Testing ground

Refer to ‘Pause, rethink, restart’ (Nous Indica); given the present logjam, the offered respite in the form of temporarily holding the farm laws should be agreeable to the farmers. Maybe the government would be less inconsiderate to their demands if the holding period draws them near the General Election in 2024. Perhaps the Centre wants to test the impact of the farmers’ opposition to the farm laws on the UP Assembly elections next year. If it succeeds in retaining power there, the laws will not be repealed. But farmers perhaps cannot afford to organise and restart the agitation to oppose, with the present intensity, the government and the capitalists.

Abhimanyu Malik, Jind

Reconsider govt offer

Apropos of ‘Pause, rethink, restart’ (Nous Indica), a negotiation is contingent on both parties agreeing to a compromise in a manner suitable to each and detrimental to none. You cannot expect the other party to accept your demands unconditionally while taking an intransigent position yourself. The government’s offer of suspending the laws for a certain period was a reasonable one, considering that the discussions with the farm unions yielded no result. Compounding the predicament were the adverse circumstances being faced by the protesters. It is imperative for these unions to acknowledge that it is only reforms promulgated by the government that have aided farmers and lifted many out of poverty. Moreover, the government has absolutely no incentive to bring about a policy inimical to the interests of the farmers, considering that agriculture is an essential prerequisite for the sustenance of the economy. The notion that it would jeopardise the backbone of the economy to serve the interests of certain ‘corporates’ should itself evoke hilarity. The unions should reconsider the government’s offer.

Nissim Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Decisive fight

As the farmers’ movement again seems to be gaining steam, despite oppressive tactics by the authorities, the heartening message which is resonating is that of communal harmony. The civil society should make this voice of oneness more coherent and let it echo from all quarters and all platforms available to us. There is an urgent need to wage a decisive fight against the divisive forces, which are trying to ruin the integrity of India! Had the farmers’ leadership warned in time the youth against the separatists’ voices, and dealt with it strongly, perhaps they wouldn’t have had this setback!

Lalita Jagmohan Singh, Chandigarh

Not serious about debate

Apropos of ‘PM: Let’s debate important issues, the PM is undermining the farmers’ issue and doesn’t want a debate on it. This is a double-faced statement as he urged the Opposition and MPs to debate issues of national importance in Parliament whereas the government escaped the debate on the passing of farm laws and still doesn’t want to debate on it. Is the farmers’ issue not of national importance? Is he serious or just wants to give statements because he is image conscious? The country has witnessed unprecedented passing of Bills without a debate in Parliament, undermining the basic tenets of democracy. What is more painful is that the Supreme Court, too, failed to protect the very book of the democracy which gave it the title of saviour of democracy.

Vishiwjeet Singh, Chandigarh

Nation’s prestige hit

Apropos of ‘Setback to farmers’ cause’, violence and anti-national activities on Republic Day are condemnable. The ire of the nation got directed against the farmers and the empathy for their cause evaporated in no time, thanks to the biased electronic media and scheming political manoeuvring. Who is the real culprit? Is it the farmers, their leaders, anti-national miscreants, Khalistani protagonists, or the government? Why requisite security forces couldn’t be activated in time to avert the ugly incidents and save the nation from ignominy? The Centre, too, can’t evade responsibility, though the incident needs to be probed from all angles. Unfortunately, the truth may never surface. The prestige of the nation and its interest is a casualty.

GP CAPT JS BOPARAI (RETD), BHADSALI

Posthumous awards

Many awards are announced by Central and state governments to honour individuals in various fields. Some awards are given posthumously. In the forces, awards are given after one’s exemplary duty on the battlefield. But in other fields, one’s performance is judged for years before giving an award. The government sometimes gives awards posthumously to octogenarians immediately after their death. An octogenarian gets an award after working all his life in the chosen field, and not for some instant work. Civilian awards should be given while a person is alive, and octogenarians doing excellent work in their fields should be shortlisted. One should be given a chance to cherish an award when alive.

Rajesh Goyal, by mail

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