Tight rein on rallies a must

Refer to ‘Yellow alert in Delhi, Punjab tells unjabbed to stay home’, a new version of Covid has again entered India and is spreading its tentacles. Whether the new restrictions imposed by Punjab and other states will be applicable to political gatherings and rallies in poll-bound states is a big question. In the second wave, these very political gatherings had also contributed to a surge in Covid cases, resulting in deaths on a large-scale with bodies thrown unceremoniously in rivers due to the collapse of poor health support system. We will have to pay a heavy price if the Supreme Court fails to act or keep a tight leash on political activities now.

Ashok Kumar, by mail

Learn from Kerala

Apropos of ‘Unhealthy states’, Kerala impressively scored well in the health sector for the fourth year in a row on the NITI Aayog’s Annual Health Index score. In all spheres and in development, the coffee belt in the south outshines the ‘cow belt’ in the north, particularly the sHindi-speaking areas such as UP, Bihar and MP. In China, a major chunk of the population has no religion, and they have brought in a lot of development, especially in the education sector, in the last three decades. We should take a leaf out of Kerala and China’s book, in education at least. Kerala has many religious communities, living peacefully and cordially. Why can’t the rest of the country follow suit?

Sudershan Walia, Amritsar

Implement Odisha model

Apropos of ‘Unhealthy states’, it is great that Kerala has emerged as the best performer among large states on NITI Aayog’s Annual Health Index score. It has been rightly observed that the lowest-ranked states on the index have lowest per capita income and lowest Human Development Index scores. But Odisha has shown that if you have the will, you can improve things. It would be great if Bihar, MP, Rajasthan and UP too, study the Odisha model and improve conditions for their people.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

FCRA registration

Reference to ‘Missionaries of Charity’, the Home Ministry’s refusal to renew FCRA registration to MoC, founded by Mother Teresa, is a step-motherly treatment meted out to a renowned charitable NGO. This shock is being shared by many across the world, who support MoC either in kind or in spirit. The specific foreign-funding law is intended to check activities detrimental to the national interest, but if one of India’s most venerable NGOs is indeed being accused of this, some evidence needs to be provided. Set up in 1950, it has had plenty of critics over the years. Of course, no misuse of funding should get a free hand, but the nature of misuse must be completely clear. Its application for renewal shouldn’t be refused.

MS Khokhar, by mail

Onus on the ECI

This is in reference to ‘Fearing denial of ticket, Cong MLAs join BJP’. Party-hopping will begin once the election schedule is announced and nominations finalised/denied leading to new permutations and combinations. Now, the onus lies on the Election Commission of India to cleanse the electoral process as choices must reflect our hopes, not fears. Mandatory one-year membership norm for party nomination is the panacea. Those elected as Independents must stay so for their entire term and not (mis)align to be in power. Ban anyone convicted of moral turpitude or heinous crimes from holding a public office for life.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Sukhbir expecting miracles

The assertions of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding ‘giving Chandigarh to Punjab’ during meetings in Dinanagar Assembly segment indicate that he is expecting some miracle to happen next year. His party could not get Chandigarh during their long rule in Punjab. Neither did they encash their goodwill with the Chautala family to solve the SYL row. Even during their long partnership with the BJP, they failed to solve the problems of the state.

Upendra Sharma, Ludhiana

Outreach panel ill-conceived

The BJP’s decision to set up a four-member outreach panel is an ill-conceived one. Dividing voters on the lines of caste ill-behoves the ruling dispensation. Brahmin voters have their own mind and are not liable to be lured or misled by the political parties such as the BSP or the Samajwadi Party. They are well aware of the utterances of Mayawati against this community during the past. The Ram temple in Ayodhya does not belong to a particular community. Even the Brahmin leaders cannot force a member to cast his vote in favour of a particular candidate.

Vijaya Sharma, by mail

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