Shashi Tharoor

Please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do.

I respectfully urge you to reach out and engage in the dialogue our democracy owes its young citizens. That is not weakness; that is statesmanship.

That’s where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death.

Deeply shocking to read this official US statement, which contains absolutely no expression of regret or condolence for the loss of innocent Indian lives. How can a “friend” and strategic partner be so deeply insensitive?

I honestly think that this is an unnecessary imposition by the central government of having to listen to all five verses every time.

It may ultimately have to be adjudicated because there is no law passed by Parliament requiring this. It is more a matter of convention.

Vande Mataram is the national song and we stand up in respect when it is sung. The first verse, or the first couple of verses, is something most people know by heart.

The government, which is headed by Prime Minister Modi, has an overall responsibility. This must never happen again. This is not the first time, but it must be the last time.

It is honestly a deficiency of the government, and the government should be responsible and take action to fix the problem. Otherwise, it’s a betrayal of an entire generation.

I think that is an unnecessary imposition.

If you run a process where the integrity of the examinations cannot be trusted, where you are in a situation where, tragically, people who have spent so much effort in preparing suddenly find that there are…

I can understand singing it once during ceremonial occasions involving the President, Vice-President or Prime Minister. But singing the entire song twice during a short programme is difficult to understand.