AAP's attempt to woo rural voters

Apropos of ‘The perils of sacrilege and blasphemy laws’; AAP idolises Bhagat Singh, a known atheist, and BR Ambedkar, a Hindu-turned-Buddhist, who too had distanced himself from parochial ideas about God. So, the proposed anti-sacrilege Bill is only a marriage of convenience. The introduction of the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, with stringent penalties, can be seen in the backdrop of AAP losing hold in rural areas due to farmers’ protests. Now, the ruling party is trying to win over villagers on religious grounds. Today, blasphemy is just a tool to remain relevant in the political arena. An Urdu couplet sums it up: ‘Tere bando ko dekh kar, tujh se munkar (denial) hae duniya; ke jis ke aaese bande hon, voh acha khuda nahin hoga.’

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BM Singh, Amritsar

Prioritise people’s needs

It refers to ‘Mahakali border tribes a role model for India-Nepal respect’; our neighbour has consistently protested the construction of the Lipu Lekh road. The border issues between two traditional friends should be resolved through existing bilateral mechanisms. Nepalese PM Oli’s visit to India in September is a golden opportunity to solve all disputes. Both nations must invest in border management agreements that address the complexities of the situation and prioritise the needs of the people living in border areas.

Harbinder S Dhillon, Una

Curb transborder cybercrime

Refer to ‘Cyber scam networks’; the growing nexus of cyber scam networks across Southeast Asia has escalated into a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis. India, along with other affected nations, must prioritise collaborative intelligence-sharing. The youth must be empowered through widespread awareness campaigns and digital literacy initiatives, equipping them to identify and avoid such traps. Cybercrime knows no borders, and therefore, neither should our response be guided by boundaries.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Check portals providing jobs

Apropos of ‘Cyber scam networks’; in today’s globalised world, ways of finding jobs have evolved with the growth of information technology. Our employment search begins online, giving ample opportunity to cybercriminals to trick us through bogus websites and unsolicited e-mails, making it difficult to determine their legitimacy. However, one can adopt certain measures to avoid getting scammed, such as ignoring job opportunities through search engine advertisements and searching and applying via authentic job portals and newspapers. Job seekers must check the privacy policy of these sites to know the type of information collected from the user and how it will be processed. Never accept work offers in exchange for instant money.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

No compromise with the system

The abrupt resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar ahead of an SC Constitution Bench hearing on the presidential reference has raised many eyebrows. A five-judge Bench will examine the legality of prescribing timelines for governors and the President to act on state Bills. It is cowardice to quit. Those who are upset at the system being compromised need to stand up and assert themselves, leading the way to course correction. Dhankar has an uncanny knack for speaking his mind and his outbursts against the conduct of some judges in the higher judiciary have stood out.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Neither closure nor justice

Refer to ‘No closure’; the acquittal of convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings is a stark reminder of the deep flaws in our criminal justice system. After spending almost two decades behind bars, these men have finally been declared innocent. The role of the Anti-Terrorism Squad, which arrested these men, has come under scrutiny. If these individuals were innocent, the real perpetrators of one of India’s deadliest terror attacks remain unidentified and free. The victims of the blasts have got neither closure nor justice.

SS Paul, Nadia