Letters: Unsolicited advice

This refers to the report "Top academics say they dread the idea of Modi in power" (April 24). It is deplorable that professors and other academics of Indian origin working in Britain's prestigious educational institutions chose to attack the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, in an open letter, virtually warning Indian voters against voting for Modi. Earlier, groups of Indian intellectuals, academics and Bollywood personalities issued similar appeals to save the "Idea of India", whatever that means. India's voters have shown their maturity and prudence time and again. They don't need unsolicited advice from self-appointed champions of Indian secularism and democracy. Those asking Indian voters to vote in a particular manner are influencing the voters and violating their right to choice. If the people of India want Modi to be the prime minister, he will be. What would all those raising the alarm against "communal" and "authoritarian" Modi then do? Form a "secular" Indian government in exile?

M C Joshi Lucknow

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