
INDIA bloc, political path
The INDIA bloc was formed to stop the BJP’s advancement, which it did carry out rather successfully in the general election 2024. But, thereafter, the bloc’s relevance has begun to diminish owing to its internal dynamics (Opinion page – ‘Parley’, January 31). The results of the Maharashtra and Haryana elections showed that the BJP can still recover. What ails the alliance is the absence of a leader with a commanding political position. It is also a fact that there will be no strong Opposition in India until such time as the Indian National Congress regains its lost glory. The party has to revamp itself with new policies and agendas.
Ravi Nair,
Kollengode, Palakkad, Kerala
Homoeopathy, tinctures
I write this letter as a research scholar (Ayurveda) at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru. The article on homoeopathy (Editorial page, January 28) has made assertions by relying on biased narratives. Lived experiences of ayurvedic physicians attest to the fact that alcohol-containing ayurvedic formulations, if taken as per textual stipulations, do not cause any significant liver disease. If these lived experiences are deemed weak anecdotes, anecdotes negating them are weaker still. Moreover, alcohol-containing ayurvedic arishtas generally have only about 5%-8% alcohol and are prescribed in doses less than 60ml-70 ml per day. For medicinal use, this amount of alcohol is not regarded as harmful.
Dr. G.L. Krishna,
Bengaluru
Published – February 01, 2025 12:24 am IST