Irresponsible media

Nepal has banned the broadcast of all Indian media channels except Doordarshan after they made derogatory remarks about PM Oli and the Chinese ambassador. If the media had gone by the book, on the basis of facts, issues and data, it would have strengthened India’s stand, but the way in which it has gone about the row, has given Nepal another chance to confront India. The speed with which the credibility of the media has declined in the past few years is worrying because the media is regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy. On the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, India is ranked 142 among 200 countries. The ranking is low because the media is now putting questions to the Opposition and the public instead of the government. Earlier, the media channels used to show news, but now they merely sell news.

Gaurav Kumar, by mail

Easy permits

Refer to ‘70 Ayurveda licences in 3 months, no check’ (July 9); according to the record of the Directorate of Ayurveda, Punjab, 70 new brands have been offered a permit to sell without checking the crude material or formulations. This is an extremely casual conduct by the division during the pandemic, when sanitisers and masks are regarded as basic things. Such conduct may prompt serious rethink. The authorities need to take strict action against the permit suppliers as well as the permit holders.

Muskan Sharma, Parwanoo

Criminal nexus

Refer to the editorial ‘UP’s most wanted’ (July 10); as per the NCRB data, UP has been harbouring criminals for a long time. Only the mafias change with a change in political guard. Caste and religion of the criminals is elementary here to be nabbed or sheltered. Commoners often suffer the paralysis in law and order due to the nexus between netas, police and criminals. This time, gangster Vikas Dubey rendered police the victim, leading to much hue and cry. Was mob-lynched Subodh Kumar not a police officer? Dubey’s arrest, or his gang’s encounter, is not going to be the last nail in the coffin of crime in UP until political masters and the police stop being in cahoots with the criminals.

Abhimanyu Malik, Jind

Crime and politics

Apropos of ‘UP’s most wanted’, people had high hopes from CM Yogi in the perennially crime-infested state of UP to rein in criminals. However, a change at the helm has failed to bring about any change in the fate of the masses who are still reeling under the terror of dreaded criminals. Enjoying political patronage, they kill at will. Nobody dares to speak against them for fear of elimination. They rule the roost otherwise Dubey could not have roamed freely despite committing countless crimes. Until the politician-criminal nexus is severed, a crime-free society will remain a dream.

Deepak Kaushik, Radaur

Evergreen comedian

The past few months have been ominous to the film industry as it has lost Rishi Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, dancing queen Saroj Khan, and now, the evergreen comedian Jagdeep, pushing fans in a state of sadness. Every role performed by him left an indelible mark on viewers. The void created by the death of this comedy star will be difficult to fill.

BS TEKNA, HISAR

Rejection, Khushwant style

Like many others, I am no exception to getting rejection slips, but the one I received in 2007 from Khushwant Singh stands out (middle ‘Dread of the rejection slips’, July 8). It was handwritten on a postcard, and carried a word of encouragement: ‘Your poem reads well, but it does not fit in the column, which is lightweight and sarcastic…’ A line seeking my forgiveness for the delay in responding spoke of the rare humility of one of the most celebrated writers of his time. It was a privilege for me to subsequently get a poem ‘Kasauli and Murree’ published in his column ‘This Above All’ (The Tribune) in 2010.

KC Prashar, Kullu

Tough addiction

There has been a spate of news about addicts flocking to out-patient opiate assisted clinics and private de-addiction centres and the untraceability of Rs 5-cr worth of Buprenorphine-Nalaxone tablets, used as substitution therapy. I have served in the PCMS and know that opiate addiction is difficult to treat. Over 90% again start using opiates after detoxification. It would be better if they are issued permits through their respective civil surgeons. The process of issuing a permit is simple. All that the patient has to do is file an application. He is then called to appear before a board of specialist doctors. A permit is given, fixing the quantity of opium. This way, the addict gets unadulterated drug at government-fixed rates and without the fear of law enforcement authorities. At the present price, the drug is very expensive in the international market. Therefore, it would be almost impossible to stop the illegal trade.

SATWINDER SINGH, Ludhiana

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