Uncertainty in West Asia

Apropos of ‘Assad’s fall’; the manner in which Islamic rebels conquered Damascus and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee the country could mark the start of an era of uncertainty for West Asia. Iran has suffered a significant setback with the seizure of Syria by rebel forces. Although India’s economic ties with Syria have not grown significantly, both countries have joined forces in the battle against terror. Not only that, but Bashar al-Assad has always supported India about Kashmir. It remains to be seen what kind and how much Syria’s posture will alter considering the new circumstances.

Abhijit Roy, Jamshedpur

World must help Syria

With reference to ‘Assad’s fall’; with the downfall of Bashar al-Assad, the family’s grip on Syria, a legacy which spanned more than five decades, has ended. Corruption, poverty and inequality under Assad’s rule alienated a large population. Not only this, economic mismanagement, along with severe drought in the late 2000s, devastated rural livelihoods, fuelling discontent. The fall of the Assad regime will have far-reaching consequences for Syria as well as West Asia. Decades of conflict have left Syria with a shattered economy and the international community must make efforts to help Syrian people to prevent further suffering.

Satish Sharma Majra, Kaithal

High stakes for India

Refer to ‘Stakes are the highest for Israel’; the fall of Assad’s rule will lead to competition for power in Syria and the region. But Iran and Russia have both suffered a major blow with the loss of one of their key allies. Even though Israel is happy with the fall of the Assad regime, it will have to worry if Syria falls in the hands of the extremist groups. For India, there is lingering attachment to the Assad dynasty that had backed India in its dispute with Pakistan for decades. India, whose stakes in the region are growing by the day, has no time to waste on sentimentalism; it must think of the post-Assad West Asia regime in strategic terms.

LJ SINGH, by mail

An example of public morality

Refer to ‘Gifted lot’; Lok Sabha MP Sudama Prasad has, indeed, led by example. He established high moral standards by returning the gold and silver gifts he received during the tour of the committee. The guidelines for public enterprises debar them from giving expensive gifts as the extravaganza, ultimately, falls on the government exchequer itself. The MP rightly remarked that when the railway passengers were made to travel without dignity, the luxurious treatment to the committee members in terms of costly gifts and lavish venues for meetings and accommodation was uncalled for. Even as the Minister of Railways has ordered an inquiry into the incident, the precedent set by Prasad also serves the purpose.

KR Bharti, Shimla

Reject superficial rituals

Refer to ‘Gifted lot’; the practice of presenting token gifts such as bouquets or shawls to politicians during their visits is a glaring misuse of resources. While intended as gestures of respect, these items are short-lived and, ultimately, meaningless in impact. In a country grappling with poverty and inadequate healthcare, such expenditures are unjustifiable. Imagine the collective potential of redirecting these funds towards meaningful causes, like planting trees, aiding education or supporting charities. It’s time for leaders and organisers to reject these superficial rituals and embrace impactful alternatives. Let respect be shown through actions that leave a legacy, not through fleeting displays of excess.

Balbir Singh Kakkar, Jalandhar

Leaders must take action

Apropos of ‘Why Punjab has fallen deeper into the abyss’; the author has rightly callied upon the state and Central leaderships to “take cognisance of the precarious situation and chart a plan”. But sadly, the one-upmanship and political slugfest between the two is taking its toll, ceding space to elements inimical to peace, harmony, progress and integrity in the state.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula