Sir — In “Quiet transformations” (Dec 27), Swapan Dasgupta gloats about everything that has been achieved under the stewardship of Narendra Modi. But his cherry-picking is not without flaws. Dasgupta’s claim of the judiciary being more powerful than it has ever been before is dubious. Four judges of the Supreme Court had held a press conference some time ago to express their resentment. The mystery surrounding the death of Justice B.H. Loya persists. Dasgupta says that the social fabric remains intact in spite of a few excesses by cow vigilantes. But the reality is that Muslims are living in fear like never before. Dasgupta has also evaded such controversial issues as the Vyapam scam, the benching of the director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Kashmir imbroglio, and so on. Unemployment, a key concern for the economy, went unmentioned as well.

Suman Mitra,

Calcutta

Sir — Swapan Dasgupta has correctly analysed the transformations brought about by Narendra Modi. He brought down the GST rates on a clutch of items, albeit after suffering defeats in assembly elections in some states. No other dispensation has shown the kind of guts demonstrated by Modi in Kashmir. That is why Pakistan is hoping for Modi’s defeat in the general elections. Empowering Muslim women by revoking triple talaq can be attributed to the vision of the Narendra Modi government as well.

Mihir Kanungo,

Calcutta

Sir — Narendra Modi has brought about profound changes in governance. The prime minister has been untiring in his efforts to improve India’s ties with the United States of America and Russia. His move to project India as an economic and political power has proved to be a masterstroke. Unlike its predecessor, this government cannot be pushed around on account of its majority. This has led to a period of stability.

Demonetization has been a subject of heated debate. It could have been a success if corruption in banks had been controlled. The Bharatiya Janata Party has brought about a fundamental shift in Kashmir. The army has been given the freedom to deal with the miscreants who want to destroy the state. Under Modi, muscle flexing by Pakistan — the neighbouring country is known to encourage infiltration — has been reduced considerably. Pakistan is thus keen to see a weak government replacing such a strong dispensation.

Benu Kumar Bose,

Calcutta

Sir — Swapan Dasgupta’s article is unconvincing. Narendra Modi’s government has not been honouring the tenet of secularism enshrined in the Constitution. There appears to be little difference between the ideology of the party in power and the modalities of governance. Hate speeches have become common, especially before elections: the BJP is being blamed for most of these inflammatory speeches.

A crisis looms large over several government institutions. The resignation of Urjit Patel as governor of the Reserve Bank of India is a case in point. ‘Mudra’, one of the pet projects of the prime minister, is far from a success. The rates of GST have also been changed several times. This indicates a lack of planning on the government’s part.

Debasish Chatterjee,

Calcutta

Sir — Narendra Modi, Swapan Dasgupta is convinced, has brought about several key changes. Why then did the BJP lose miserably in the recent assembly elections? Is India finally changing for the better, thanks to Modi’s ‘quiet transformations’?

P.K. Raut,

Cuttack

In the name of protest

Sir — Protest is integral to democracy. India, too, has had a long tradition of innovative protests. M.K. Gandhi’s satyagraha, which delivered the nation from the clutches of imperialism, remains a prime example. But some instruments of protest have been misused. The comrades ruined Bengal’s economy and work culture with their fascination for bandhs. Expressions of indignation can — the accompanying image makes it evident — be quirky. What exactly is this ‘gentleman’ up to in the name of protesting? Little wonder then it is getting difficult to separate protests from lumpenism.

Snehashish Chowdhury,

Calcutta

Expressions of indignation can be quirky. What exactly is this ‘gentleman’ up to in the name of protesting?

Parting shot

Sir — While travelling to Vindhyachal from Calcutta on the Chambal Express, I found unauthorized passengers occupying the air-conditioned compartment all the way to Asansol. Neither the ticket collector nor anyone else had the courage to remove them. Have the railways now permitted ‘passengers’ to invade the AC coaches as well? If this is so, it will be a certain recipe for disaster. Can the railways authorities introduce an element of order to make train travel comfortable and safe?

Anju Agarwal,

Calcutta