Spirit of Bill defeated

THE protests by citizens against the CAA are a reflection on the government’s governance model. Had the government accepted the Opposition’s suggestion to send the Bill to the select committee, the confusion, violence and destruction could have been avoided. The government was overconfident and overenthusiastic to take credit. It appears that the Home Ministry did not take a feedback on the law and order situation from intelligence agencies. The way the police handled the students’ protest on Jamia campus added fuel to the fire. The international community has also started critically evaluating CAA and commenting on it. The spirit of the Bill which the government wanted to convey has been defeated. CAA has become an issue of turmoil, division and destruction. The government must make sincere efforts for peace and dialogue.

RS BRAR, Ludhiana

Student power

Refer to the editorial ‘CAA maelstrom’ (December 17); the ruling party does not care about what people want. All it cares about is votes and their own rules. Neither the BJP nor the Congress has any concern for society, especially students. They fear that such movements may dethrone them. They are playing dirty politics in the name of religion as well as with the emotions of people. There is need to practice politics with empathy. Shutting down the Internet will not prevent the students from protesting.

Bhavya Chhabra, Ambala Cantt

Reach out, now

The recent unrest at JNU, AMU and Jamia in the aftermath of the CAA is a matter of deep concern for the Modi government. The criticism of the new citizenship law is not confined to educational institutions, but has pan-India reverberation. The government should start the ‘dialogue operation’ instantly to allay the fears and misconceptions among people before it is too late. Talks are the best solution to the emerging chaotic situation in the country, before the venom of mobocracy spills over democracy.

Anil Vinayak, Amritsar

Damage in rioting

The scale of arson and damage to public property is worrisome because riots subside, but the cost is huge. Countrywide protests over the CAA look unrelenting, with the participation of students. It is surprising that all this has happened even after assurances from the Home Minister and the PM that the Act was not against any community living in India. The protesters should keep in mind that the restoration of damaged government property during riots is to be shared by them too, as per SC guidelines.

RAJENDRA PRASAD SINGH, New Delhi

Teachers’ concerns

Reference to ‘Govt to form panel to placate teachers’ (December 16); it is a positive step towards solving teacher-related problems. But the question is, if different groups of teachers’ unions will accept the decisions arrived at by the panel, because its very formation seems faulty. There are various unions, and only one front has been taken into confidence. So long as the government and the panel are sincere in their duties, and addressing the concerns of all categories of teachers, we can hope for the success of this advisory committee.

Faqir Singh, Dasuya

Treat pupils well

Blackening the faces of seven students of class IV for poor performance in the test in a private school is a blot on the fair face of education. Education is a noble profession and blessed are those who impart it. There is a sacred bond between the teacher and the taught. Education today has become a money-spinning game. There is a rat race to show better results to attract more and more students who are charged fat fees in the name of English-medium education. Those who blackened the faces of students deserve more severe punishment than they gave to the innocent students. How the psyche of the students and parents was hurt when this humiliation was heaped on them! Sexual harassment and other notorious activities on the premises of ‘vidya mandirs’ have brought a bad name to our education system. We need better teachers to cater to the requirement of better education to the pupils who are the real future of India.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

Corrigendum

Our editorial ‘Disunited Congress’, dated December 17, inadvertently suggests the absence of Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath from Congress’s Bharat Bachao rally. Mr Kamal Nath was present at the Ramlila Maidan rally held in New Delhi on December 14. Meanwhile, Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, has clarified that his absence from the rally was not deliberate, as bad weather prevented his flight from taking off.

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