Letters to The Editor — July 2, 2024
Letters to The Editor — July 2, 2024
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2Jul 
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29Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 29, 2024
Talking about Emergency The President of India mentioning the Emergency that was imposed by the Congress-led government in 1975, in her first address to Parliament after the 2024 general election, was unusual (Page 1, June 28). There is no doubt that the Emergency episode was a nightmare but most people in India have forgotten about it. Though the speech had the line, “My Government is continuously working for lasting peace in the North-East”, there has been no mention of the burning strife in Manipur. It is a pity that the ruling party and its government at the Centre talk about history instead of debating contemporary issues. Kshirasagara Balaji Rao, Hyderabad I am 85 years old and have worked in the central government. The attempt to harp on the Emergency is unwarranted. That Mrs Gan...
28Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 28, 2024
On the Emergency It is strange that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government is now harping on the excesses of the Emergency instead of addressing the pressing concerns being experienced by the people of India (Page 1, June 27). It is noteworthy that there was no mention of the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur that has drawn world-wide attention. The BJP does not seem to have changed its spots. If this is its tone and tenor, government and Opposition cooperation and any meaningful dialogue between the two of them is unlikely to happen. V. Padmanabhan Bengaluru The Emergency days were traumatic not only for the general public but also for many a political leader, government employees and several other sections of the society including the media. However, it ...
27Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 27, 2024
The Speaker The words by the top leader in the country, of there to be consultations and consensus in running the government, seem to have gone up in thin air. In the 17th Lok Sabha, the present Speaker was seen to be acting in a partisan manner. Given his past conduct in the august House, where the Opposition was hardly given a chance to air its views, it remains to be seen how Parliament will run in the days ahead. It is utopian to expect a leopard to change its spots. Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai Governor’s view One is in agreement with the sentiment expressed by the Tamil Nadu Governor, R.N. Ravi — “We must not be in denial over drug abuse, illicit liquor in T.N.” (Chennai, Inside pages, June 26). The ruling party in the State needs to act. The Chief Minister must issue a comprehen...
26Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 26, 2024
‘Will work for consensus’The Prime Minister’s “aggressive note”, that his government “Will work for consensus in Parliament, says Modi” (Page 1, June 25), is befuddling. Has the top leader forgotten that he needs to shun “double speak”? Right now, Modi phraseology is about one-way traffic. In the coalition government that he runs, the most important portfolios are with the BJP. The pro tem Speaker selection too has been his/the party’s choice. Mr. Modi has already enjoyed two stints as Prime Minister. In his third term, he could accommodate fine gestures and democratic values. P.K. Sharma, Barnala, Punjab Water seepage The Prime Minister took a personal interest in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and the inauguration was grand. Alas, the gigantic structure now has flaws (...
25Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 25, 2024
Toddy tapping I write this letter as a retired (and first) Dean of Kanyakumari Government Medical College, Tamil Nadu. Every year, many fall victim to spurious (methanol-added) arrack. Those who are addicted to arrack consume this toxic liquor. To avoid this, the government must think of opening toddy shops. Toddy is a natural product from palm and coconut trees. In Kerala, coconut toddy is common and is cheaper than Indian-made foreign liquor and arrack. Farmers can generate income for themselves and the government as well. The government should grant licences to tape toddy from palmyra trees. Dr. Arunachalam, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu The state of the nation On going through newspapers and watching television, one is left with the indelible impression that we are fast moving away from a c...
24Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 24, 2024
The examination system The stream of irregularities as far as the conduct of all-India competitive and prestigious examinations by the National Testing Agency is disheartening for young students (Page 1, “Govt. removes NTA chief, hands over probe to CBI”, June 23). From the NEET-UG fiasco and UGC-NET cancellation to the NEET-PG postponement, the central government must address the concerns of young people. The government should overhaul the NTA’s systems. What is happening now is no blemish but the creation of a deep scar on India’s education system. Shihab Kattathar, Mangaluru The NTA has ended up playing with the lives of innocent students who have spent their precious time and energy in preparing for these examinations. The events are extremely dismaying and gloomy. There needs to be...
