Keep ecological factors in mind

Apropos of ‘Silkyara tunnel cave-in’; the 41 workers trapped in the tunnel had to bear the brunt of violation of safety norms. The incident raised questions about the risk assessment of the project. The trapped workers did not even have an escape route in case of an accident. An overall environmental impact assessment is needed for such projects. Construction work must not be undertaken in fragile zones without adequate risk analysis. India needs a massive infrastructural upgrade. However, ecological factors must be taken into account before any development project is initiated. Further, ensuring the safety of workers engaged in such projects is a must.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Indo-Pak relations in limbo

Refer to ‘Imran in dire straits’, it is clear that any political leader in Pakistan who wants to survive must stay in the good graces of the military. Former PM Imran Khan’s sentencing is ironic, as it was the military leadership that had once propped up his government. It is interesting how former premier Nawaz Sharif, who was removed from power in 2017, is back in the ring. It is a mockery of democracy. Though Sharif has promised to send a message of peace to India, political instability and a lack of trust between civilian leaders and the Pakistani military do not augur well for Pakistan’s relations with India.

Bal Govind, Noida

Soren’s arrest

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is the latest Opposition leader to face the heat of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, who has already been served multiple summonses by the Central investigation agency in connection with the excise policy case, had labelled the move as “politically motivated”. It is telling how agencies like the ED and CBI have been targeting Opposition leaders. But why are leaders like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma not facing the music? The BJP had called him tainted, only to later welcome him into its fold. With the Lok Sabha polls fast approaching, having leaders like Kejriwal arrested is just a political ploy to keep him from campaigning and break the unity of the INDIA bloc.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad

Majoritarian sentiment

Apropos of the report ‘Varanasi court allows ‘puja’ in Gyanvapi mosque cellar’; the Place of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, prohibits the conversion of any place of worship. We must follow the law of the land instead of getting swayed by the majoritarian sentiment. It is evident from recent developments related to the Gyanvapi mosque that the powers that be, after setting a precedent in the Babri Masjid case, are trying to target other places of worship of a minority community across the country. We must collectively raise our voice against such ploys meant to fuel anti-minority polarisation.

Afazuddin Kazi Qasmi, Mumbai

Rising debt cause for concern

With reference to the report ‘Tax collection a booster for state, rising debt a concern’; the burden of burgeoning debt on the state exchequer is enough to send shivers down one’s spine. It is alarming that since AAP took over the reins of Punjab, the debt rose by Rs 57,217 crore between April 2022 and December 2023, pushing the state’s total debt to a whopping Rs 3.2 lakh crore. The state government should plan in such a way that the trend of taking any further loan can be checked. For that, the government should get its priorities right by ending unnecessary spending on publicity and focusing on poverty alleviation, social welfare programmes, education, healthcare and sustainable development.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Off the secular track

Parliament reverberated with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu stated in Parliament that the construction of the Ram Mandir marked the fulfilment of the country’s age-old desire and could shape the course of centuries. The chanting and the President’s remarks are not in tune with the spirit of the Constitution, which is emphatically secular. By lauding the construction of the temple, the President has endorsed the religiosity of a particular community. This strikes at the heart of our Constitution’s credo.

Avinash Godboley, Dewas

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