Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Racist, uncouth netas” (April 3). It is agreed that such statements and politicians are to be condemned. But we must also look into the background of such people, the way and the environment in which they have been brought up, which influence their sick thinking. In the light of the comments by Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, we may recall some bit of Congress history during 1996-1999, and how Sitaram Kesri, who had taken charge as Congress president, was treated by his own partymen. During the election, Congressmen wanted Ms Gandhi to campaign for them and did not want Kesri to do so. Why was this old loyalist humiliated in personal termsIJ Of course, the BJP has made a joke of itself. It should learn from the Congress which brushes aside atrocious remarks by its members as being their “personal views and not endorsed by the party”!