Dynastic distinction!

Dynastic distinction!
I would like to correct a factual error that crept into your editorial, ‘Congress bastion in AP turns Bastille’ (DNA, December 1). It was observed therein, ‘It is the shameless organisational (dynastic) culture that the Congress has nurtured over the last 30 years.’

The dynastic Congress culture is actually nearly 80 years old. Jawaharlal Nehru became Congress president in 1929 after his father Motilal Nehru — when he was not even 40 years old — backed by Mahatma Gandhi. Lokmanya Tilak could never be Congress president despite being the tallest leader in the pre-Gandhi-era. The dynastic culture became more obvious in the Indira Gandhi raj.  By the way, it is not the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty anymore but the Gandhi — not Mahatma Gandhi but Firoze Gandhi — and Maino dynasty.
—Shreeram Paranjpe,
Mumbai

Sack Thomas
Some time ago, the then law minister asked how can the courts issue orders on the government’s administrative decisions. Theoretically, it is a pertinent point, but what if the government is insensitive and takes arbitrary decisions. The latest example is the appointment of CVC PJ Thomas, who has a chargesheet pending against him.

The Supreme Court’s poser on how Thomas can supervise the functioning of the CBI — which is investigating a crime committed by him — is nothing but a stricture to the government. The layman wonders whether there are no other qualified with impeccable records. And why doesn't the government give him marching orders instead of waiting for him to resign?
—KRP Gupta, via email

GOI deserves a pat
This is with reference to ‘Upset by anti-India remarks, govt denies Mush a visa’ (DNA, December 2). The biggest drawback of Pervez Musharraf, who is now living in self-exile in Britain, is his tendency to speak first and think later. His anti-India remarks that India was the responsible for unrest in Pak’s Balochistan show he is an insecure man desperately seeking the Pakistani public’s backing and needs to consolidate his hold over his country.

When India tried her best to better relations with Pakistan, Musharraf’s statement came as a big blow. Hence, the government of India’s decision to deny him visa is right. It deserves a pat for this bold decision.
—Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad