Creating urban-rural divide

With reference to ‘Why AAP chose to confront farmers’; the police crackdown on protesters on the Punjab-Haryana borders is a betrayal of the farming community. The reasons for the sudden clampdown may have been a secret pact with the Centre, protecting business interests or scoring a brownie point with an eye on the upcoming Ludhiana bypoll or the 2027 Assembly polls. This will widen the urban-rural divide. Boosting trade at the cost of agriculture may ultimately harm the larger interests of the state. If the government addresses farmers’ demands, it will enhance their income, encourage diversification and protect them from corporate exploitation.

DS Kang, Hoshiarpur

Alienating farmers

Refer to ‘Why AAP chose to confront farmers’; prolonged protests were undermining public confidence in the state government. CM Bhagwant Mann’s well-planned action against the agitating farmers has surprised political commentators. AAP is essentially a political platform of lower middle class, urban and semi-urban people, including the educated sections, salaried people and the businessmen and migrants settled in Delhi and Punjab. Farm leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s hunger strike touched the hearts of millions of rural people, but owing to deep fissures within the farmers’ outfits, he couldn’t do much. The government’s new strategy will alienate farmers and dent its rural base to some extent.

Raj Bahadur Yadav, Fatehabad

Haryana’s farm laws show the way

Refer to ‘Fake farm inputs’; Haryana’s efforts to combat the menace of fake seeds and pesticides through tougher laws and enhanced enforcement are commendable. However, mere legislation is not enough. A multi-faceted approach involving robust enforcement, farmer education and technological intervention is essential. By focusing on both preventive and corrective measures, the state can ensure that farmers receive genuine agricultural inputs. If implemented effectively, Haryana’s model could serve as a blueprint for other states facing similar challenges.

Gaurav Bashar, Rohtak

Quality control of agri products

Apropos of ‘Fake farm inputs’; Haryana needs tougher laws to curb the menace of open sale of counterfeit seeds and pesticides by dealers to farmers. Often, dealers are not at fault; they have no control over quality of agri products. Action must be taken against the manufacturer who supplies faulty material and not the dealer as the latter is only a middleman who sells products to farmers as received from the company. The government should instead keep checks on quality control at the manufacturing stage.

Ramesh Gupta, Narwana

Popularise Bhagat Singh’s views

With reference to ‘Bhagat Singh’s vision vs today’s student politics’; it is important to inculcate the ideas of Bhagat Singh by disseminating his philosophy and ideas, especially among the youth. His thoughts on freedom transcended the narrow barriers of caste, religion and borders. Every year, his martyrdom day is observed on March 23 and thereafter we forget about him. Simply putting up his portrait in offices has no meaning. His thoughts and writings should be printed in the form of booklets and distributed free of cost in schools and libraries so that his ideals reach the youth. Seminars, quiz contests, etc. must be held in educational institutions to enlighten the youth about his revolutionary’s ideas.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Why no CBI inquiry?

Apropos of ‘CJI sets up three-judge committee to probe charges against Justice Varma’; the ‘cash at judge’s house’ scandal has tarnished the image of the judiciary. It is common knowledge that judicial officers’ premises cannot be raided by any government agency without prior sanction from the requisite authorities. The Supreme Court has appointed three High Court judges to probe the matter. Will they find fault with a fellow judge? Why no police or CBI inquiry has been ordered? I am reminded of a couplet penned by Malikzada Manzoor Ahmad. ‘Vahi qatil vahi munsif adalat uski voh shahid, Bahut se faislon mein ab tarafdari bhi hoti hai’ (He is the murderer, he is the judge. He himself is the witness, justice is biased in many cases).

Arun Hastir, Gurdaspur