Penalise government, too

THE government is responsible for the 43 deaths caused by fire in Delhi. This would have never happened had they carried out proper checks at every level. It never learns lessons from earlier accidents. This is all due to corruption, carelessness, poor supervision, insufficient staff and lack of dedication to duty. The administration should also be penalised, and not only the owners of the building.

SS Dhawan, Ambala Cantt

CAB building a crisis

As momentum builds for the introduction of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), there is a decline in nationalistic rhetoric. It isn’t surprising that the NDA’s lead constituent BJP would attempt legislation to bolster its credentials by excluding Muslims, which continues to pose a constitutional issue of inequality on the grounds of religion. But in the Northeast, where migration has remained an explosive issue for decades, concern over CAB overrides frequent assurances by elements of the BJP, Sangh and NDA that local provisions protect tribal indigenous rights over land. There is already the danger of an expanding humanitarian crisis.

Diya Arora, Bathinda

Wrong decision

The Citizenship Amendment Bill is a wrong decision. People from all religions have lived here for years. Their ancestors lived here. Why is the government trying to marginalise people in the name of community and religion? Why do political parties always try to divide and rule India? Everything is biased now, including the media and education. As a youngster, I am afraid for our country. All that we hear is rape, Bills, Acts, Kashmir, etc.

Habeeba K, by mail

Hire private guards

Reference to ‘Not targeting Gandhis: Shah’ (December 4); why is there so much hue and cry by the Congress over the removal of SPG cover for Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka? They have been provided with foolproof security by the government. Security cover like SPG and Z-plus are demanded by VIPs more for flaunting their status. If any VIP has a real threat to his/her life, they can hire private guards. The government’s restriction on SPG cover is an appreciable step towards lessening the burden on the exchequer. It should not be considered as political vendetta.

LJS Panesar, by mail

Improve policing

Apropos ‘Crime and punishment’ (December 9), no citizen wishes to go to the police or the courts. Only circumstances compel a man to approach them for succour. Criminals know the mindset of the police. Prompt and timely action by the police can stop gruesome crime. To kill rapists in the name of encounter indicates the fallibility of the police. To give in to the pressure of politicians and divert the attention of public cannot boost the image of the police. The need is to settle criminal cases with zero pendency within six months by courts.

LK Handa, by mail

Not a deterrent

Those who cry foul at the Hyderabad encounter should give a thought to the fact that our slow judicial system has not been a deterrent to rapists. It has already been seven years’ wait for justice in the Nirbhaya case. It is an example of justice delayed and denied. The remedy lies in speedy justice delivered in whatever form. Says poet Allama Iqbal, Mard-e-nadaan par kalam-e-narm-o-nazuk bey assar (a soft law is ineffective on an imbecile).

Ravi Rana, Kapurthala

In the pipeline

Apropos ‘Pipeline in Serbia a wake-up call for India’, the pipeline can be deemed as a tactic to avoid US sanctions on Iran. Though this project will provide only 5 bn tonne/yr in volume in initial years as compared to the net annual demand of 396 bn tonne/ yr, its long-term benefits surely are fruitful. On the other hand, it has been 26 years but work on TAPI project, which will provide natural gas from Iran, has not even begun. Indian petroleum ministry needs to wake up and secure the country’s future needs.

Yatish Phul, Nangal

Extend boundary line

The ongoing T20 series is a new phase of cricket, where there are no singles and twos. Every shot crosses the boundary line either like a bullet on the ground or by soaring over the ropes. All unseen shots are on display in the playing arena these days. Earlier, a flat six was hardly seen in the series and it used to be talked for weeks. Now, we see plenty of the same in a single match. To make this format more absorbing, the boundary lines should be extended. The present boundary lines are too small to contain lofty hits.

Gurdeep Singh, Dharampur

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