Op Sindoor Parliament debate: Pahalgam lapses sidestepped

With reference to ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; the writer has rightly stated that a parliamentary resolution indicating a united stand among all political parties on cross-border terrorism would have sent a strong message to Pakistan. The lawmakers, by and large, stuck to the usual rhetoric. The most important issue that the ruling dispensation tried to bypass was the security or intelligence lapses at an important tourist spot like Pahalgam. Unanimity on any matter was unfortunately missing in Parliament.

Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal

Focus on embarrassing the govt

Apropos of ‘When Parliament should have spoken as one’; after the much-sought-after debate on Op Sindoor was held, it emerged that the Opposition’s insistence on the debate was aimed more at embarrassing the ruling dispensation than to address the issues of terrorism and national security. The Opposition had the right to ask the government about the details of the military operation. However, it was unbecoming of some Congress leaders to doubt if the Pahalgam terrorists were from Pakistan. Whatever be the differences between the Opposition and the ruling party, we should stand united on non-negotiable matters like national security.

HMS Nagra, Faridabad

Exchange of barbs in Parliament

The debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha should have been spurred serious introspection and national resolve. It sadly turned out to be a routine and superficial exchange. It appeared as though both sides were merely reading out news reports instead of doing a serious analysis. The ruling party, rather than addressing the issue with sincerity, was busy digging out old incidents to counter criticism. On the other hand, the Leader of the Opposition failed to explain the points he had raised himself at the outset — lack of willpower and a free hand to the armed forces. National security and the morale of the security forces should be given priority over political one-upmanship.

SK Garg, Yamunanagar

Don’t merge rural areas into MCs

With reference to ‘Ailing panchayats’; there is another disturbing trend that deserves attention — the systematic merger of rural areas into municipalities or municipal corporations via ordinances. This not only strips gram panchayats of their constitutional role under the 73rd Amendment but also burdens villagers with steep civic taxes without proportional improvement in infrastructure or services. Such top-down reclassification bypasses local consent and undermines the spirit of Gram Swaraj. Instead of empowering panchayats, state governments are curtailing their powers through administrative manoeuvres. This seems less about development and more about revenue generation.

Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak

Collective efforts required

Refer to ‘Fight against drugs’; the decision of the Himachal Pradesh government to make it compulsory for government employees to undertake an oath of non-consumption of ‘chitta’ is a good pre-emptive move. Drug peddlers are not only using students but also teachers as conduits in this nefarious activity. Some officers and employees, too, have been found involved in the narcotics trade. The solution lies in taming and not shaming drug abusers. We have to make them a part of the mainstream. Checking the menace can’t be left to the government alone. Parents, teachers, NGOs, Panchayati Raj Institutions — all should come forward to tackle the problem.

KR Bharti, Shimla

Where does India stand?

Apropos of ‘Trump hits India with 25% tariff plus penalty; will secure our interest: Govt’; while the US President’s announcement has caused concern, it’s important to examine where India stands compared to other countries that have signed trade deals with the US. The UK faces 10% tariff, the EU and Japan are taxed at 15%, Indonesia at 19% and Vietnam at 20%. India’s 25% tariff is relatively higher, but not as bad as that of some other nations. Over 90 countries are facing US pressure to sign one-sided trade deals, and many are yet to conclude any agreement.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali