Irresponsible leaders

The thought, ‘Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses’, is apt in the prevailing chaos in the country. No political or administrative leader is ready to accept the failure and responsibility for the inadequate medical provisions, when the second corona wave was imminent. We lacked a focused approach. People are suffering and dying due to the lack of vision of our leaders. They do not hesitate to accuse the critics of the collapse of the system as anti-Bharat forces ‘creating an atmosphere of negativity’. They need to rise above petty politics and help the nation wholeheartedly to cope with the pandemic and own responsibility for the scarcity of medical facilities. Both the Centre and the state governments should work as a team to mitigate the suffering of the citizens rather than blame each other.

GS MANN, NAYA NANGAL

Over to voters now

Politicians get elected not to serve the country but their vested interests (‘Death by apathy’). Why should a candidate incur whopping expenditure during electioneering? After becoming lawmakers, they get busy recouping the expenses. To expect that they shall discharge their duties scrupulously, let alone any act of altruism, is foolhardy. The recent extortion racket in Maharashtra is a case in point. Hopefully the ravaging pandemic might bring a paradigm shift in voters’ psyche to punish politicians for criminal negligence of duties. Voters shall be taken for a ride if they do not hold them accountable.

Deepak Singhal, Noida

EC in the wrong

Reference to ‘EC singularly to blame for 2nd Covid surge: Madras HC’; it’s shocking to observe the way the Election Commission acted in a partisan manner and faltered in its duties by allowing rallies of lakhs of people without any adherence to Covid norms. The day Modi called off his personal rallies, the EC banned political gatherings of more than 500 people. This is enough to reveal the harsh reality that even this institution is a ‘caged parrot’ of the ruling party. However, it’s too late even for the court to lash out at the EC as the damage has already been done. Timely intervention might have saved the situation from going bad to worse.

Balbir Singh Kakkar, UK

Farmers must suspend stir

The head of the Juna Akhada curtailed the Kumbh Mela after PM Modi requested him to keep it symbolic. Also, all political parties have scaled back their campaigns for the ongoing West Bengal elections. Farmers should also realise that their massive agitation has the potential to fuel the virus. As responsible citizens, they must protect themselves and others by ending, or at least suspending their agitation until the virus is brought under control. This is not the time for any agitation which leads to large gatherings.

AK Agarwal, Chandigarh

Vote for health

Refer to ‘No one cares for healthcare’ (The Sunday Tribune); it should be called ‘prepaid’ healthcare because all of us have paid for it through our taxes. It is the duty of the government to provide basic healthcare against the tax collected. But we forget that when we go to the polling booth. If a family member falls victim to a serious ailment, it is enough to deplete all family savings. The worst hit are the poor and the lower middle class families who can’t afford quality private healthcare. Pathology labs are also out to fleece patients and pay heavy commissions to doctors for recommending unnecessary tests. Even as the pandemic was raging, our leaders’ focus was on the Bengal elections. Voters should vote for those who promise free and quality healthcare as priority in their manifesto.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Vaccine not luxury item

The government has fixed three different rates for Covid vaccine as if it is a luxury item. High prices shall be a deterrent. How will we achieve 100% inoculation? It should be provided free to everyone from taxpayers’ money, whether at government or private hospitals. Private hospitals should work to help government programmes, and not to earn profits. Israel, the UK and the US lowered Covid infections through massive inoculation.

SS Bhathal, Ludhiana

Another SIT

The Punjab Government has decided to have a new SIT to probe the Kotkapura police firing case. What has happened leaves a clear message. The desecrators of the Guru’s scriptures cannot be brought to book. When justice is denied, or wilfully delayed, and when it can be miscarried in full public view, it should be left to the people to punish them at the hustings. And people do not need SIT reports to know who are behind this act.

JERNAIL S ANAND, ZIRAKPUR

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