Dwarfing the individual

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rama emphasised the importance of citizens as conscience keepers of the government while giving bail to Disha Ravi in the toolkit case. But there are attempts to dwarf the individual every now and then as per the whims of the State. In Himachal Pradesh, corporation elections are to be fought on the party symbols. Members will lose their seat if they change the party. Similar is the case in the Lok Sabha due to the party whip. You cannot vote as per your conscience. There is no such thing in the House of Commons or the US Senate. The US President may not get the support of all his party Senators. In India, the individual member is not expected to think; the party does the thinking. The House of Commons has a greater number of members with the UK’s seven crore population. Our Lok Sabha has fewer seats with a 135 crore population.

Lalit Mohan Sharma, Dharamsala

Watch out for second wave

It is the casual attitude of the people post lockdown that is responsible for the reemergence of the corona strain in some parts of the country. With new mutant variants of the virus reported in several states, it is vital for people to shed their lax attitude. A second wave can emerge, especially in densely populated areas. A mass vaccination drive with the cooperation of the private sector is essential. Strict adherence to Covid protocols and safety measures should be made compulsory. Even as India’s ‘Vaccine Maitri’ is making inroads into neighbouring and far-off countries, it is pertinent for all stakeholders to up the tempo in research in science and technology to bridge the technological divide on the domestic front also.

Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital

Surge in Covid cases

The daily increasing infection rate of Covid-19 cases in Chandigarh and Mohali is worrisome and has rightly been attributed to crowding and the complacency of people. At public places, religious and social functions, the SOPs are violated with impunity. There is no random checking by the authorities at these places. Videos recorded by organisers of these functions can easily prove the violations committed by the people. The orders issued in this respect are only on paper. In order to control the daily surge, the authorities should pay attention to implement the orders.

Sohan Lal Bhumbak, Chandigarh

No room for laxity

We should be wary of the second wave of the virus. Most government and private institutions have started functioning again. Herd immunity is a myth and these rumours are distracting people. The government has granted permission for gatherings in functions and other occasions, including election rallies. Most people have stopped wearing masks. Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab are witnessing a resurgence. This is a matter of great concern. The government should impose strict rules and limit gathering numbers. Vaccination is still out of reach for the majority of the population. There should be a strong check at public places and transport. Entry at state borders should be keenly observed so that the rest of the states do not bear massive losses again.

SAROJ BANYAL, HAMIRPUR

Mamata link

Apropos of Abhishek Banerjee’s wife’s connection with the coal pilferage case, the Banerjees are the relatives of CM Mamata Banerjee, who is claiming that the BJP-led Central government is using its agencies to gain the edge in the West Bengal Assembly elections. If they hadn’t smuggled anything, they need not worry. But Mamata Banerjee visiting his house before interrogation shows there is something that they want to hide. The case may impact the elections.

ASHWANI KUMAR, CHANDIGARH

Tolerance must for peace

Refer to ‘Society devoid of compassion’; we may wax eloquent about our scientific temper, computer proficiency and technological progress, but we continue to remain indifferent to others’ woes and often overlook the stark ground realities for furthering our own interests. The bane of the problem is growing intolerance which has afflicted our body politic, leading to meaningless squabbles over trivial issues and the spurt in violence and verbal jousts. Dwelling in our cocoons of complacency, we have turned a deaf ear to the teachings of the Buddha, Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, and the basic tenets of empathy and fellow feeling have been largely forgotten. Compassion should be inculcated in the youth in educational institutions in right earnest for fostering a more tolerant social order.

Amit Banerjee, New Delhi

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