letterstoeditor
BILL GATES’ ENDORSEMENT SIGNIFICANT
Bill Gates’s public endorsement ‘India exemplar in using sanitation, digital tech to better lives’ (Sept 18)) is an international acknowledgement of the importance of the prime minister’s Swachh Bharat campaign since he assumed office in 2014. This is a big slap on the faces of political leaders and some media houses who mocked the launch as a ‘trivial’ campaign. This campaign which involves building toilets in villages and making every state defecation-free is a gigantic task. Fortunately, the govt with help from public and social organisation is succeeding in its aim. Now, it will be a befitting finale when the PM’s efforts will be awarded at Goalkeeper’s Global Goals award next week by Gates Foundation.
Dr BN Anand, Mohali
ARREST OF FORMER J&K CM DOESN’T BODE WELL
The arrest of Srinagar MP and three-time chief minister Farooq Abdullah under a stringent Public Safety Act doesn’t augur well for restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir that continues to under lockdown since August 5. The National Conference veteran’s detention and that of other mainstream political leaders of Kashmir amounts to muzzling their right to expression and protest against revocation of the Article 370. All this, unfortunately, is being done in the name of maintaining peace in the Valley. Abdullah’s arrest may complicate the matters and come in the way of the government’s efforts to bring calm in Kashmir.
Harshita Thapar, Yamuna Nagar
II
As one of many Kashmiri students outside J&K, one has not been able to contact one’s family and friends in the Valley since abrogation of the Article 370 last month. While the media is awash with opinions and views on Kashmir, but Kashmiris are unable to express their voice and problems due to continuing clampdown. The government should now normalise the situation in Kashmir to clear up the real picture and let the Kashmiris speak.
Maroof Qureshi
III
The chief justice of Supreme Court has rightly expressed concern over the grave situation in Kashmir. Forty five days have passed since the clampdown, but normal life continues to elude Kashmiris who are as good citizens of the country as anybody else. While officials talk of normalcy, media reports suggest a civil curfew in the Valley.
Beant Singh Bedi, Mohali
NRC IN HARYANA DEFIES LOGIC
This refers to the editorial ‘Replicating NRC is unwise’ (Sept 17). Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s announcement on implementing the National Register of Citizens defies logic. Unlike Assam, Haryana has no serious problem of illegal migrants. The state is grappling with other pressing issues of unemployment and skewed girl-child sex ratio. Khattar’s move is aimed more at the upcoming assembly elections and is an attempt to divert people’s attention from the serious issues.
Tajinder Gill, Patiala
SECOND VANDE BHARAT TRAIN A GOOD DECISION
The launch of the second Vande Bharat train from Delhi to Katra ahead of the festive season is a good decision by railway authorities. With thousands of pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine, the new high speed train will not only ease the rush but also reduce travel time. The authorities must provide for this train’s halt at Khanna which is a major town on the Delhi-Katra stretch. It will particularly benefit senior citizens and women.
Dr Parminder Singh Khurana, Khanna
RISE IN CRUDE PRICES: INDIA AT CROSS-ROADS
This refers to the editorial ‘India must plan for an oil crisis’ (18 Sept). Since the presentation of the Union budget on July 5, prices of petrol and petroleum products have recorded their sharpest rise by about Rs. 2.5 a litre. Further, owing to Saudi Arabia’s halted production of crude oil after one of the world’s largest oil-processing facilities in Abqaia was attacked on September 14, crude prices will rise. A sharp rise in oil prices may weaken India’s economic growth, widen the current account and fiscal deficit and fan inflation. Looking at the grim situation, the government needs to re-evaluate the excise duties on petroleum products, this comes to close to 40% of the retail price of diesel and about 50% of the petrol selling price. Besides, import of crude other than from Saudis and to save every drop of petroleum is the need of the hour.
SK Khosla, Chandigarh
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
External affairs minister S Jaishankar’s assertion on India’s right over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) marks a significant shift in New Delhi’s stance. India’s message is loud and clear–that it will now put PoK on the negotiating table whenever talks are resumed with Pakistan. This is a welcome move as Pakistan has failed to turn off the terror tap to allow space for lowering of tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Sehaj
Preet Singh, Chandigarh