Crisis in Congress

Apropos of ‘Putsch by petitioning’ (Nous Indica, Aug 29); it is wrong to dub it as a rebellion without a leader. The letter written by the 23 Congressmen offers a stimulus for re-think against the factors that have weakened the party. This is clear from the debacle that the Congress has suffered in the last two Lok Sabha elections. It has shown that the Gandhis have shown no genius for the organisation of late. It is important to revitalise and rejuvenate the party which has played a significant role in nation-building. The rebels are not to be dismissed as mere disgruntled opportunists. That a section does not want any change in leadership only shows an ideological vacuum which can be removed only by a change in leadership in the Congress.

Krishan Malhotra, Ambala Cantt

Sanctity of Parliament

Refer to the editorial ‘Speaker’s directive’ (Aug 31); Parliament represents the will of the people. The Bill on judicial appointments is an example which was rejected by the Supreme Court but passed by Parliament. The business of the government should be transacted taking into account a higher perspective of matters at hand.

Yash Pal Ralhan, Jalandhar

Quota benefits

In reference to ‘Quota within quota’; the apex court has rightly observed that reservation benefits must go to the poorest and not be limited only to the listed sections of society. But the court should also strictly put a limit on maximum of 50% reservation, which has been exceeded in many states. The unbridled expansion of reservation militates against the very idea of modern India, where all communities should have access to opportunities. Besides, had reservation truly worked, there would have been no need to extend them. Many states have breached the ceiling because of governments having failed to generate jobs for the youth, which in turn has fuelled the demand for jobs going only to the locals.

PS Kaur, by mail

Common electoral rolls

To bring about uniformity in any programme, it is important to ensure transparency. If the exercise of preparing common electoral rolls for the Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body elections is given effect to, it may help in bringing about uniformity and also unburden the states financially. The money saved can be used for development, healthcare and improving the education system.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Row over GST

The crisis in fiscal federalism is due to the universal guarantee given to the states by the Centre to compensate them for five years from 2017, in the event that tax collections stay below the threshold. The options given to the states to bridge the gap follow a narrow legal view, and will be a big setback for the political economy. The proposed solutions will increase the trust deficit between the Centre and the states, and could spill over to other areas beyond petroleum, alcohol and stamp duty, which were subsumed under GST. The states are required to do the heavy lifting, and hence, they need a sympathetic Centre, which can bridge the revenue gap and ease the severe strain on the pandemic-induced economic scenario.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

Indian soldiers

Thousands of Indian soldiers were enlisted in the British-Indian Army and served to the best of their ability. They were used by the British Empire to maintain its hold on the colonies. They fought against odds, sometimes without the necessary amenities in faraway lands even as the colonial power sought to subjugate their own territory and plunder it. Despite this, the Indian Army has remained depoliticised which differentiates it from Pakistan where the army has held sway over the civilian government.

Balbir Chander Nahar, by mail

Exam controversy

An unnecessary controversy over the NEET and JEE exams has been created. There is no knowing how long the pandemic will continue. To keep these qualifying examinations in abeyance is not in the interests of the aspirants. The focus should be on making sure that the exams are held with the necessary safeguards against the spread of Covid-19 infections. The Centre and states must arrange for the transport service to enable the students reach their examination centres without any difficulty.

Parkash Hanspaul, by mail

World Coconut Day

World Coconut Day is observed on September 2 every year to create awareness about the importance of the fruit. Coconut is referred to in India as kalpavriksha, which means a tree which will fulfill all the necessities of life and is regarded as holy. Coconut has a lot of significance in rituals and ceremonies. It is also called the ‘Tree of life’.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai

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