Safety protocol amiss in aviation sector

Refer to ‘Aviation sector takes a pause for safety’s sake’; the devastating Ahmedabad Air India crash has opened a Pandora’s box of shortcomings in flight safety. Flights are operated without proper checks due to shortage of time, besides the pressure to stick to the schedule. Shortage of spare parts, ‘cannibalisation’ and shortcuts in preventive checks can lead to fatal accidents any time. More than 70 per cent of the audiovisual systems installed on Air India international flights remain out of service most of the time. Clearing an unserviced aircraft for flying is nothing less than mass murder. Flight safety is paramount and heads must roll in case of inefficiency.

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Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd), Mohali

Matter of faith, not State

Refer to ‘Dalai Lama’s way’; the Tibetan leader’s assertion that his successor will be decided solely by a Trust is a historic and principled stand for religious autonomy. His decision reaffirms the spiritual and cultural rights of Tibetan Buddhists, who have followed this sacred tradition for over 600 years. The spiritual head’s move is a powerful response to growing concerns about the Chinese government’s attempt to politicise a deeply religious practice. Beijing’s insistence on approving the next Dalai Lama is not only a distortion of a religious exercise but also a blatant overreach in spiritual affairs. The succession of a spiritual leader is a matter of faith, not state control.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

NHAI has no justification for flaws

Apropos of ‘In a jam’; being a central authority under the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the NHAI has to ensure that the public is served in the best possible manner. The organisation had no justification for the gridlock on a section of the Agra-Mumbai National Highway that was created due to faulty roadwork by the NHAI. The authority must review its functioning and make sure that it sticks to its primary responsibility to construct quality highways and provide safe and smooth travel to citizens.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi

NHAI counsel’s irrelevant question

Refer to ‘In a jam’; public inconvenience on some NHAI highways is alarming. The outburst of NHAI counsel in the Madhya Pradesh HC — “Why do people even leave home so early without any work? — is shocking. It is like the DGCA asking fliers: why are people flying in such large numbers? The hospital authorities may ask patients, “Why are people falling sick in such large numbers?” or the railways staff saying, “Why are so many people thronging railway stations? The NHAI should realise the hardships people face day in and day out.

Ramesh Gupta, Narwana

Artistes know no borders

Art transcends boundaries, languages and ideologies. Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh once said, “Music doesn’t see borders; it sees hearts.” His collaborations and support for Pakistani artistes reflect the unifying power of creativity. Atif Aslam, a renowned Pakistani singer, has won hearts across India with his soulful voice, proving that melody knows no nationality. Legendary Pakistani singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen have long mesmerised Indian audiences. Even in times of strained diplomacy, these performers continue to be celebrated on both sides of the border, reminding us that art is a universal language.

Preetpal Singh Chhina, by mail

Locals fed up with tourists

Cities around the world strive to boost tourism, attract more footfall and thereby strengthen their economies. However, in Barcelona (Spain), where the tourism sector is already booming, locals have launched a unique protest to slow it down and push tourists away from popular spots. They are troubled by the unruly behaviour of tourists, the increasing cost of living and the growing unrest caused by mass tourism. Some locals have even left their homes due to the chaos and moved to quieter places. Protesters have started ‘the water gun movement’ that has caught global attention.

Dattaprasad Shirodkar, Mumbai