New epoch

The New Year marks the start of a new epoch, which certainly brings many opportunities and also various problems, foremost among which is the ongoing battle against the virus. The country also has to grapple with unemployment, starvation and sectarianism. The coming era could well mark achievements in every field. Despite the setbacks, the country should hope for scaling new heights in the coming years.

Advertisement

Aman Jaiswal, Delhi

Unruly scenes in House

Reference to ‘LS Speaker for probe into Gowda’s death,’ misbehaviour and physical assault on the presiding officer of a House is on the rise. The Chair of a Vidhan Sabha or Vidhan Parishad, Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha is not an ordinary member of the House. He or she is duly elected to run the business of the House. Any assault on them amounts to an assault on the very foundations of a democracy. Recently, in the last session of the Rajya Sabha, the Deputy Chairman was manhandled and disrespected. In the Lok Sabha also, women presiding officers have had papers planes thrown at the Chair, besides unwarranted statements. Such incidents are a blot on democracy and it is time for the legislature to make stern laws to check such behaviour by the lawmakers in the House.

Ashok Kumar, Jalandhar

Boris Johnson’s visit

Reference to ‘Welcoming the son-in-law of India for Republic Day’, though not as an ex-son-in-law, but now as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s acceptance of the invite for being the chief guest at the Republic Day event comes at an opportune moment for India and the UK. The visit is expected to impart a new momentum to bilateral ties that have long struggled to realise their full potential. Both sides have multiple reasons to revamp their relationship as they look to come out of a pandemic stricken year. Visiting UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab alluded to this when he and EAM Jaishankar agreed to a roadmap for upgrading ties. Raab had listed an enhanced trade partnership and a future FTA as the top priority. Such a focus on economic relationships is indeed sensible.

SK Singh, via mail

Boost to economy

Apropos of ‘Economic recovery,’ It is encouraging to note what even UN report forecasts about the resilience of the Indian economy in south-west Asia. I agree that by just increasing production and consumption, we may not achieve the desired results. It is time to focus on job creation which must be the government’s top priority as it is the youth that has to come forward and take the country ahead. A lot needs to be done to amicably settle the farmers’ agitation otherwise which is prolonged, has the potential to dent the speed of economic recovery.

Pankaj Madan, Zirakpur

Tuition fee

Apropos of ‘Schools told to charge only tuition fee’, the decision is bound to affect the morale of private school teachers of HP. There is need to differentiate between budgetary and corporate house educational institutions. Non-payment of subsidiary funds required to maintain the necessary infrastructure and meet other expenditure will result in a salary cut for the already underpaid teachers. The need is to safeguard the interests of all.

Sunil Kumar Mahajan, via mail

Parliamentary system

Reference to ‘Lure of presidential system’, the vision latent in drafting our Constitution decreed that parliamentary system was more suited to public accountability. Onslaughts akin to Haryana’s shifting to direct elections for civic body chiefs must be nipped in the bud lest these should end up with clamours for direct election of a CM or even the PM. Nonetheless, a model code of conduct on decency and decorum in public discourse at the hustings as well as in and outside the legislatures needs to be devised with mutual consent across the political spectrum. It is time to cure the ills plaguing our electoral parliamentary democracy to make it more healthy and participative.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Ageing Federer

Roger Federer has decided to watch the Australian Open from home rather than amusing us with his wizardly play. Federer had last played a big match in late January at the Australian Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic and since then he has been struggling with his knee injury. This long absence from the court could impact his performance and critics could ponder over whether he will bid adieu to tennis. Best of luck to this living legend, we would love to watch him play in 2021.

Amandeep Bains, Kurukshetra

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com