EU-India ties get a boost

Apropos of ‘A new dawn for India-EU relations’; India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the European Commission, which was headquartered in Belgium’s Brussels as the European Economic Community in the early 1960s. But as India came close to the erstwhile USSR, there wasn’t much room for productive engagement between Brussels and New Delhi. The European Commission President’s recent visit to India bodes well for bilateral relations, with EU having given priority to India over China. Disruption in the historic US-Europe ties in the last few weeks has added a new dimension to our relationship.

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Mona Singh, by mail

Stay ahead of cyber scamsters

With reference to ‘Stop cyber scams before they occur with real-time monitoring’; cyber scams pose a significant and evolving threat to individuals and organisations alike. Real-time monitoring offers a proactive solution, enabling early detection, swift responses and comprehensive protection against cyber criminals. By investing in advanced real-time monitoring tools and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness, businesses and individuals can stay ahead of the threats. In the digital age, prevention is better than cure and real-time monitoring is the key to preventing cyber scams.

Gaurav Badhwar, Rohtak

Farmers’ protests a nuisance

Agitations launched by kisan unions in Punjab cause inconvenience to the common man. Protesters block highways over minor issues that can be solved amicably. During the earlier phase of their agitation when they were invited by the Central Government for talks, they berated Union ministers at the meetings and now when the Central Government ignored them, they have been demanding an invitation for talks. CM Bhagwant Mann walked out of a meeting with them on March 3 due to their unacceptable behaviour. The Opposition parties in Punjab must be condemned for supporting these unions.

Sohan Lal Bhumbak, Chandigarh

Time for transformation

Apropos of ‘Punjab CM Mann walks out of meeting with farmer leaders, SKM to go ahead with March 5 protest’; nobody can be blamed for such an impasse. The common man has been suffering for long due to the farmers’ widespread agitation in Punjab and neighbouring states. The time is right for all stakeholders to understand that the present agro-economic conditions require a revolutionary transformation for which the Centre, state governments, experts and farmers unions need to deliberate comprehensively to reach a consensus. Meanwhile, farmers will have to abandon their stubbornness.

Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar

Panchayat takes initiative

With reference to ‘Kullu’s eco-warriors’; tourism contributes in a big way to the economy of Himachal Pradesh, but unbridled construction activities are bound to backfire. The initiative of the Banjar panchayat to enforce construction norms under the Panchayati Raj Act in the area has come as a big breather. But bereft of government wherewithal, like technical staff, the panchayat may not be able to exercise effective control. The way forward is to declare these areas under the Town & Country Planning Department. Instead of hotels, the emphasis should be on promoting home-stays in traditional houses. More ropeways, rather than roadways, can also help.

KR Bharti, Shimla

Investors’ confidence a must

With reference to ‘SEBI under scrutiny’; charges of collusion and corruption are difficult to prove against chiefs of regulatory bodies like SEBI. In the 1992 Harshad Mehta scam, Sensex jumped four-fold in a year, shaking investors’ confidence for a long time. The stock markets are not new, but the participation of the middle class is just a decade old. Month after month, even when portfolio investors have pulled funds, the middle class has kept its faith in SIPs despite the over 10,000-point fall in the Sensex in the last few months. A quick probe is necessary to maintain investors’ confidence.

Lajwant Singh, by mail