Questions remain

The unfortunate air crash which claimed the life of CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, the most decorated Army officer, has stunned the whole nation and left behind a trail of many unanswered questions regarding the possible cause of the mishap. How could the double-engine IAF chopper — the latest version of its exclusive class — which would have gone through strict inspection protocols before take-off, and piloted by a highly experienced Air Force officer, crash? The black box will provide crucial details, but the painful fact remains that our country has lost one of the greatest patriots and a hero who spearheaded the modernisation of our armed forces.

Deepak Kaushik, Radaur

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A true patriot

Apropos of ‘A down-to-earth General, at times misunderstood’, the air mishap has moved the entire nation. General Rawat was eloquent about taking on our hostile neighbours and the drastic needs to modernise our forces. Many of us might have not have fully agreed with his views on downsizing of the non-essential manpower in the Army, yet we all respected our brave, genuinely patriotic and highly decorated General Rawat.

Raj Bahadur Yadav, Fatehabad

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Thorough probe a must

The demise of the CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat, is immensely saddening news for the country. The chopper crash also claimed the lives of other Army personnel. A proper inquiry must be carried out by the government to know the reason behind the failure of such an advanced helicopter that is known for its ability to fly even in adverse weather conditions.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

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Another crash

Apropos of ‘Gen Bipin Rawat, first CDS, dies in crash’, it is unfortunate that India has lost its CDS, along with his wife and 11 other persons in the crash. The government appointed him for the top post to bring about force transformation through the creation of theatre commands. The tragic crash is another addition to the long list of fatal accidents involving VVIPs. However, the first question that would arise is whether bad weather had been taken into consideration when the trip was planned.

Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai

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Tragic loss

It was shattering to hear about the tragic demise of Gen Bipin Rawat. We lost a man of true calibre. His patriotism, excellence and dedication never raised a question on his diligence. He would not mince words. Although this tragic mishap can’t be reversed, a thorough investigation should be conducted to find out the cause of the crash.

Agam Garg, Jalandhar

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Don’t paint them ‘villain’

Apropos of ‘Revisit AFSPA’, it is sensible to review the need for its continued use in a particular state at least once a year. Similarly, there is the need for reviewing the state of insurgency, preparedness of the state police forces and the political processes to meet the challenge of counter-insurgency in that particular state. It has become fashionable for the media to project the security forces as villain whenever an incident like that of Nagaland tragedy occurs. The use of words like operating with ‘impunity’ and having ‘immunity’ from prosecution mislead the public. The truth is that the security forces are subject to the law of the land and suffer the most deprivations during such operations. Every public servant enjoys immunity for all things done in good faith.

Lt Col GS Bedi (Retd), Mohali

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Inequality in education

Rising inequality in India is worrisome and needs to be addressed by policy-makers (‘Unequal Nation’). Lower rating indicates the more equal distribution of wealth in society. Stark inequality brings with it inherent evils of unrest, suspicion, hatred, corruption, etc., among citizens. Unequal education and accessibility systems for rural and urban population may be the reason of increasing inequality. It must be considered to replace them with an education system equally accessible to all sections of society to narrow down inequality in income and more rationale distribution of wealth.

Krishan Kant Sood, Nangal

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Protest by teachers

Refer to ‘Protest over pay scales hits teaching in 184 Pb colleges’; teachers in Punjab are observing education bandh to seek the implementation of salary as per the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission of the UGC. They are also perturbed over the move of the state government to delink UGC grades. When eligibility conditions for jobs conform to UGC norms, why not match the UGC grades as well? Keeping in mind the loss of studies earlier due to the pandemic, and now due to teachers’ strike, the state government should redress the genuine demands of the teachers so that educational institutions can function normally and impart education to students.

NK Gosain,Bathinda 

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