Sir — This refers to the article “When media jumps the gun on bigotry” (June 6) by Anish Gupta. The writer is right that there was an out-of-proportion media reaction to reports that Zeeshan Ali and Misbah Quadri had been denied jobs and accommodation, respectively. The media is a mute spectator when it comes to the discrimination meted out to non-Muslims in Government-aided institutions like the Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Zakir Hussain college.
In these institutions, there is usually no food for non-Muslims during Ramadan, as Muslims are fasting. A separate mess is operated by non-Muslims during this time. This mess is not subsidised by the Government which, however, foots the bill for Muslim students. The author’s analysis that discrimination is unavoidable in small cases and that respect for each other’s freedom also requires that we respect each other’s right to make decisions that may offend some people, is praiseworthy.