Befriending neighbours
It is worrying that the Maldives has held up thousands of work permits to Indians (“Downturn in ties with Maldives hits Indians’ job opportunities”, June 14). In spite of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s international visits, it appears that our immediate neighbours like Nepal and the Maldives are not impressed. India’s ties with them seem to be on a downward trend and there is no improvement in our relations with Pakistan and China. Every time India has interfered in the affairs of small South Asian countries, overlooking their sovereignty, China has only been too willing to capitalise on these situations and view them as opportunities to forge new friendships. It is clear that China is able to convince these countries that it is a more bankable ally than India. It is time for the External Affairs Ministry to look again at our neighbourhood strategy to see what is going wrong so that we don’t stand isolated in the subcontinent.
V. Subramanian,
Chennai
A new ebb in India-Maldives ties shows that India is not living up to the promise of its Neighbourhood First policy. Malé’s growing convergence with China and the weakening of SAARC have left little space for relations between the two countries to flourish. The Maldives needs democratic intervention to which India alone can be a legitimate party. Instead of being supportive of any particular leader, India should put its weight behind the larger interest of the region. Malé must be taken back into confidence.
Devanand Vyas,
Bhopal
The fitness challenge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tweet of his early morning workout schedule will certainly motivate the nation to take up fitness more seriously (“For H.D. Kumaraswamy, PM’s challenge is a stretch”, June 14). However, the tweet could end up as a politically unwise decision because there is too much anger at the government right now to appreciate this indulgence.
Hari Arayammakul,
Kozhikode
Mr. Modi is probably the only leader in India to emphasise so much on physical and mental fitness. His role in the introduction of International Yoga Day is testimony to that. This is highly inspiring.
Tala B.Ragunath,
Thanjavur
Creating awareness about fitness should be welcomed but not for the sake of publicity, especially at a time when the country’s economy is anything but fit. In this context, the Karnataka Chief Minister is quite right in his reply to Mr. Modi that his State’s fitness is his priority. Mr. Modi is going to face the biggest fitness challenge in 2019, so he must focus on keeping the economy healthy first.
N. Nagarajan,
Secunderabad
Disqualification case
Often we come across judgments that are split (“Tamil Nadu MLAs’ disqualification case: Madras High Court delivers split verdict; matter to be heard by third judge”, June 14, online). If the judiciary knows this well, why can’t odd-number Benches be constituted, especially in sensitive or important cases like this one?
V. Rama Rao,
Chennai
Walk the talk
It has become customary for the BJP to assert this point (“Our government doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion”, June 13). However, the truth is different as the party has a minuscule minority representation in the Cabinet and utilises members of minority communities largely as spokespersons to parrot the party’s view. The high command rarely takes action against those who make statements or indulge in crimes against minorities and this only emboldens others. It is time for the BJP to walk the talk.
C.V. Aravind,
Chennai