Ramdev’s claim

Apropos of ‘IMA slams Harsh over promoting Patanjali’s Coronil’, it’s surprising that in a well-planned event, Ramdev announced that his so-called wonder drug has been approved by the WHO for the treatment of Covid-19. It’s all the more shocking that he made this sensational and false statement from the podium which was shared by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Within hours of the announcement, the WHO clarified that it has not certified the efficacy of any traditional medicine. It’s intriguing to fathom the wisdom of the two responsible ministers to be a party to the blatant lie by Ramdev. They should have checked and verified the authenticity of his claim before attending the function. Their participation, particularly by the Health Minister, who himself is a doctor, will be mocked by the medical fraternity all over the world.

Balbir Singh Kakkar, UK

Promoting Coronil

Being a doctor as well as the Health Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan has shown carelessness by promoting a fake Covid-19 medicine, ‘Coronil’. The minister took no action against Ramdev’s claims of WHO certification. It was inappropriate and misleading to promote such an unscientific product before the country.

Nishtha, Yamunanagar

Puducherry crisis

Refer to the report ‘CM quits as Congress govt falls in Puducherry’; the political developments confirm yet again the failure of the Congress to manage its internal affairs, and refuse to learn lessons from the experiences in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, where it couldn’t retain power. The party is becoming an easy prey to BJP’s political aggression. But most importantly, the episode exposes the failure of the anti-defection law to stop defections and cause the downfall of a government. The practical realities of Indian politics — the ineptness of the Congress and the BJP’s quest for power — and the dysfunctionality of existing legal frameworks such as the anti-defection law has led to Puducherry’s pre-poll political shift.

N Sadhasiva Reddy, Bengaluru

Fire of hatred

Apropos of ‘Society devoid of compassion’, people are becoming self-centred, and in some cases, even vitriolic. Those who are sensitive, are scared of the price they may have to pay for dissent, because every one knows what dissent means in India today! As a discerning society, we must not forget that the fire of hatred being constantly ignited by the self-serving media is right at our doorstep. The need is to recognise it and stop it from defiling the sanctity of our homes and hearts by refusing to listen to biased TV channels and digital platforms. This is the least we can do. Eventually, the sufferer will be none but the common people.

Lalita Jagmohan, by mail

Brilliant doctor & human

It is shocking to know that Dr BK Sharma of the PGI is no more. He was a brilliant doctor and his academic record was superlative. He rose to the position of the Director of the institute. Two things stood out: his impeccable diagnosis and amiable nature. Arrogance was miles away. He started practising at CMC, Chandigarh, after retirement. His fee was very reasonable. Like Dr PN Chhuttani, the founder, he treated his patients on the pattern of the PGI. His command over the language was perfect and his comments in the daily morning Clinical Pathological Conference were penetrative. He will be remembered with a heavy heart by those who knew him.

RN Malik, Gurugram

Air pollution grant

The Central government has earmarked 42 cities with a population of more than 1 million, including Amritsar and Ludhiana, for grant of an average Rs 50 crore to control air pollution. Prevention is better than cure, and the time-tested formula applied successfully in case of the pandemic. So instead of wasting crores of rupees of taxpayers’ money, why don’t the Centre and state governments take preventive measures to control air pollution under the prevailing law already in place?

Naresh Johar, Amritsar

Team Sarah

Refer to the endeavour of Sarah, a UAE scientist (‘Reflections’; The Sunday Tribune); along with her team of other woman scientists, have written their ‘shakti’ on the Red Planet. By doing this, the team has erased the label of second citizen in Islamic nations. Education empowers either sex. We hope a Sarah comes forward in our country also to give a befitting reply to AIMPLB officials through her achievements.

Kiran Rai Kalra, by mail

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