Hate crime in US

With reference to the editorial ‘Unsafe in the US’; the death of five Indian-origin students in the United States over the past few weeks must be taken seriously. The US law enforcement agencies have clearly failed. Besides, it is not uncommon for Indian nationals to be the target of hate crime. That makes it all the more important for the US authorities to probe the matter in a time-bound manner. India should raise the issue with the US and ensure that members of the Indian-American community are safe. The US was quick to charge an Indian over alleged involvement in a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist on its soil and also hinted that New Delhi had a role in the conspiracy. But the US authorities are slow to act on attacks against Indian students.

Anil Vinayak, by mail

Must address brain drain

Apropos of ‘Unsafe in the US’; the recent series of deaths of Indian students in the United States is a matter of grave concern. These deaths could be attributed to a number of factors, such as xenophobia, racial hatred, drug addiction and the lax attitude of the authorities there. The onus is on our diplomatic staff in America to ensure the well-being of Indian students there. They must push the law enforcement agencies concerned into action. Exemplary punishment should be awarded to the culprits to set an example. Further, we must not forget that it is the bleak job prospects in India that drive our youth to flee abroad. Sometimes, they even risk their lives by taking the donkey route. The brain drain must be addressed too.

Roshan Lal Goel, by mail

Tourists should act responsibly

This is with regard to the editorial ‘Pitfalls for tourists’; every time an untoward incident happens, a finger is pointed at the local administration. But it is high time that tourists learnt to act responsibly. Warning boards are in place at many sites, but tourists still choose to take the risk and imperil their own lives. The authorities should not be blamed for the irresponsible actions of the tourists. A tourist must not venture out when the weather is bad. Is it really the authorities’ fault if someone chooses to go trekking amid heavy snowfall? Are they not aware of the risks?

Ravinder Singh, Jalandhar

Reaching out to farmers

Refer to ‘Centre’s outreach to farmers ahead of Delhi Chalo protest’; the Centre has rightly agreed to give compensation of Rs 10 lakh to those injured in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, cancel the cases registered against farmers during their agitation against the three farm laws, give relief and provide jobs to the kin of the growers killed during the stir. Protests by farmers often result in disruptions. If they launch another protest, thousands of people will have to face inconvenience again. Besides, the farmers must reconsider their decision to hold a protest as the government has accepted their demands.

HMS Nagra, Faridabad

Shut bride bazaar

Apropos of the news report ‘Promising to get them brides, Rajasthan gang dupes over 1K’; it is the skewed sex ratio that has left ‘overaged’ bachelors in Haryana and Rajasthan with no choice but to purchase brides. To dupe those bachelors, the gang cashed in on the fact that such a trade of brides actually exists. It is very worrying that bachelors desperate to get married are falling prey to such frauds. Besides, the fact that so many parents are willing to sell their girls in exchange for money is disturbing. The authorities concerned must look into the matter on priority and end the trade of brides.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Stop Nehru-bashing

PM Narendra Modi recently launched a fresh attack on former PM Jawaharlal Nehru in the Rajya Sabha just to garner votes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections by saying that the latter was ‘anti-reservation’. Bashing a former PM in Parliament is not appropriate. It seems that even the mention of Nehru is enough to raise the BJP’s hackles. Nehru is remembered for his commitment to democracy and the efforts he made to develop the country by investing heavily in critical areas and instilling scientific temper in people. Those in the BJP must stop hitting out at Nehru.

Ramesh Gupta, Narwana

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