Don’t cross the red line

Apropos of the editorial ‘Governor-CM spat’; governors must act in accordance with the Constitution and not create problems for chief ministers. It is shocking to see them cross the Lakshmanrekha and embarrass CMs. It is not desirable for them to run a ‘parallel’ administration. In Punjab, the Governor and the CM had a confrontation over the appointment of vice-chancellors of state-run universities. The role of governors has also been under scrutiny in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. It is the duty of the Centre to ensure a harmonious relationship between CMs and governors.
Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

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Not on the same page
With regard to ‘Governor-CM spat’, it is nothing new for governors and CMs to not be on the same page; it has happened in the past too, though not so frequently as today. The duties, responsibilities and functions of governors and CMs are well-defined and documented. The two constitutional functionaries can work together smoothly if they do not exceed their brief. It is no coincidence that such disputes have not been reported from states with a ‘double-engine sarkar’. Attempts have been made to destablise governments in Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Supreme Court’s repeated warnings to the Centre to stop such interventions, have fallen on deaf ears.
BM Singh, Amritsar

Divisive rhetoric
With reference to the news report ‘Caste remark at Rahul triggers uproar in the Lok Sabha’, the uproar in the House over BJP MP Anurag Thakur’s remark about Rahul Gandhi is lamentable. Thakur’s taunt about Rahul’s caste, while dismissing his call for a caste census, undermines the gravity of the issue. A caste census is crucial for addressing social inequalities and ensuring a fair distribution of resources. Personal attacks distract from a substantive debate and highlight the need for decorum and focus on national issues in parliamentary discussions. It’s imperative that our leaders engage in a constructive dialogue rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric.
Samridhi Kapoor, Panchkula

Bhola drug case
Apropos of the news report ‘17 convicted, former Punjab DSP Bhola awarded 10-year jail in drug case’; the conviction of Arjuna awardee wrestler-turned-cop Jagdish Singh Bhola in a drug trafficking case by a special PMLA court is a shot in the arm for the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Punjab has become a hub of drug smuggling. Niranjan Singh, the ED officer who probed the case against Bhola, has disclosed that he had faced threats and was also hounded by his seniors when he refused to compromise the investigation. Despite all the pulls and pressures, he remained unrelenting on his principles and took the case to its logical end. Such fearless investigating officers can be a game-changer for curbing the drug trade in Punjab and other states.
MD Sharma, Shimla

Eco-friendly Olympics
Hats off to the organisers of the Paris Olympics for showcasing a sustainable and eco-friendly model of the sporting extravaganza. They have used clean and green energy, besides implementing the three ‘Rs’ — recycle, reuse and reduce — for the material used for making medals, furniture, etc. Electric boats for the opening ceremony and geo-positioned buoys for the competitions to limit anchoring in those areas are among the other noteworthy features. Thee environment-friendly concepts should be applied to all international events, not just sporting ones. Let’s save the environment in order to save our planet.
PV Srinivas Sreelekha, Secunderabad

Prioritise rail safety
With reference to the train derailment in Jharkhand, this mishap lays bare critical gaps in our railway infrastructure, suggesting a pattern of neglect and inadequate maintenance. Despite numerous derailments, necessary preventive measures are still lacking, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. It is imperative that routine maintenance, timely inspections and swift remedial action become the norm. Furthermore, there ought to be transparency about the steps being taken to solve these problems and raise safety standards.
Varshita Bhura, Zirakpur

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