Refer to ‘It’s unfortunate, rail roko must end: CM’; the reaction is ironical. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s appeal sounds hollow. The Congress, the SAD and the AAP had instigated the farmers to resort to needless agitation against the farm laws passed by Parliament by spreading falsehood to garner political mileage. Now, when things have taken an ugly turn and the situation has resulted in a stalemate, causing tremendous loss to the railways, the state and industry, the CM is pretending to fake concern.

AK SHARMA, CHANDIGARH

Regulating content

Apropos of ‘Regulating TV channels’, the Supreme Court’s prescription of asking the government to form a statutory body to regulate TV content is a remedy worse than the disease. The government already has sweeping statutory powers to regulate the electronic media. The government doesn’t want to regulate what suits it or which is being telecast at its behest. Private bodies like the NBA and NBSA should continue to regulate the media. They are registered bodies with a declared statement of objectives. They should be taken to task for failing to achieve their objectives.

Lt Col GS Bedi (retd), Mohali

No will to take on mafia

‘Punjab’s sixth river of sorrow’ is a poignant and realistic portrayal of how drug addiction is causing unspeakable misery to families who suffer bereavements due to the government’s apathy to address the crucial issue. It seems the milk of human kindness has dried up in the state as the administration is doing precious little to take the drug mafia to task. The wails of unfortunate mothers have failed to stir the conscience of the government that made tall promises to end drug addiction in the state.

Vimal Sethi, Atlanta

Ambiguity of HBSE

The Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE), Bhiwani, recently invited online HTET-2020 applications. Following the NEP 2020 guidelines, various Central institutions like the KVS and NVS have paved the way for BEd degree holders to be recruited as primary teachers. The CBSE has also allowed BEd degree holders to sit for the PRT CTET paper. But the HBSE is not following NEP guidelines. During the previous HTET exam, held in November last year, some candidates challenged the board’s lackadaisical attitude in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court allowed those BEd candidates to sit for level-1 PRT HTET paper. Does one have to knock the door of the court every time to get the desired outcome?

Hitesh Arya, Bhiwani

Festivals can wait

We live in a country where a festival is given importance over a deadly virus which is killing people across the globe. New Delhi is the Capital and politics is going on over a festival. A festival is connected to a person’s religious sentiments and we have the freedom of religion as our constitutional right. But people should adapt according to the situation. People are arguing that if New Delhi could remain open for Diwali, why is Chhath Puja being banned! They should understand that the situation then was in control, but is getting worse now. We have the right to exercise our freedom, but one’s freedom should not become a reason for someone else’s suffering.

Shailesh, Lucknow

Opiate cartel

Apropos of ‘Centre-state turf wars over investigations’, the writer has mentioned the opiate drug syndicates in Af-Pak as the Golden Triangle syndicate. The Golden Triangle was the borderlands between Burma, Laos and Thailand, which was subsequently destroyed. The drug syndicate of opiates in the borderlands of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran is called the Golden Crescent that has smuggled millions of dollars of opiate the world over. It is still very active in that area as we note how much of that opiate merchandise is seized by our police and other agencies.

JS Wadhwa, Kapurthala

Power to exploit

Refer to news regarding the alleged rape by an MLA; horrendous power play seems to be again at work. Politicians misuse their position and power, and whenever allegations are made against them, they always claim that these are politically motivated. This only shows how hollow the system is and how politicians think they have the right to exploit anyone in need. The woman had approached the MLA in desperation. Justice is still afar but it should not be. This should alarm us.

Gauri Dogra, Pathankot

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