Trump’s statement on trade deal with India immature
Apropos of ‘Not final, says EAM as Trump claims India offered zero tariffs’; External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is right in rebutting President Donald Trump’s claims that India offered the US a trade deal with ‘zero tariffs’. It is good that he cleared the air by stating that bilateral trade negotiations were still continuing and it was premature to predict any outcome at this juncture. Trump has reportedly asked Apple CEO Tim Cook not to invest in India. But he expects us to levy no tariffs on imports from his country. The US President must refrain from issuing immature, conflicting statements.
Upendra Sharma, by mail
Trade war has no winners
Refer to ‘China reroutes trade while Washington plays catch-up’; trade war has no winners, only degrees of damage. The recent reconciliation between the US and China to suspend a majority of their aggressive tariff measures signals a rare moment of economic pragmatism and de-escalation. While this gesture may appear conciliatory on the surface, it raises deeper questions about whether this is a tactical pause or the beginning of a long overdue recalibration. High import tariffs can be a short-term lever to correct imbalances, but when wielded too aggressively, they become tools of mutual destruction. Cooperation, even amid competition, is essential. We don’t know whether this US-China pause is merely a cooling-off period or a step toward rebuilding the global economic order.
Harbinder S Dhillon, Una
Prioritise education over marriage
Apropos of ‘Child marriage shame’; poverty, lack of education and security concerns of girls’ parents are the main reasons behind child marriages. Educating parents and making them aware of the perils of child marriage vis-à-vis the future of their daughters is imperative. Child marriage is a great injustice to daughters. Marrying them off in their pre-teens deprives them of their childhood and much-needed education. Parents must not prioritise daughters’ marriage over their education and career.
Ravi Sharma, Dhariwal
Law to counter hate speech
Apropos of ‘Hate speech’; incidents such as the trolling of India’s Foreign Secretary and his daughter, and the statement of a minister against a distinguished woman officer of our armed forces present a worrisome picture. Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution articulates the fundamental right to ‘speech and expression’, but clause 2 provides restrictions whenever it endangers the sovereignty and integrity of India. These personal attacks are inflammatory and divisive, raising new challenges in this age of social media. There is a need for a dedicated law to take punitive action and restrict hate speech.
Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh
BJP must take action
Refer to ‘Hate speech’; the Madhya Pradesh High Court took cognisance of BJP minister Vijay Shah’s shocking communal comments against Col Sofia Qureshi and ordered an FIR against him. The BJP must take action against its minister to set an example for other leaders to mind their language. The minister concerned is just one among many. In a similar case, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was abused online. Operation Sindoor was necessary to ensure citizens’ safety, and these people, who faced this unnecessary communal tirade, contributed to making it a success.
Parkash Kaur Hanspaul, by mail
Form a Kashmir-centric Council
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should constitute a Kashmir Advisory Council, including dependable local voices, to nurture a shared responsibility of peace. A compassionate public campaign in the Kashmiri language, sharing stories of courage and unity, will heal wounds and strengthen a common purpose. Only by weaving together unwavering security measures with sincere human connection can India chart a path to lasting peace in the Valley. The National Security Advisor must streamline policing in Jammu & Kashmir while forming local civil-military liaison teams to listen to and protect Kashmiris, all of whom are not terrorists or their support providers.
Prince, Rohtak
