Give Hassan a new house

Refer to ‘Homeless hero’; the demolition of Wakeel Hassan’s house by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is a stark example of official apathy. It is a matter of shame that one of the rat-hole miners who helped save the 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel last year has no place to live now. The selective demolition of houses of members of minority communities without any prior notice is concerning. The DDA must be held accountable for the lack of empathy and transparency in decision-making. The authorities must recognise Hassan’s role in the rescue operation and shift him to a permanent accommodation.

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Chanchal S Mann, Una

DDA’s high-handedness

With reference to ‘Homeless hero’; it is a pity that the house of rat-hole miner Wakeel Hassan has been razed. The Central Government must not forget the long and arduous struggle it took to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel last November. It was the determination and courage of miners like Hassan that ensured the success of the rescue operation. The Delhi Development Authority’s high-handedness is condemnable. Why was Hassan not even given prior notice? Did the DDA even follow the norms for demolishing a house? The erring officials must be held accountable as soon as possible. Our heroes do not deserve to be treated like this.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

Silkyara hero ill-treated

Apropos of the editorial ‘Homeless hero’; it is unfortunate that a man who was celebrated as a hero yesterday has become homeless today. That one of the rat-hole miners who risked their lives to rescue the trapped workers, Wakeel Hassan, has been deprived of a roof over his head is shameful. Regardless of what religion he follows, he is a hero who deserves our support and admiration. He must be provided with suitable accommodation. Without him and his fellow miners, the operation to rescue the trapped workers would not have been successful. He should not be let down. The authorities must do course correction.

Raj Bahadur Yadav, Fatehabad

No parole for Ram Rahim

Refer to the news report ‘No parole to Ram Rahim sans nod: HC to Haryana’; the Punjab and Haryana High Court is right to tell the Haryana Government that it would not consider Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s case for parole without its permission. The jailed sect leader has been getting special treatment that other convicts do not. The frequent paroles granted to the dera head, who is a rape convict sentenced to 20 years in prison, have made a mockery of the justice delivery system.

IPS Anand, Chandigarh

Chinks in BJP’s armour

Apropos of the article ‘BJP’s 370-seat target overly optimistic’; the author is right to state that the goal of 370 Lok Sabha seats being repeatedly quoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is too optimistic. The Prime Minister’s image has lost much of its sheen over the past decade. Voters have had enough of the ruling party’s repeated attempts to dislodge Opposition-led state governments by using undemocratic means, the perceived misuse of Central agencies like the ED, CBI and the I-T Department to target political rivals and the failure to address the farmers’ demands. The BJP seems to have become overconfident.

MK Bajaj, by mail

Address animal-human conflict

Refer to the news report ‘Leopard count up 7.9%; slight dip in Shivalik hills’; that India’s leopard population rose from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, marking a rise of 7.9 per cent, is welcome news. It is a big high for Indian wildlife. But concerns about the loss of the big cat’s habitat remain. Besides, there is a need to tackle the human-leopard conflict. Leopards have been sighted even in cities like Jalandhar, Dharamsala and Srinagar, among others. Many human settlements are also situated near or in forest areas. These issues must be addressed.

Deepak TAAK, Panchkula

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