Bangladesh must restore peace

Refer to ‘Minority persecution’; the targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh has reached a critical level, spreading fear and panic in the community. The arrest of a priest, Chinmoy Krishna Das, is yet another example of the challenges faced by Hindus in the country. Incidents of mob violence, including arson, murder, temple demolitions and the exploitation of women and children, have created a pervasive sense of terror. Protests against this persecution have often led to violent clashes, further exacerbating tensions between communities. It is imperative for the Bangladeshi government to take immediate and decisive action to halt this violence and restore peace.

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Chandrani Das, Jammu

Hindus at the receiving end

Apropos of ‘Hindu monk held in Bangladesh, his lawyer killed in clashes’; Chinmoy Krishna Das has been arrested on the charge of sedition. His arrest, along with denial of bail, is contributing to deterioration of relations between the two neighbouring countries. Bangladesh should never forget the role played by India in the Liberation War of 1971. The alienation of Hindus in Bangladesh and their maltreatment would lead to a similar situation in the near future as was seen before its inception. It will initiate the process for the creation of Bangladesh 2.0 if not controlled now. It is time that the International Court of Justice should intervene to bring peace in the country.

Col RS Narula (Retd), Patiala

Tools of political outreach

With reference to ‘Female vote bank’; political parties have devised a new way to gain votes by announcing monetary benefits for female voters prior to the elections. The benefits provided in the form of cash are going to put a huge burden on the exchequer of the state governments. The parties are ignoring the peril which lies ahead in the form of fiscal deficit in the state budgets. The welfare schemes meant for women need not be reduced, but at the same time, these should not be mere tools of political outreach to gain votes.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Universities must foster innovation

With reference to ‘The rat race is ruining education’; the systematic decline of public universities in India has become a pressing concern, jeopardising their role as bastions of intellectual freedom and critical inquiry. Universities, once celebrated for their vibrant discourse and inclusivity, now struggle under the weight of political interference and diminishing autonomy. The erosion of core values threatens to stifle free thought and intellectual growth, creating an academic environment driven by fear and conformity rather than exploration and creativity. Public universities are not just centres of education but also arenas for fostering democratic ideals, diversity and innovation.

Devina Badhwar, Rohtak

Include case studies in exams

Apropos of ‘The rat race is ruining education’; education in the real world has a “derived demand”, meaning that it is not sought for its own sake but to secure decently paid jobs. It is understandable that kids aspire to get into professional courses by mastering techniques of cracking competitive exams, which generates a rush for coaching classes. Entrance exams in India, rather than simply containing MCQs, should be creatively designed to include questions based on short case studies or those requiring short essay-type responses. The primary aim of education is not just imparting knowledge from a career perspective but to foster all-round intellectual development of young minds by developing critical thinking.

Chander Shekhar Dogra, jalandhar

India must not depend on US

Apropos of ‘Why scaling back troops on LAC is risky’; India cannot let its guard down when it comes to China. The maxim of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ should hold true. The recent agreement may be a diplomatic success on paper, but only time will tell how China behaves on the ground. India should not blindly trust the US to come to its rescue. China is America’s biggest trading partner and it won’t risk its economy for India. China’s claims on our territories keep changing as per its convenience and it would be wise for India to not be lulled into a false sense of security by the agreement.

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh