VAJPAYEE'S MUSINGS

Vajpayee's musings
Sir, - The happy New Year message in the article titled ``My musings from Kumarakom'' by the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, is interesting and thought-provoking.
His expressions for solving the problems of the country, particularly Jammu and Kashmir and Ayodhya disputes, reflect the long-cherished wishes and aspirations of the Indian people.
Actually these are the national sentiments which should be honestly implemented without allowing any communal ideology to raise its ugly head and ruin the nation so that as he most aptly points out ``it can pursue its developmental agenda for the future with single-minded determination.''
Our country craves for peace which is in danger now because of the irrational approaches of communal and extremist outfits which take pride in slogans and not solutions for political advantage.
The government should maintain law and order and protect the rule of law without allowing jungle law to prevail anywhere in the country.
As regards the Babri Masjid dispute, Mr. Vajpayee says ``there are only two ways to resolve this contentious issue: the judicial route or the route of negotiations leading to a mutually acceptable solution.''
The judicial route is understandable but not the other one - a negotiated settlement. The dispute is a national one which should be settled in a justifiable manner getting appreciation from all who witnessed the uncivilised demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992 in blatant violation of the rule of law and the Constitution.
It is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. It is an issue between law- abiders and law-breakers. Hence Hindus and Muslims cannot be considered the rival parties and asked to arrive at a negotiated settlement. It is neither possible nor desirable.
There is an urgent need for the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to sit together and settle this dispute or at least agree to abide by and implement the judiciary's verdict, whatever it might be, jointly. There is no possibility of this problem being solved without their joint efforts. This issue should be de-politicised first and considered national. Let the Prime Minister take the initiative for this and do the needful.
V. M. Khaleelur Rahman,
Chennai (The Hindu dated 6th January 2001)