indulging in political gimmickry by inventing solution like ‘United States of Kashmir’, Mirwaiz Umar would do well to stick to his principal obligation of a preacher.

Lalit Ambardar
Delhi

A traitor is a traitor

AG Noorani’s article A Valley scarred (October 24), leaves one wondering whether politicians and others interested in Kashmir would have appealed for clemency for Afzal had it been a Hindu, Christian or Sikh person from the state, or if he belonged to any other state of India? Justice should prevail over considerations of caste, religion, community, region, etc.

SNM Kopparty
Delhi

II

Noorani has not only equated Afzal with politically persecuted individuals but has also made it seem that just about every single soul in Kashmir is against Afzal’s hanging. We are being told that if Afzal is hanged, there will be trouble in the Valley. What has suddenly made Afzal so popular in Kashmir?

CK Sharma
Delhi

Misguiding factors

Sagarika Ghose’s Qaum or country (October 27) is an eye-opener for moderate Muslims. It is a paradox that though Islam is a humanistic religion, it has encouraged orthodoxy. Islam needs liberal and honest leaders, not the likes of Bin Laden and Mullah Omar.

MK Barua
Delhi

Readers may e-mail letters to the editor at:letters@hindustantimes.com