PM’s assurance not enough

Apropos of ‘New agri laws have given farmers new opportunities: PM’, Modi in Mann ki Baat was expected to remove all the confusion but the outcome was unsatisfactory. Beating around the bush when the annadata’s life is at stake is uncalled for. The indifference towards the farmers’ concerns prove that we have failed as a so-called democratic country. The question of keeping the MSP intact remains unresolved. Deciphering the issue might save us from chaos in the prevalent bedlam of the pandemic.

Agam Garg, by mail

Reach out to farmers

Refer to ‘Adamant farmers break barricades in Hry’; it is important to remove misconceptions regarding MSP, which is the primary task before various governments and the Centre. Outreach at the highest level could be a game changer, but before that, it is also needed that tempers are cooled following clashes between the police and farmers. The Centre’s reforms package may be a sincere attempt to improve private participation in the farm trade, but this has to be well explained to the farmers. Ironically, paddy procurement in Punjab has topped last year’s numbers by nearly 20%. This should allay the fears of immediate MSP rollback to some extent. A phased, orderly transition through farm reforms and income support, offers a win-win situation for the farmers and traders. The government must handhold farmers through this big shift, which can prove as momentous and fruitful as the Green Revolution.

LAL SINGH, Amritsar

Agitating farmers

The recent march of farmers to Delhi highlights their grievances against the farm laws. There is so much going on during the pandemic that this crisis will surely add to the country’s problems. While the Centre says that the Opposition is misleading the farmers, the Opposition blames the Centre. There should be a conclusion on which farmers must agree to avoid the worsening of the situation. There should be education regarding the laws that are being misinterpreted and concerns related to the MSP must be addressed.

Palak Bathla, Kaithal

BJP’s big lie

Refer to ‘Farmers’ march’; and considering the plight of the farmers these days, the slogan of the BJP government that their income would double by 2022 is proving to be the biggest lie of the year. Only 15 months are left for the due date to arrive. The only way to double the income is if the government doubles the MSP of rice, wheat, maize and sugarcane. This much rise is next to impossible.

RN Malik, Gurugram

UP law not anti-Muslim

Refer to ‘Of an unsuitable girl and other inanities taking firm hold’; the UP law is to prevent forcible inter-faith marriages and conversion from one faith to the other. Referring to it as ‘love jihad law’ is mischievous. The premise that it is meant to target Muslims is misplaced. Nikita, a Hindu woman, was killed by a Muslim man who wanted to forcibly marry her and convert her to Islam. The law is to prevent such sad incidents. Do not label it as anti-Muslim. It will equally apply if a Hindu forces a Muslim to marry him and convert to Hinduism. The writer quotes a HC ruling that says that two grown-up individuals, irrespective of caste, creed or religion are free to choose a partner as they wish. The courts can err. No freedom is unfettered, especially if it concerns inter-faith matters. The writer’s disdain for the UP CM is so obvious that he ends his article with a strong note. This does not behove a ‘veteran journalist’.

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR

Humorous sithnis

The humorous write-up ‘Wedding limericks that broke the ice’ prompts me to quote sithni from Baba Nanak’s wedding with Mata Sulakhni on the occasion of Gurpurb celebrations. Two such, in part are ‘Assan ta suniya ehde naag bhi yaar ne, karde ne shawan enhu phan khilar ve, yadoogaran ton ghat nahi, yadoogaran ton ghat nahi be larhya, saanu na yaado kar dayee’ (we learnt that serpents are his friends who give him shade after spreading fangs and he is not less than magicians. Being not less than magicians, oh, the groom, do not cast your spell upon us); and ‘Chaj da janjhi tenu labha na larya, laike Mardana ayan bhukhan da marya, ajj raza ehnu layen’ (Oh groom, you did not get a suitable companion and got hunger-afflicted Mardana; get him fed fully today). Alas! With the changed wedding scenario, the old hearty humour has vanished.

Gurmit Singh Saini, Mohali

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