Dhankhar’s overzealous loyalty

Dhankhar’s overzealous loyalty

Apropos of ‘The Opposition & the Dhankhar bombshell’; the article reflects the dangers of mistaking excessive political loyalty for constitutional duty. In his eagerness to defend the government at every turn, Dhankhar gradually diluted the dignity and impartiality expected of the Vice-President’s office. It seems that his proactive zeal and blind allegiance — traits that may have once won approval — led to his exit. Statesmanship demands restraint, not partisanship. Presiding over the Rajya Sabha, the Vice-President is expected to rise above party lines to ensure that the spirit of debate and democracy is upheld. The ruling party, too, must reflect: excessive centralisation can consume even the most faithful defenders.

Naresh Kumar Nijhawan, Karnal

Opportunity for the Opposition

Refer to ‘The Opposition & the Dhankhar bombshell’; the Vice-President’s resignation has created a rare opening for the INDIA bloc to challenge the BJP. However, the success of such a move will depend hugely on the Opposition’s ability to stay united and not lose focus. If the bloc can use this moment to push for genuine debate on judicial independence and parliamentary accountability, it may embolden its stand both inside and outside Parliament. Otherwise, Dhankhar’s exit will be just another flash in the pan, dramatic but inconsequential.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Chequered journey

Apropos of ‘Vice-President’s exit’; it is intriguing the way Dhankhar announced his abrupt resignation, but the swiftness with which it was accepted is more alarming. Did he ruffle feathers by admitting the Opposition-sponsored impeachment motion against Justice Varma without prior consultation with the PMO? Dhankhar has had a chequered journey in politics. He was a member of the Congress; he gave a tough time to Mamata Banerjee during his stint as West Bengal Governor; as the Chairman of the Upper House, he acted as a tough taskmaster when he suspended Opposition members en masse. He was even critical of the Supreme Court.

Arun Hastir, Gurdaspur

An unequal world

Apropos of ‘Hiroshima’s hibakusha, nuclear taboo and Iran’; the management of the nuclear domain in the international arena by the Big 5 is not on equitable terms. The Iran nuclear deal sparked some hope in the comity of nations that consensus was possible to untangle the nuclear imbroglio. Much was expected of Russia, but the war against Ukraine is detrimental to the tenets of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), which gives security assurances to non-nuclear states. Emboldened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Israel invaded Iran. Ironically, it is America, a votary of ‘nuclear for peace’, which had bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is tragic that the NPT itself has become a casualty.

HMS Nagra, Faridabad

Humanitarian issues sidelined

Refer to ‘33 die of starvation in 2 days as Gaza hunger crisis worsens’; in today’s digital world, information about any corner of the world can be accessed instantly. The world can be considered a global village in this sense. However, in this materialistic society, human sensitivity appears to have diminished. Otherwise, the whole world would have risen to protest and prevent the barbaric deeds of those responsible for continuing disastrous wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is beyond words. What we need is action and that too at the level of governments of various countries.

Hira Sharma, by mail

Pilot project on land pooling first

Punjab’s land pooling policy has been a topic of heated discussions. Some parties support this policy, while others oppose it. However, the main issue to consider is whether the government has sufficient funds to provide Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers who give away their land. About one-fourth of Punjab’s economy is dependent on agriculture. If agri land is converted into commercial land, the state’s economy would deteriorate. Given that there is no specific law regarding land pooling, it should be implemented first as a pilot project covering a small area.

Robindeep Kaur, by mail