This refers to ‘Return of the stoning season in Kashmir’ by G Parthasarathy (April 6). The writer has suggested important measures to counter the trouble created by Pakistan-based jihadi elements. We should not hesitate to strike terrorist targets using our special forces across the LoC and also inside PoK. We must tone up our propaganda through social media to reach Kashmiri youth and convince them against the stone-throwing culture. Severe action should be taken against money-launders.
S Kalyanasundaram
End this vigilantism
It is despicable that cow vigilantism has hit a new low with five people in Rajasthan being assaulted over suspected cow smuggling, resulting in one death. Even if the victims were in the wrong, the assaulters had no right to take the law into their hands and browbeat them into submission. The foul act has rightly been roundly condemned, and no effort should be spared to hunt bring the accused to heel.
The Allahabad High Court has done well to give the UP government 10 days to draw up a plan to ensure that its crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses does not deprive people of their choice of food or livelihood.
NJ Ravi Chander
Bengaluru
Appease the transporters
This is with reference to the editorial, ‘Road rage’ (April 6). There is no doubt that the hefty hike in third party insurance premium hurts transporters, and it is true that this segment has largely been neglected by various governments. The Government knows that a full-blown strike by transporters will affect many other sectors; the prices of basic commodities will be the first to be impacted. So it is better it calls all stakeholders for a full-scale meeting so that their concerns can be addressed.
Bal Govind
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Give Kejriwal a hearing
Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is a graduate of IIT-Kharagpur, he worked in the Indian Revenue Service as a joint commissioner of the I-T department. In 2006 he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award in recognitions of his involvement in the grassroots movement Parivartan using right-to-information legislation in a campaign against corruption. Clearly, he is not a misinformed man.
Therefore, his opinion on malfunctioning voting machines should be taken into account. If EVMs cannot be tampered with, this should be convincingly proved by the Election Commission of India. An all-party expert committee should be constituted and Kejriwal should be given an opportunity to prove his claim. Disciplinary action by the EC against Kejriwal is not right.
KA Solaman
Alappuzha, Kerala
Reckless largesse
The swiftness with which the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has presented a blueprint for waiving farmers’ debts may pressure the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to do something similarly dramatic. In the passionate bid for power politicians promise anything.
If borrowers suspect they can get away without repaying loans in future, they will borrow even more recklessly and ignore repayments. The lender-borrower relationship, essentially built on trust, will collapse. The cycle of taking loans and seeking a waiver will kick in again, while the taxpayer will be asked to pay for the political largesse. Money meant for education and healthcare will get diverted. Farmers need help but only in buying inputs cheaper and getting a higher price for their produce.
Padmini Raghavendra
Secunderabad
Depressing fact
April 7 is observed as World Health Day to mark the founding of the World Health Organization in 1948. This year's theme is Depression, which is the leading cause of ill health and disability. According to WHO estimates more than 300 million people now live with depression.
TS Karthik
Chennai
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