Letters: Definition of nationalism

With reference to T N Ninan's piece, "An illiberal democracy", the issue facing the country isn't democracy but liberalism. If India never had a truly liberal system, no other country, too, can claim to be perfect in this respect.

Regarding the Centre putting forward a formal proposition that criticism of the nation should not be permitted, this could simply mean that the nation is supreme and above the aspirations of all individuals and groups and with no affinity to any political ideology.

The writer is too harsh on the present government. However, with respect to Uttarakhand, former chief minister Harish Rawat has none to blame but himself for being unable to rein in dissident legislative Assembly members in his own party, the Congress. To top it all, Rawat was caught on the wrong side in a sting operation conducted by a television news channel. That the entire issue, including the dismissal of his government, is sub judice is another matter altogether.

I differ with the writer's observation that "shouting a slogan has been made a test of one's nationalism". In all fairness, raising slogans against the motherland can't be taken lightly, as it indicates shady intentions.

Allowing dubious or inflammatory sloganeering under freedom of speech could mark the beginning of a deep-seated conspiracy against the country.

What does the writer have to say about the frequent incidents of some youth hoisting the Pakistan flag in Jammu and Kashmir? Does he support them? Would he want to "redefine" nationalism in his own way as they have done?

S Kumar New Delhi

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