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ShareThe attack on the gurdwara
The news of the desecration of a Sikh gurdwara by Muslim hooligans ('Zealots take over Lahore Sikh shrine, Indian voices protest', DNA, August 21) is not really shocking, because since time immemorial, non-Muslim places of worships have been targets for Muslim fanatics. The destruction of hundreds of temples in Kashmir since Islamic terrorism formed its roots in 1990, the Taliban's destruction of Buddha statues in Bamiyan valley in Afghanistan, and also the very recent destruction of ancient Hindu temples in Malaysia are glaring examples. The discovery of Hindu temple pillars at the site of the so-called Babri Masjid throws light on the history of Islamic fundamentalism vis-a-vis non-Muslim places of worship. Given the overall allergic response of the media towards news which is not anti-Hindu, DNA's front page headline (August 24) regarding the gurdwara takeover is truly appreciated.
--Sanjay S Nagarkar, Mumbai
It is a national shame for Pakistan that a minority community is openly being subjected to hooliganism by Muslim fanatics. The recent usurping of a Sikh gurdwara is outrageous and deserves strongest condemnation from the whole world and not just from India. Recently, when a Pakistani was given the death sentence for converting to Christianity, the whole European community and the US rallied around and pressurised Pakistan to release him. In contrast, our external affairs minister is yet to ascertain the facts from the Indian mission in Pakistan, when the world has known about the existence of the 18th century gurdwara for 250 years now. Even in the past, on various contentious issues such as these, as also on those regarding Islamic terrorism, the present government at the Centre has provided a meek response when much more was expected from them.
--Manohar M Kamath, Mumbai
Let's learn from the Bishnois
The rejection of Salman's appeal by the Jodhpur Sessions Court proves that at least somewhere in this country the values of justice, truth and equality in the eyes of law still persist. With the obsessive pro-Salman media drive, it is hardly surprising that the masses who glorify film stars fail to realise that it is their blind worship of Bollywood actors that shields them from the arm of the law. Let us hope that the relentless efforts of the Bishnois set examples for punishing similar cases of poaching all over India. May we all learn and imbibe the values that make the Bishnois the most unique and exemplary tribe of
environmentalists in the world.
--Brinda Upadhyaya, Association for Service and Healing of Animals (ASHA), Mumbai
The solidarity shown by the Bollywood fraternity for the convicted actors, Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan, is understandable because the hundreds of crores of rupees riding on the films under production involving these two will go down the drain if they serve long prison terms. But it is not clear why this should skew the perspective of the media. These two may be 'Sanju Baba' and 'Sallu Bhai' to their ardent fans. But in the eyes of the law they are plain criminals, not for minor infringement of some traffic rule but for serious crimes. The media should therefore stop glorifying them and making some kind of martyrs out of them.
--Vijay Mohan Swaraj, Chennai
It is sad that two individuals who are good people at heart got carried away by their fame and celebrity status and indulged in activities that have turned them into criminals. What is ironical is that both Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt were role models for the nation's youth in their films. Today they have turned out to be icons for everything negative: illegal hoarding of arms and ruthless killing of protected wildlife. Bollywood may cry hoarse about the verdicts but the damage is done. Now the film fraternity must look inwards and realise that their 'real' as opposed to reel life cannot just be wished away.
--Sheila Syed, Mumbai
