Stunning turn

Apropos of ‘Maharashtra mess’, after CM Uddhav Thackeray resigned, it was expected that BJP leader Fadnavis would be back in the saddle. But a stunning turn was yet to come, and it did come when the BJP decided to step aside for rebel leader Eknath Shinde to take oath as CM. It was a BJP masterstroke to checkmate Thackeray. Though Fadnavis had earlier announced that he wouldn’t be part of the new government, but he was overruled by the BJP leadership and took oath as Deputy CM. In a day of dramatic twists, Shinde, who led a massive coup in the Shiv Sena, was sworn in as CM after he staked claim to form the government with BJP support. It is possible that the surprising move of not making Fadnavis CM may have been in the works all along, with the BJP planning to achieve more political objectives in the state.

SK SINGH, by mail

Embezzlement on agenda

Refer to ‘Funds go down the drain’; it appears that parties come to power only to swindle government funds by corrupt means, in connivance with officials and bureaucrats. No corruption can occur in any government department unless the minister, Administrative Secretary and the head of the department join hands to embezzle funds. It is a curse to live in corrupt times. Shocking information appears in the media every day, a signpost that the political dispensations in the last decade has practically institutionalised the menace of corruption. It is appalling that the Central subsidy was given to Punjab for buying machinery under the Crop Residue Management scheme but it was nowhere to be found on the ground. The scams of the agriculture department seem to be of much bigger magnitude than the forest department, if probed honestly.

Bir Devinder Singh, Patiala

BJP’s ace move

Refer to ‘Politics of symbolism’; the BJP has now transcended the identity of a middle-class-upper caste, city-based Hindu party. It has very effectively expanded its support base among all social groups and communities. The announcement of Droupadi Murmu as the NDA’s presidential candidate will increase its base among tribal communities. She fits perfectly into the BJP framework. There are three important identities associated with her — women, tribal and poor — which makes her story more interesting and inspiring. Her presence in Rashtrapati Bhavan will symbolically reinforce the argument that the BJP has democratised institutions to pave the way for the downtrodden. It will go in the party’s favour.

Sikandar Bansal, Shimla

Sports quota

In reference to the jobs given on the basis of sports quota. It is justified if the jobs are given in the same faculty, for instance, a man shining in kabaddi may be appointed a kabaddi coach. But to give him preference as a science teacher is not justified by any canon of justice. This approach of the powers that be smacks of injustice to the deserving candidates. Votes should not be the sole objective of political parties.

Santosh Jamwal, Hamirpur

Too much noise

The middle ‘Soul-shattering cacophony’ had me both amused and thoughtful. It brought to mind school days and half-yearly exams in October, which invariably coincided with Ramlila in the neighbourhood. I remember trying to study by stuffing cotton in my ears to block out the noise and with tears in my eyes, wishing that either the school saw sense or the festive season be at some other time of the year! Another memory is of my dog who almost had a heart attack on Diwali night every year due to fervent celebrations in the neighbourhood with crackers. I put cotton wool and scarves around his ears to tide over that nightmare for 14 years. I too believe in a higher energy, but my veneration is quieter, and though I understand the social aspect of these loud celebrations, I can’t appreciate the disturbance of peace. Till sense prevails, I am grateful for science and law intervention with their earplugs and deadlines!

Aradhana Sharma, Chandigarh

SC observation

Refer to ‘Her loose tongue set nation on fire: SC’; the court has observed that Nupur Sharma’s comment had led to the unfortunate incident. Is the observation based on some evidence produced before the court or merely on media reports? The ‘cause and effect’ theory propounded by the court may be used by some vested interests to justify the Udaipur killing. Some people openly criticise Lord Rama for having banished Sita merely on what a dhobi said. That no Hindu sangathan has sought the lodging of FIRs against such people, as done in the case of Nupur Sharma, shows the tolerance of Hindus.

WG CDR CL SEHGAL (RETD), JALANDHAR

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