India bats for peace

Apropos of ‘Modi’s Ukraine visit is the message’ (The Great Game); the article was a thought-provoking read. PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the war-torn country comes at a very critical juncture. Modi’s earlier visit to Moscow had ruffled a lot of feathers in the West and in Kyiv. Russia’s excesses in Ukraine have riled much of the Western world. So it is understandable why the Modi-Putin hug had sent shockwaves across the globe. But the PM has done well to send out a strong message for peace. It is imperative to impress upon Putin the urgent need to bring an end to the years-long conflict. Hopefully, good sense will prevail and leaders on both sides will agree to stop this senseless war.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

New Delhi can play peacemaker

With reference to ‘Modi’s Ukraine visit is the message’; the PM’s visit to the conflict-hit country to promote bilateral trade ties is an apt reflection of India’s tradition of non-alignment. The Modi-Zelenskyy hug comes not long after the PM’s Moscow sojourn. By claiming to be on the side of peace, New Delhi is performing a delicate balancing act. As a country that enjoys good ties with both warring nations, India can play the role of a peacemaker by bringing Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiation table. But it must tread with caution. India’s reliance on Russian crude oil has irked the West. A single misstep can put Ukraine off further or upset Russia, hurting India’s interests.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

No compromise on women’s safety

Refer to the editorial ‘Unsafe women’; many women don’t feel safe in public places, at their place of work, or even at their own home. The brutal rape and murder of a doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata highlights the inadequacies in security arrangements for women and healthcare workers. The hospital authorities must ensure that the employees or volunteers being roped in by their medical facility have no criminal antecedents. CCTV cameras should be installed wherever necessary, and security must be beefed up. It is unfortunate that all efforts by the government to rein in sexual violence against women have failed. And so often, rape victims face more stigma in society than the perpetrators. A change in mindset is the need of the hour. Simply making and enforcing laws is not enough. It is time to adopt a multidimensional approach that focuses on moral education, community engagement and enhanced support systems.

KR Bharti, Shimla

Kamala’s moment of truth

Apropos of ‘Candidate Kamala’; Donald Trump’s return to the White House seemed inevitable just a few weeks ago. But Joe Biden’s decision to drop out and let Kamala Harris replace him at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket has upended the race. Several opinion polls currently have Harris and Trump neck-and-neck in certain states, while some others give the former a small edge. Kamala’s well-rehearsed speech at the Democratic National Convention was predictably well received among members of her party. But it is unlikely to move those who have long supported Trump. Kamala has just over two months left to persuade Americans who are still undecided to give her a chance.

PL Singh, by mail

Yes, she can

Refer to ‘Candidate Kamala’; she has promised America a future that neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden could deliver on. As the election campaign soon reaches its finale, Harris has both the attention and the momentum she needs to win. But it remains to be seen if the Democratic Party presidential candidate can sustain the lead and for how long. Besides, her stand on key issues has come under heavy scrutiny. But she has what it takes to win an election.

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

Trump and Harris poles apart

Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, are poles apart on most issues. They are very different from each other in every sense. While Kamala is always careful of what she says, Trump is a loose cannon. He is all about playing to the gallery. Trump lacks the dignity and demeanour expected of a presidential candidate. America must not make the mistake of voting Trump back to the Oval Office, as he is given to abusing his powers.

Avinash Godboley, Dewas (MP)

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