No ‘carpenter’ on Babri Masjid issue
The commentary on the history surrounding the Babri Masjid issue (June 29) was very informative and to a large extent very balanced. We all know that you have spent a considerable amount of time on the matter and exerted your endeavors to find a suitable solution.
Unfortunately, Indian Muslims have directly or indirectly been affected with the tragedy, mostly after the sad demolition of the masjid by the miscreants. We have not forgotten the huge loss of life and property during the riots following demolition and in the later years. Just like the scars of the partition, the wounds accruing from the political extremism that led to the desecration and demolition will always remain fresh in our minds.
I was reading a very interesting anecdote where a small-time carpenter understood a long and bitter rift between two brothers and in their absence built a bridge over a creek created by the younger brother instead of erecting a towering fence on the older brother’s land (as instructed), which led the younger sibling to take it as a noble gesture by the older one. Both realized their follies and apologized to each other very passionately. I believe, unfortunately, on both sides, we did not have a carpenter of that intelligence who could create a bridge. For the sake of petty politics and hunger for power, most of them were engaged in adding fuel to the fire and none thought of curtailing that first spark. — Safi H. Jannaty, Dammam
Mursi’s hands tied
This is with reference to your Arab News article (June 30). With Mr. Mursi›s hand tied behind his back by the takeover of most of the responsibilities of governance by the army, the West and the army are waiting for people to see more economic downturn in Egypt. That downturn will prompt Egyptians to throw out the Muslim Brotherhood as untrustworthy and install some one approved by the West and the army.
If Mursi has guts he will fight to regain presidential powers by creating public uproar. I doubt he will do that. He will carefully tread because he is not knowledgeable about governance and in doing so give power back to the army. — Mohammed Imran, Riyadh
The wily general
I was just reading your column on Zia-ul Haq (June 28) online and could not resist the temptation to write you and tell you how much I enjoyed reading the piece. Your wit and intellect are as sharp as ever, sir. I hope you end up writing a book about these very same global movers and shakers whom you interviewed in your long career. It would be a tour de force.
I would, however, love you to mention in your book, in a no holds barred style, how Zia navigated the ship of Pakistan into the basket case it is now. Name 20 things wrong with Pakistan, politically, administratively and economically and it would have probably come courtesy of that wily general.
Did that also come across in your meetings with him? Also did you ever meet his slime-ball sons? — Robin Fernandez, Riyadh
Remembering Zia
With due respect after reading Farouk Luqman’s column (June 28) in the Arab News, I was shocked that there is any person who remembers Zia. Do you know what he did to Zulifqar Bhutto and what he did to Pakistan? He introduced Talibanization in Pakistan and Pakistan is now reaping what it sowed. — Abdul Jabar, Jeddah
Letters - No ‘carpenter’ on Babri Masjid issue
