Heads must roll

The editorial, ‘Murder in jail’ (June 25), rightly said that prisons in Punjab are dens of crimes. These are no longer Sudhar Ghars, as proclaimed by the state government. The murder of a sacrilege suspect should be categorised as a murder most foul, considering that the ongoing probe by the SIT has wider ramifications. There is a deep-rooted nexus between criminals and the jail authorities, patronised by the political class. The usual routine of inquiry and suspension may not be adequate. Heads must roll to stem the rot in Punjab’s jails. 

Anil Vinayak, AMRITSAR

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Dens of vice 

Refer to ‘Murder in jail’ (June 25), the recent killing in the Nabha jail is condemnable as it shows extreme dereliction of duty and negligence on the part of the prison staff. The easy availability of mobile phones, drugs and murder weapons on the premises lays bare the nexus between jail officials and prisoners. The Punjab Government must beef up security in jails and crack down on all erring officials.

Harvinder Singh Chugh, Jalandhar

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Maya may rue decision 

Refer to ‘Maya says BSP to contest all polls alone, draws flak from SP’ (June 25), former Chief Minister Mayawati may rue her decision of fighting the polls alone. Will breaking ties with the SP boost her electoral prospects? The failure of the BSP-SP alliance is likely to diminish the influence of Bahujans and the politics of social justice. Mayawati’s wrong move will undoubtedly have implications for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The possibility of a non-BJP alternative forming the government in UP has faded.   

Prakash Hanspaul, by mail

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Mamata on sticky wicket 

Apropos ‘A glaring chink in Mamata’s armour’ (June 24), Mamata Banerjee, after being in power for about eight years as an undisputed leader, is facing a new enemy, the BJP, which had only a marginal presence in West Bengal but is now threatening to unseat her. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, Mamata had projected herself as a prospective Prime Minister. After vanquishing the decades-old Left government, she thought she was invincible. Mamata’s errors and Bengal’s repressed communalism have become the BJP’s tools to gain ascendancy in her state.  

PL Singh, by mail

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Paddy conundrum 

The Haryana Government’s efforts to save water by skipping water-guzzling paddy (‘Now, paddy not planted on 39,795 ha’ (June 25) appears laudable. But if Haryana’s novel initiative is emulated by other paddy-growing states, we may face rice shortage in the country. There were many paddy varieties, requiring less water, that were sown during the 1950-60s in the rain-fed areas of the country. Agreed, those were not as high-yielding as today’s paddy varieties, but their seed could have been improved upon with the scientific knowledge that we have. Can the scientists take up the challenge of developing traditional paddy seeds?  

Kiran Sharma, Sundernagar

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Mechuka experience 

Refer to the middle, ‘Awe and fear at Mechuka’ (June 25), it is experience that stirs the inner core through fear or elation. The experience of landing in an AN-32 on the Mechuka ALJ (Advanced Landing Ground) is like that of a sky-borne eagle pouncing on its target and taking off like a shooting star. It also brings to the fore the capabilities of AN-32, and the challenges and professionalism of its pilots. Remembering Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw through his quotes underlines the significance of professional icons and their impact on our lives. 

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

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Maligning Sikhs 

The article ‘Canada’s double game’ (June 24) is an attempt to portray the Sikh struggle for the right to self-determination as a design of some foreign forces. All this was done and is being done to malign the Sikh image worldwide and to portray Sikhs as mindless and violent persons. The article has made stereotypical allegations against Sikhs. By continuously questioning the credentials of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet colleagues, a section of the Indian media has offended the political sensibilities of Canada — a Commonwealth associate of India — and unleashed a tirade against the Sikh diaspora which, as part of the Sikh community, has been making the right moves on Canadian soil, raising human rights concerns and endorsing the demand for the right to self-determination.        

KANWAR Pal Singh, Spokesman, Dal Khalsa, Amritsar

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