Bandhs and hartals

Sir, - This is with reference to the article ``Curtailment of a democratic right'' by Dr. Ninan Koshy (TheHindu, August 22) criticising the landmark judgments of the Kerala High Court declaring bandhs and hartals unconstitutional. One wishes the author had studied the statistics regarding the number of bandhs and hartals in Kerala which had caused incalculable loss to the State's and nation's economy and suffering to the people.

The author claims that many social laws and the reorganisation of States have been achieved only because of bandhs and hartals.

Are these the only means of expression of mass dissatisfaction? Why not express such dissatisfaction through less harmful ways such as silent processions, peaceful fasts and social boycott of public figures? Does the author realise the extent of suffering to the ordinary citizen because of indiscriminate resort to bandhs.

One also fails to understand how the perpetrators of heinous crimes such as the massacre of Amarnath pilgrims are hurt by our harming the economy through bandhs.

Rather than asking for a review of the judgments, the next step for patriotic citizens should be to ask for declaration of other obviously undesirable practices such as stalling of legislature proceedings also unconstitutional meriting disqualification of the political parties resorting to these.

J. N. Iyer,

Chennai

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