Perils of radicalisation

Apropos of ‘Lapses on the terror trail proved fatal’; for more than a decade, Indian cities were untouched by the spectre of terrorism partly due to the invisible shield of our intelligence agencies. The Kashmir-Faridabad terror module signals the increasing spread of ideological extremism, which till now had been limited to lesser known places. While our security forces are doing exemplary work, there is also an urgent need to curb radicalisation that is seeping into our metropolitan cities through universities, religious platforms and online groups. It is becoming the most dangerous multiplier of terrorism as it grows domestically by the amplification of narratives and faith-based grievances, along with political polarisation.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

Good deeds, values never die

With reference to ‘Mamdani seeking Nehru in a divided world’; in today’s polarised climate, it is significant how Jawaharlal Nehru’s words still echo. Nehru is both condemned and celebrated. Some critics point to his lapses in governance. Many current politicians use historical shortcomings to score political points, framing Nehru’s era as a cautionary tale of idealism gone wrong. However, his emphasis on pluralism, scientific temper and social justice remain a reference point for leaders across the spectrum who recall the Nehruvian ideal. When a young voice like Zohran Mamdani quotes Nehru in New York, it’s a reminder that good deeds and values never die.

Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar

Prejudiced crimes tribunal

Apropos of ‘Hasina sentenced’; the verdict of the Bangladesh-based crimes tribunal sentencing former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina to death is blatantly prejudiced. International crimes tribunals have historically included judges from other countries and, in some cases, even international prosecutors. But a tribunal composed entirely of Bangladeshi judges, widely seen as partisan, meant that the odds were always stacked against Hasina.

SS Paul, Nadia (WB)

Challenge for India

Refer to ‘Hasina sentenced’; what’s worrying for India is Bangladesh’s growing proximity to Pakistan’s military establishment and the release of radical figures and terror suspects openly hostile to India. Such shifts threaten the hard-won security architecture in the Northeast and risks reopening channels of proxy activity long curbed since 1971. India, while sheltering Hasina on humanitarian and political grounds, must prepare for a complex neighbourhood challenge. A calibrated response — diplomatic, economic and strategic — is unavoidable.

Vandana, Chandigarh

Participative will of stakeholders

Refer to ‘Equitable quotas’; though Chief Justice Gavai’s plea for excluding creamy layer from the existing social justice dispensation policy is straight from the horse’s mouth, it requires proactive and participative will of all stakeholders. The aim behind reservation is to help the underprivileged climb the ladder of social discrimination and not to create more steps for those who are already at the top. The parliamentary inertia in this respect can be tackled with suo motu interventions and guidelines from the apex court. It can go a long way in translating the dynamism of social justice into tangible, holistic affirmation.

Abhyam Sharma, Pathankot

Ensure fair distribution of quotas

Refer to ‘Equitable quotas’; the benefit of reservation must reach those who need it the most. The absence of a creamy-layer exclusion is a key reason many members of Scheduled Castes remain poor even seven decades after quotas were first implemented for them. Instead of endlessly expanding quotas, the government must ensure their fair distribution to realise the true purpose of affirmative action.

Chanchal S Mann, Una