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No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 21, 2024
Examination integrity Even as the storm caused by irregularities in this year’s NEET has still to settle, comes another bombshell (Page 1, “UGC-NET cancelled, CBI probe ordered”, June 20). While fairness, integrity and transparency should be the guiding factors in such high-profile tests, it is unfortunate that gaps are being discovered much after these tests are held. It is deeply disheartening for lakhs of genuine aspirants. An overhaul of the organisations which are mandated to conduct such qualifying examinations should be undertaken. Standard operating procedures must be evolved. V. Johan Dhanakumar, Chennai Hooch tragedy The toxic liquor tragedy in Tamil Nadu is shocking. There needs to be a proper investigation. The DMK government is quick to talk about its ‘Dravidian model’ as h...
20Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 20, 2024
Ending discrimination The Justice K. Chandru Committee has made its recommendations (“Students must not be allowed to sport wearables indicating caste, says panel”, June 19). So be it. But one feels that it is parents who are expected to be role models to their children in this matter, as ‘home’ is the first informal school for students. Be that as it may, schools and the government can enforce rules to end caste discrimination, but the refinement of minds should come from within. Needless to say, teachers should saturate their classes/lectures with anecdotes emphasising values such as patience, a broad outlook, industriousness and compassion. S. Ramakrishnasayee, Chennai NEET candidates I write this letter as a former Professor and Director, Entrance Exams and Admissions, Anna Universi...
19Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 19, 2024
Rail accident The train accident in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district (Page 1, June 18) has highlighted the perilous state of rail safety in India. The hasty imputation, without proper inquiry, that the accident is due to human failure, is premature and inconsistent with the rules. The Railways must wean itself away from ‘vanity projects’ and focus on rail safety. Restoring the exclusive Railway Budget is also an imperative need. N. Sadasivan Pillai, Guntakal, Andhra Pradesh The Congress’s next move Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra did emerge as a star campaigner in the general election, but it is too early to perceive what extent her impact as a lawmaker will be, if it materialises. Wayanad, in all likelihood, will give Ms. Gandhi a thumbs up, but her litmus test will be the State...
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No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 17, 2024
No to ‘love thy neighbour’ The report, “Residents oppose allotment of flat under CM scheme to a Muslim woman in Gujarat” (Inside pages, June 15), was shocking. There appears to be a weakening of secularity in present-day Indian society. Such a scenario threatens the amicable co-existence of many. Chetan Datta Poduri, Hyderabad It was painful to read that several residents were against the allotment of the flat to the woman. Is Indian society getting balkanised on the basis of caste and religion? Where are we headed? One hopes that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and saner representatives will prevail upon the residents and convince them that we are all Indians and need to co-exist peacefully. C.S. Ravikumar, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh State of welfare schemes A prominent leader of th...
15Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 15, 2024
Conduct of NEET I write this letter as a former Member of Parliament. The way a prestigious entrance examination, for medicine, was conducted this year, was most disgraceful (Page 1, “NTA cancels scorecards of 1,563 NEET candidates”, June 14). Given the hopes and the future of lakhs of aspirants, the national test ought to have been conducted in a foolproof way. Whatever be the directions from the judiciary, the government must be ashamed for the sorry state of affairs. All the loopholes must be plugged and accountability fixed. Dr. D.V.G. Sankara Rao, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh If grace marks were awarded according to the extant rules and normalisation formula, it is not understandable why the scorecards of candidates awarded grace marks have been cancelled and no other ameliorating ...
14Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 14, 2024
Tragedy in Kuwait A number of us leave our homeland for West Asia to seek a better livelihood. Unfortunately, there can be events that shatter our dreams. The Indian government needs to address the issues reported by Indians working abroad. For example, the Indian Embassy is said to have received over 16,000 complaints from Indians between March 2021 and December 2023, most of which concerned salary delays, harassment, and poor accommodation. It is imperative that the welfare of Indian citizens working overseas is ensured. Jakir Hussain, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh While the authorities appear to have pinned the blame on ‘greedy real estate developers’, the factors for the tragedy go far beyond that. Workers in West Asia undergo a lot of hardships: accommodation in cramped quarters with littl...
13Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 13, 2024
For the Finance Ministry While the article, “India’s looming financial crisis”, by Ashoka Mody (Editorial page, June 12), has highlighted the rising burden of debt on households, it is worrying that the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), V. Anantha Nageswaran, recently downplayed the concerns over rising household debt and falling net financial savings, by declaring that households borrow solely to finance higher physical savings. His statement is not corroborated by facts. Of particular concern is his, and, by extension, the present dispensation’s lack of seriousness in the matter. Falling real income levels, rising inflation, and joblessness have been primarily responsible for the rise in household debt including unsecured credit card loans. The folly is being compounded by the exceptional...
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No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 11, 2024
Alternative medicine The recent article by Dr. K. Madan Gopal, “The delicate balancing of health-care costs” (Editorial page, June 4), on the need for balancing health-care costs, puts forth much needed insights into the matter. India enjoys medical pluralism and the role of alternative health care too needs to be deliberated upon in this context, especially in the preventive aspect. For instance, a patient of Osteoarthritis (Stage 1) reporting to a PHC should be provided with information regarding effective management of the same through Ayurveda. The scenario now is such that the patient is put on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics, which treat the symptoms while the cause persists. The condition easily progresses to the later stages which require surgical interventi...
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No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 8, 2024
The message of 2024A truly federal structure should be evolved to avoid any possibility of majoritarian or dictatorial governance and tendencies in India in the future. India has had a narrow and providential escape from such a situation, thanks to an alert electorate and experience of the central governance of the last 10 years. A coalition government is necessary if ‘the India as we knew it’ has to survive and progress. There need to be adequate checks and balances in place to ensure that the interests of all diverse sections are fully protected. V. Rajan, Thiruvananthapuram The long shadow of a truncated mandate that looms large over the scheduled election of Narendra Modi for a third term in office will ensure that Mr. Modi will rule India looking over his shoulder often. His coalit...
7Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 7, 2024
Implications of the results The results of the general election 2024 have proven to be critical. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has failed to secure a majority on its own, and, thereby, is not in a position to unilaterally implement its ‘saffron agenda’. The BJP can no longer hold its own and will have to rely on coalition partners who may not give in to its Hindutva agenda. Therefore, the BJP has to become democratic and come to terms with the Constitution. Further, the Opposition parties have improved their electoral performance and are in a position to strongly oppose the unconstitutional policies of the BJP. The Supreme Court of India too would do well to look upon the results as a welcome change with important constitutional issues such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the ...
6Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 6, 2024
The election, the result A coalition is not anathema to politics in India and we have seen many a government at the Centre, before 2014, running on the basis of a large coalition. The Bharatiya Janata Party was successful in getting a majority on its own for long but will now have to be pragmatic when running the nation. It will have to listen to its partners and even the Opposition given the ground realities. Arun Kumar Mahadevan, Chennai The outcome of the parliamentary elections has thrown up many points: with respect to the BJP, the widely held presumption was that Narendra Modi’s magic would create wonders and pulverise the Opposition. This is now a myth. The next is that the tide of fortune has not ebbed from the saffron party. On the contrary, there seems to have been a silent mo...
5Jun No Comments
No Comments Letters to The Editor — June 5, 2024
Now, the verdict There are three very welcome developments that have arisen from the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict. First, we will now have a very strong Opposition that has been eluding us for many years. Second, the Bharatiya Janata Party government will have a chance to find the positives from a coalition. Third, as a nation, the electorate has attained a maturity that is becoming scarce in even established democracies elsewhere. The people of India have spoken and have authoritatively pushed to the front, issues that are at the very core of their concerns. This will help the government in course correction. R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai Using the power of his vote, the Indian voter has shown who the real boss is in India’s democracy. The ‘my way or the high way’ style of governance was clearly...