Police reforms needed urgently

With reference to ‘Casteism, corruption are tainting khaki’; the politicians and the police remain hand in glove, playing the cards of caste, religion, region or community, according to their needs. Nepotism, complicity and impunity remain at work, with those wielding power closing their eyes to illegal and criminal acts. Servility to the ruling party usually takes its toll on the truth, making justice elusive. DIG Bhullar, former Punjab DGP Mustafa, Haryana IG Puran Kumar, ASI Sandeep Lather — these are just a few cases where the ambiguous role of the police has come to the public’s notice. Police reforms are urgently needed to make the agencies well-equipped to handle law and order situations without falling prey to temptations.

Abhimanyu Malik, Jind

Honest officers face the heat

Apropos of ‘Casteism, corruption are tainting khaki’; the issue of discrimination and unethical practices within our institutions demands urgent attention. With regard to khaki — a uniform that symbolises authority, duty and public trust — it is disturbing to see that caste identity still influences how individuals are treated and valued. When personal background overshadows professional merit, the spirit of equality enshrined in our Constitution stands weakened. To make it worse, corruption adds another layer of injustice. When postings, responsibilities or support within the system are driven by nepotism, money or political pressure, honest officers find themselves vulnerable. Society expects the police to be a protector of law, but how can the force deliver if it is itself on the receiving end of such bias?

Ashok Singh Guleria, Hamirpur

Electric vehicles need of the hour

Refer to the news report ‘India faces threat as US sanctions 2 Russian oil firms’; India needs to accelerate indigenous oil production in a big way. Besides, production of electric vehicles instead of petrol/diesel-based vehicles should be increased so that dependence on crude oil can be minimised. By switching over to electric vehicles, we will be able to kill two birds with one stone — pollution and overdependence on oil. Although the electric vehicles may be a bit costlier initially, but once they catch the people’s fancy, they will be seen more on Indian roads.

Roop Singh Negi, Solan

Not playing with health anymore

Refer to ‘Take the real ORS’; kudos to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for finally banning the use of the term ‘ORS’ by any beverage maker. More than 60 brands are sold as ORS in tetra packs or sachets. In the good old days, ‘Electral’ powder was the only authentic ORS brand. The past decade saw the mushrooming of many companies selling sweetened beverages in the name of medicated ORS solutions. Now, the FSSAI must create awareness about this ban through print, electronic and social media so that consumers don’t fall for these misleading brands.

Bal Govind, Noida

UN mute spectator to today’s wars

With reference to ‘80 years on, UN remains humanity’s best hope’; the UN needs to align itself with the current global scenario. The UN, which was founded after World War II to prevent any kind of global war, appears to have lost its relevance as the world suffers endlessly today as seen in wars in Ukraine, Gaza and the Indian subcontinent. The UN seems to have failed, maybe because in today’s times, the traditional concept of a family of nations has become untenable.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh

The lost art of human exchange

Apropos of ‘All the world’s a status update’; the writer’s lament has a deep meaning in today’s times. It is not about rejecting technology, but mourning what it has quietly replaced — the art of human exchange. The casual gossip that once brought neighbours together, the patient conversations with parents, the warmth of face-to-face storytelling — all are fading into the hum of devices. Technology, once a bridge, is now a barrier draped in convenience. As artificial intelligence takes over, the question is not whether machines will think, but whether we will still be able to feel. We must remember that connections are not measured in megabytes, but in moments.

Vijay Singh Adhikari, Nainital