Act of vandalism

The report ‘Activists vandalise statues at Amritsar’s Heritage Street’ (Jan 16) is indeed shocking. The unfortunate incident indicates how vested interests can exploit religious sentiments just for grabbing attention. Both religion and culture are indispensable to each other and are important pillars of human history. The government should restore the vandalised statues immediately, and at the same time, ensure that there is full protection in future as huge funds of the cash-starved state are involved.

Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar

Protect heritage

Apropos the news report ‘Activists vandalise statues at Amritsar’s Heritage Street’ (Jan 16), it is disturbing that youngsters of our country are now turning more violent. They vandalised statues depicting bhangra and giddha performers, as they believe these are against Sikh maryada. They came armed with hammers and even attacked the police team that tried to stop them. It is our duty to protect our heritage and not destroy it.

Kanika Barjatia, Dharamsala

Not a leftist movement

Apropos ‘Understanding Left, the crucible of resistance’ (Jan 16); people are bound to be driven by different schools of thought. The very purpose of a democracy is to inculcate dissenting opinions to devise a better alternative. Therefore, the government should pay heed to the exigencies of the aggrieved public. However, it is busy shrouding the ongoing right-wing narratives by labelling resistance against its policies as ‘Left propagated’. The citizens have in no way pledged subservience by voting a party to power. The outrage is real, and it is the aggrieved citizens causing the outrage, not the leftists, not the anti-nationals.

Nissim Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Nirbhaya convicts

Refer to ‘SC junks curative petition of two Nirbhaya convicts’ (Jan 16); the convicts are still trying to postpone their punishment for the cruelty they inflicted on Nirbhaya. She faced so many complicated surgeries and died in pain. Eight years from her death, these men are still alive. Such a shameful thing for our nation with regard to women security and justice. Thousands of rape cases are pending decision and many cases haven’t been filed due to shame and the long judicial procedure.

Shivya Mahajan, by mail

Another police failure

Another failure of the police administration and the judiciary has come to light in the scathing report of the SIT set up by the apex court in 2018. The whole effort of investigation of the 1984 riot cases by the law-enforcing agencies was neither responsible nor fruitful. It only paved a direct way for the delay in judgment and punishment to the culprits.

Harshjot Kaur, Patiala

All that’s wrong in schools

The quality of education is deteriorating in government schools (‘Here, 1 maths teacher caters to 601 students’, Jan 16). Teachers are hired on contractual basis as exams near, so that the syllabus can be completed on time. No stress is actually laid on maintaining a regular curriculum. On the one hand, we say that students are not going to government schools, whereas on the other, the administration is not even able to ensure that the teachers who are appointed are doing their job properly.

Sehaj Preet Singh, Chandigarh

Curbs still not lifted

It is surprising that in spite of directions by the SC recently, the Centre along with the J&K state machinery has just initiated the process of easing out Internet restrictions only at government offices, hospitals, banks, etc. It has not completely lifted the data restrictions. The SC must again intervene after monitoring the actual ground realities in the state and must take serious note of the situation arising out of the Internet restrictions on the common man.

Vandana, Chandigarh

Bank stir justified

Apropos ‘Bank staff threaten stir’ (Jan 16), the proposed strike of the bankers can be justified because they are paid less compared to their counterparts in the private sector. The pay and perks are not commensurate with the nature of their work. Public sector banks play a pivotal role in the development of the nation, and without the hard work of staff, we cannot expect to reach new heights. Bank pensioners are also hit hard because the updation of pension has not taken place because of the lukewarm attitude of the government towards pensioners.

Roop Singh Negi, Solan

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