Wait-and-watch policy

Apropos of ‘Turbulence awaits India in Trump zone’; President-elect Trump has been making pronouncements such as taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal. He calls India the ‘tariff king’ due to America’s non-comparable average 3.5 per cent tariff against India’s 17 per cent. Similarly, on issues like immigration, he may take a tough stand. India must maintain cordial relations with the US, especially in strategic and economic fields. Tariff, immigration and employment were Trump’s election planks. It is better to wait and initiate prudent steps when the time is ripe.

Subhash Vaid, New Delhi

Eradicate doping at lower level

Refer to ‘India’s dope shame’; it is concerning to know about doping in Indian sports and the alarming statistics regarding the number of athletes currently ineligible to compete internationally. The real issue lies in the entrenched culture of doping, particularly at the grassroots level, where district coaches are allegedly encouraging young players to use banned substances. The Haryana Sports Department’s recent actions are a step in the right direction, but a broader, nationwide initiative is essential to address this crisis. A zero-tolerance policy towards doping must be backed by transparency and accountability at every level — from district coaches to national federations.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Follow Dr Singh’s example

With reference to the news report ‘Govt picks Rashtriya Smriti Sthal for MMS memorial, family seeks clarity on proposal’; Dr Manmohan Singh’s academic excellence and contribution deserve a lot more recognition than a brick-and-mortar memorial. His example must be followed in letter and spirit. The late PM was no politician but was rather ‘used’ by crafty colleagues who shamelessly played dirty games. Kudos to his family for seriously thinking about “how to create a meaningful memorial for him”.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Shun use of Chinese string

Refer to the news report ‘Boy touches Chinese string dangling from pole dies’; the name ‘Chinese dor’, used for flying kites, is irrelevant now as this has become a ‘made in India’ product. The administration has failed to catch hold of the manufacturers. There has been limited action against small shopkeepers. It appears to be a non-issue for the government with only superficial action being taken. The ‘Chinese dor’ is available openly despite a ban and it has been the same story for many years. Apart from the police, society at large also has a duty to discourage its use. If the government is truly committed to addressing this life-threatening problem, it could consider deploying volunteers to help curb this menace.

Ishan Hastir, Gurdaspur

Mixing religion & politics

Apropos of the news report ‘Amritpal supporters float political outfit Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)’; the launch of an Akali outfit raises many questions. The most important one is about whether independently elected MPs can float a political party. Shouldn’t they be disqualified under provisions of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution? Moreover, Panthic parties have been known to raise religious issues more than state-level matters. This erodes their secular character that constitutes the basic framework of the Constitution. The Election Commission should take notice of this development.

Robinjot Singh, Patiala

Exploitation at the workplace

Refer to ‘The hidden burden of prolonged work hours’, India currently doesn’t have specific laws to regulate white-collar and corporate jobs. The debate over holding a 70 or 90-hour work week would breach Indian labour laws which cap weekly work hours at 48 and total daily work hours, including overtime, at 12. India has been notorious for exploitation under the guise of work hours. Drafting specific laws will align it to the global standards of work-life balance. The longer work week debate in the Indian corporate sector barely addresses the stark reality as the fundamental issues of fair compensation and work-life balance remain unaddressed.

Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh