Messing with Lakshadweep

Reference to ‘Lakshadweep conundrum’; it is extremely unfortunate that Lakshadweep, which is a picturesque archipelago of 36 islands, is entangled in political turmoil after the new administrator and the former BJP minister in Gujarat, Praful Khoda Patel, has pushed through a slew of new laws and regulations without consulting locally elected representatives, and thereby earning the wrath of the local Muslims who form the majority of the population in India’s smallest UT. The local people fear that the new reforms under the pretext of ‘development’ will destroy their identity and culture, and ultimately impact the island’s primary livelihood of fishing. All they want is a sense of tranquillity and belongingness in the peaceful landscape, which should not be spoiled by acts initiated for cheap political gains.

RANGANATHAN SIVAKUMAR, Chennai

Too harsh a punishment

Refer to ‘Bigotry in cricket’; a distinction must be made between grave charges of systemic racism and younger players’ indiscretions. Robinson was 18 at the time of his boorish tweets. Though that doesn’t offer him a free pass, unless investigations reveal a continuing pattern of racist and sexist behaviour, stern punitive action against him may not be called for. He and others like him may need to be sensitised and educated, not punished and alienated.

SS Paul, Nadia

Congress must wake up

Apropos of ‘Prasada’s defection’, the turncoat cited his change of heart because of incessant letdown by the Congress leadership and the sworn enemy till yesterday has become his role model and inspiration. Simply put, all politicians treat voters as gullible and therefore have gumption to justify the change of the goalpost. That said, the Congress is unmoved by such defections and as usual persists to put up a brave face. The ground below the Congress is slipping, but it continues to live in a fool’s paradise. Simply tweeting against Modi and belittling the government will not help. Now it is high time for it to come out of slumber otherwise it shall be consigned to history sooner than later.

Deepak Singhal, Noida

Jabs for frontline workers

The news report about below average performance in vaccinating healthcare/frontline workers in Punjab and Haryana is indeed disturbing, despite both states placed remarkably well in infrastructure, including health. It is important that both states take immediate corrective steps to remove the bottlenecks and launch aggressive campaigns to allay the fears of individuals in this category. Since comprehensive data would be available with the respective authorities regarding those vaccinated, the heads of the institutions should take it upon themselves to persuade them for vaccination. With gradual liberalisation of vaccine policy and ease availability of vaccines and the growing awareness about the potential benefits, hopefully the situation shall improve significantly in the coming days.

Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula

Paddy sowing

Paddy sowing is going on across Punjab and electricity is being given free to farmers. Since paddy is a water-guzzling crop, water is being pumped out daily, unmindful of the underground water table depleting very fast. Most districts have already been declared dark zones. Sangrur was the first one but still paddy is being sown. New tubewell connections are also being released. The Centre as well as the state governments who are contributing rice to the Central pool have been making a hue and cry for crop diversification, but none could come out with any remedial measures. Farmers may be ready for diversification but they are hesitant because of non-assurance of remunerative price for their produce. Already the three agriculture laws are hanging fire for repeal and the farmers have been protesting for months. Under such circumstances, how is crop diversification possible?

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Pensionary benefits

The SC, vide its decision in Darshan Singh V/s State of Punjab, declared that 214 employees of Punjab’s panchayat samitis and zila parishads, who retired between May 11, 1995, and June 30, 1999, were eligible for pension. A few employees of these institutions who retired during this period have not been included in the list of beneficiaries. The Punjab Government is requested that in order to provide socio-economic security to aged persons, a special chance should be given to the retired employees of panchayati raj institutions who have left out of the list for no fault of theirs. Some courts have directed the authorities that when a court case is implemented after attaining finality, its benefit ought to be extended to other similarly situated persons also. Thus, the pensionary benefit can be extended to other similarly situated persons by generalising the decision of the apex court.

KARNAIL SINGH, Bathinda

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