This refers to the political activities in Jharkhand which have become a usual feature of State politics in India. The permanent way to end horse-trading in State assemblies is to elect Chief Ministers, Speakers and Deputy Speakers through absolute majority by secret vote on nominations signed by at least one-third of the MLAs with the ministerial strength limited to a maximum of one-third of the Assembly-strength. Such an elected Chief Minister may only be removed by secret vote on a no-confidence motion signed by at least one-third MLAs with compulsion of voting for the successive Chief Minister in the same motion.

Such modifications will abolish the supremacy of big party bosses who are responsible for the costly and unholy game of making and unmaking of governments inducing a pleasant era of full Assembly terms and more stable governments with much reduced legislative expenses. Such elected Chief Ministers will have the confidence of all the MLAs irrespective of party-affiliations like our present Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who got votes cutting across party lines in his election! Since selfish political leaders will never like losing their undesired supremacy, it is for the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to find ways to implement such reforms of national and public interest.

Madhu Agrawal
Delhi

Your placing of Saddam Husain on the cover (The DayAfter, March 16-13, 2003) was most appropriate. Even as he is battling the might of the United States of America, you have correctly highlighted the odds he is facing. If he is a tyrant, his people must rise against him and overthrow him, as in the case with dictators in the past. If he is harbouring terrorists, the terrorists should be caught and put to death. But no country has the right to dictate to another who its ruler should be. This is unfair and smacks of high-handedness. After the break up of the USSR, which used to keep the USA in check, America has begun riding the high horse and thinking that it owns the world. Who has given it this right?

Suchitra Menon
Kochy

In his frank interview (The DayAfter, March 16-13, 2003), former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao has stated that secularism is the best course for India to follow. This is hitting the nail on the head. A vast country like ours, with diverse faiths and religious communities can be nothing else but secular if it is to remain united.

The votaries of Hindutva are playing a dangerous game and whipping up communal passions to seek votes and foster their own vested interests. They talk of Hindutva but will not give a single paisa to a beggar who is starving. They will give lakhs of ill-earned money to a temple, as if seeking pardon from God, but will not build a shelter for the millions who live just under the stars. Only some dedicated Hindus observe charity, which is the main plank of any religion. We talk of protecting the cows, but see the plight of thousands of cows that stalk the roads, hungry, sick and injured. Does anyone do anything for them? We go to a mandir, give the pujari hundreds of rupees to intercede on our behalf with the gods to ensure that we earn more money. But we will not give a rupee to the beggar outside. We should stop this hypocrisy about Hindutva and get down to behaving like real Hindus and ignore the politicians and rabble-rousers for whom Hinduism is just a vote-getter.