Rope in pvt players

Apropos of ‘Vaccine optimism’, evidently after the waning of the first wave, the Centre went into hibernation. Now, with the second wave raging, the government has come out of slumber and is fast-tracking approval of vaccines from foreign countries. Hopefully the government has checked with the approved companies about their stock readiness. The Centre is claiming to have supplied vaccines to over 80 countries. Was this magnanimity required at a juncture when its own citizens are deprived of a jab? The government is trying to bite more that it can chew. It should involve private players from sourcing to administering vaccines in a time-bound manner. Its misplaced strategy of ‘wait and watch’ ought to be shunned.

Deepak Singhal, Noida

Prices only to go up

Refer to ‘Decision on excise duty cut on petrol, diesel when time comes: CBIC chairman’; the idea that the prices of petrol and diesel will be cut is a fantasy and has no connection with international oil price. It is unlikely to be reduced as both the Central and state governments need the revenues and the modest reduction by a few paise is, at best, cosmetic. With the increase in LPG prices, the revenues are likely to be even higher. Fuel prices are the government’s ATM. Currently, they have not gone up, simply due to the elections. The one way to keep the fuel and LPG prices under check is not ‘one nation, one election’, as the PM often reiterates, but many elections, many times.

HN Ramakrishna, Bengaluru

Bengal politics

Apropos of ‘Bengal bloodshed’, it is a sad commentary on the dirty politics being played out in the state. Although the Election Commission has condemned and warned Mamata Banerjee against using objectionable statements during the model code of conduct, she had the audacity to remark that the EC stood for ‘Extremely Compromised’. With all the violence, politics in Bengal has reached a new low.

Maheshwer Sharma, by mail

Mamata’s political stunts

Refer to ‘24-hour campaign ban on Mamata Banerjee’; from the start of the election season, Mamata has been pulling such political stunts, like her being attacked, campaigning on a wheelchair, and now this dharna in protest against the decision of the poll panel. TMC leaders have always doubted the EC’s impartiality, but after BJP chief Dilip Ghosh was asked to explain his stand, and the ban imposed on BJP leader Rahul Sinha, the Election Commission has shown that it doesn’t pick sides. In the name of cheap politics, political parties shouldn’t defame the Election Commission of India, and instead of blaming it, they should mind their language.

Kavreen Kaur, Ludhiana

Knowing true Ambedkar

Apropos of ‘Ambedkar put equality at the core of democracy’, the writer has rightly pointed out our tendency to belittle our icons. For a common man, Babasaheb is known only for being a messiah of the downtrodden and the architect of our Constitution. The definition of true democracy, as given by him, is forgotten in the contemporary times by the masses as well as by the people running the machine of the government. Our true tributes to this great son of our land should be to spread his philosophy over and above being a crusader of protecting the rights of the Dalits only.

Pardeep Kumar Joshi, Ropar

Dignity of labour

Apropos of ‘Son of farmer, DC wields sickle’, there’s a big lesson to be learnt from this. It’s indeed very humble of him to perform this task. He should be a role model for many. We look for happiness in elaborate and expensive things and pastimes, not realising that simpler things can make us happy, like doing our chores, the fruits of which are rewarding.

Manjit Ghuman, Ludhiana

Dialysis patients

The conditions of dialysis patients during the pandemic is miserable. I had a horrible experience as my wife was found positive and was ditched by a well-known charitable hospital at Sohana, where she had been undergoing dialysis for the past two years under the ESI. When I approached the ESI, Mohali, for guidance, I was asked to go to the GMCH, Chandigarh. There we were told to go to the PGI, as it had a 24-hour dialysis facility for those positive. We rushed to the PGI, where we experienced rude behaviour at the emergency. We were told to get it done at Ropar only. After three hours of harassment, I decided to return. Thanks to a good Samaritan, I was able to get her dialysis done after two days. Will the health department of Punjab order hospitals at the district level and private hospitals to attend to Covid positive patients, too, for dialysis, which is a serious issue?

Aman Preet Singh, Ropar

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