Letters | What India’s opposition lacks most is a vision that wins elections

Readers discuss the possible reasons for voter fatigue in India’s ongoing elections, the viability of Palestinian statehood, and strengthening protection of Victoria Harbour

India

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 19 May 2024

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I refer to the article, “India election: lower voter turnout raises questions of fatigue with PM Modi’s ruling BJP” (May 10).

The low voter turnout is partly because it is widely believed that the opposition is fragmented and that Modi will win. Also, people are disillusioned with the levels of electioneering and personal and religious attacks.

A democracy thrives on debate. It is a horrible tragedy that one of the largest and most vibrant democracies in the world is bereft of a strong and credible opposition. In the ongoing elections, the election machinery of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is steamrollering the opposition parties.

The opposition parties lack the requisite funds, ideas and tactics to battle the BJP. Even the Election Commission of India has been accused of favouring the ruling party. International observers from 23 countries are on the ground at New Delhi’s invitation, but most of these countries, if not all, are no bastion of democracy themselves.

Though strong is some states, the opposition has made meagre efforts to strengthen its all-India footprint. True, the parties have formed a national alliance to fight the BJP. However, they have not agreed on a common leader or agenda. Each party blows its own trumpet. A common goal to defeat the BJP is not enough. There has to be a credible development strategy.

Rahul Gandhi hails from a family of prime ministers. He was in a unique position to galvanise the opposition and the country. His party, Congress, has a national organisation. However, he has fumbled. He expended energy on holding rallies across the country, but BJP managed to woo his party leaders. He should have done more to stop his party leaders from deserting.

Modi has mesmerised the country with his oratory skills and assiduous canvassing. The BJP has deployed every possible communication medium to showcase its plans and achievements. Cinema, for example, is a very powerful medium in a developing country like India. The BJP has used commercial films, like the recently released Article 370, to propagate its achievements and spread its message.

Sadly, the elections have become a viscous fight for power, not a battle to improve the lot of the common people in India.

Rajendra Aneja, Mumbai, India

Why Palestinian people should not wish for statehood

I refer to the article, “Israel-Gaza war: UN General Assembly backs Palestinian bid for membership” (May 11).

The territory governed by the Palestinian Authority hardly satisfies the requirements for statehood. It is a welfare state, relying on the charity of the US and Israel for its survival. It can develop – so long as the World Bank, the EU, the US and Israel are willing to carry it. The Palestinians are incapable of functioning independently, particularly with the Iranian-supported Hamas terrorists ruling Gaza. Their precipitous unilateral move for UN statehood could jeopardise these relationships.

The lack of an Arab state alongside Israel was caused by Arab refusal to accept an infidel state in their midst.

Certainly many countries at the UN will support Palestinian statehood in a vote. Cowardly states will abstain, rather than having the guts to vote “yes”. However, the Palestinians will suffer if they succeed in gaining recognition.

Jacques Fortier, Montreal, Canada

Why not declare Victoria Harbour a national treasure?

Your front-page article on May 11, “City urged to seek ways to revitalise tourism offerings”, only highlights the importance of the legal protection of Victoria Harbour by the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance.

Victoria Harbour is the icon and the most important tourism attraction of Hong Kong. Tourist agencies around the world advertise the harbour as the face of Hong Kong. Yet to create land for sale, for government revenue and urban development, the government repeatedly allowed large-scale reclamation. As a result, our harbour has now become a broad channel about 800 metres wide at its narrowest point.

It was only the enactment of the ordinance and its enforcement by the law courts that prevented further encroachment. Without the ordinance, by now the harbour would have become like a river.

As advised by the director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong, the government should do more to revitalise tourism. To this end, I believe the government should make good use of the harbour. It should support the protection of the harbour instead of watering down the ordinance as it is currently proposing. The proposed amendment will put the harbour in danger.

Perhaps with Xia’s help, the central government could help Hong Kong permanently protect its harbour – by declaring it a national treasure of China, as precious as the West Lake and the Great Wall.

This will ensure that the harbour will not be irreversibly damaged by reclamation but still be enjoyed by the present and future generations of Chinese people, and continue to be a Hong Kong icon to visitors.

Winston Chu Ka-sun, vice-chairman, Society for Protection of the Harbour