Walk the extra mile

Refer to ‘Reviewing AFSPA’, the formation of a panel to look into the withdrawal of the Act from Nagaland is a welcome move. But the panel will have to keep in mind the groundswell for peace in Nagaland, a result of the extraordinary work put in by civil society groups such as the Naga Mothers’ Association. The Naga insurgency is a far more complex phenomenon, of course, but a new generation, more invested in peace and prosperity, has come of age. Their future needs to be guarded from the vicious cycle of violence that has laid previous generations to waste. The government needs to walk the extra mile.

SS Paul, by mail

Make a fresh start

Apropos of ‘Reviewing AFSPA’, the Union Home Ministry’s decision to set up a panel for reviewing it is timely and a welcome move. AFSPA confers a wide range of powers and protection to the armed forces — even the right to shoot or kill on suspicion. While its application to maintain security in sensitive and disturbed areas is seen as a justification, tangible peace continues to evade the affected states. On the contrary, incidents like botched Army operations in Nagaland that resulted in civilian deaths inflame passions and provide leverage to militancy movements. Now, since a call to repeal AFSPA has been made, the political leadership — both at the Centre and states — should walk the talk on revoking this draconian law. The Northeast states affected by AFSPA have suffered enough; it’s time to move beyond this painful legacy.

Lajwant Singh, by mail

A step in right direction

Apropos of ‘Democracy in peril’, Joe Biden’s initiative for a summit is a step in the right direction, as it envisages participation of people and nations with shared responsibility after exhaustive discussions. It provides a better chance for peace within and worldwide. History hints at devastating sufferings at the hands of authoritarian regimes. In the backdrop of the one-man rule in China and North Korea, such summits are essential to tame the rogue nations.

BM Singh, Amritsar

Public apology a must

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s disgraceful comment on cops during a Congress rally has hurt the sentiments of many brave and hardworking officers. He must realise that it is due to this security fleet that he moves around safely. Police officials like Harjeet Singh risked their lives during the pandemic and led from the front. It is they who make us feel safe. One must remember brave policemen, like Tukaram Omble, who laid down their lives in the 26/11 attack, before making such remarks. Sidhu has a huge stature in public and he should choose his words responsibly. Sidhu should publicly apologise for it.

Harsimranvir Singh, Patiala

Not a cakewalk

Though the Aam Aadmi Party’s win in the Chandigarh MC poll is encouraging, it won’t be easy to win the Punjab Assembly elections. It’s a different scenario altogether this time with new entrants — Capt Amarinder’s Punjab Lok Congress and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa’s SAD (S) collaborating with the BJP, as well as farmers’ unions, too, getting together under the banner of ‘Sanyukt Samaj Morcha’. It will not be a cakewalk for AAP.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

Omicron threat

Refer to ‘New Year gift’, PM Modi’s announcement on booster shots and children’s vaccination is welcome, but much needs to be known about how India’s third-dose programme will play out. While the decision on vaccines for children has been on the cards for some time, the emergence of the Omicron variant seems to have lent greater urgency to the government’s efforts to introduce booster shots. The highly contagious nature of the variant also increases the risk of infection in the unvaccinated younger population. The decision to broaden the ambit of the inoculation project is welcome. Five states are in the poll mode and rallies would be a potent super-spreader. To counter this infection surge, the booster programme must be rapidly executed.

PS Kaur, by mail

HP’s epoch-making win

HP’s recent win in the Vijay Hazare trophy, trouncing giants Tamil Nadu, is an epoch-making event in the state’s sporting history. They have effectively shed the ‘minion’ tag and taken a giant leap forward. The players naturally need felicitation, but the ground work done by HPCA also needs equal appreciation. It has been a concerted effort and journey over the last two decades. Despite political impediments, the association stayed the course and remained steadfast for the development of the game. They ramped up the necessary infrastructure and developed structured programmes to nurture young talent. The association has done wonders and deserves to be applauded.

Gurjyot Singh, Shimla

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