High stakes for PM Modi

With reference to ‘When the dice rolls in Haryana’ (The Great Game); the BJP’s loss in the state would signal the fall of a crucial domino, threatening PM Modi’s dominance. The people of Haryana seek to punish the arrogance of their leaders, particularly Nayab Singh Saini. The Congress’ Bhupinder Singh Hooda offers an alternative; the former CM is challenging the BJP’s invincibility. This battle transcends local politics. Will the voters be able to take revenge for the CM’s arrogance, or will Modi’s magic prevail? The dice has been rolled and the EVMs will reveal the answer soon.

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Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali

Congress on comeback trail

Apropos of ‘When the dice rolls in Haryana’; the Haryana Assembly election results will be out soon. The wind is clearly in favour of the Congress. Even the BJP’s workers and bigwigs have secretly conceded defeat after its ill-treatment of farmers and women wrestlers. The BJP should have remembered how the Left Front tumbled down after a rule of 34 years in West Bengal. In a democracy, it is the people who can make or break those in power. The Modi-Shah duo has understood this and their frustration came to the fore during the poll campaign. They failed to showcase their achievements, and focused on accusing the Congress and attacking the Gandhi family.

BM Singh, Amritsar

Need for better voter education

Refer to ‘67% turnout in Haryana; voting pattern shows urban-rural divide’; the turnout in Haryana’s elections highlights a persistent urban-rural divide. While rural districts like Fatehabad showed robust participation with 74.51 per cent turnout, urban centres like Faridabad lagged at just 55.46 per cent. This stark contrast raises concerns about civic engagement in urban areas, where apathy towards voting continues to grow. The lower turnout compared to the 2019 elections further signals the need for better voter education and outreach in cities. Urban voters must recognise their role in shaping the state’s future, just as rural voters have done.

Ganga Arora, Chandigarh

Strict implementation of SC ruling

Refer to ‘Caste bias in jails’; the Supreme Court has done a great job by scrapping caste-based discriminatory practices in state prison manuals. What is sad is that this discrimination continued after Independence and survived despite initiatives taken by the National Human Rights Commission and the National Legal Services Authority. Division of labour and segregation of quarters by caste in prisons remained unaddressed. OBCs rebuking lower OBCs and Dalits castigating Mahadalits in prisons is a sad commentary on caste hierarchy. The apex court has done its bit, but state governments must ensure strict implementation of the ruling in jails across the country.

Bal Govind, Noida

Create a more inclusive society

Refer to ‘Caste bias in jails’; the Supreme Court has ordered an overhaul of prison manuals. The judgment has brought hope for equality in society. The court has ruled that distribution of work based on caste in prisons is a form of violation of the Constitution. This decision is a significant step towards eradicating caste discrimination, which has plagued India for far too long. The court’s directive to revise prison manuals within three months and remove caste references from prisoner registers is a welcome move. It’s crucial that we recognise the harm caused by these practices and work towards creating a more inclusive society. We must work together to ensure that these directives are implemented effectively and that caste discrimination is eradicated from our society.

Saloni Sharma, Jammu

Primary allegiance is to power

Apropos of ‘The Chagos handover’; the UK’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is geopolitical manoeuvring disguised as goodwill. By retaining Diego Garcia under the US control, Britain has shown that its primary allegiance is to power and not justice. The rhetoric of safeguarding global security in the Indian Ocean masks the reality of clinging to strategic assets. The UK’s declining naval might and dependency on the US reveal its vulnerability. The handover is incomplete and disingenuous. True sovereignty for Mauritius remains elusive while Diego Garcia stays in foreign hands.

Gurdev Singh, Mohali

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