Welcome crackdown

Apropos of ‘Quick, surprise eviction after 399 days’; political compulsions compelled the AAP government in Punjab to launch an eviction drive at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders after over a year. The government acted after Ludhiana traders warned AAP’s national convener of losing political ground if the farmers continue to create inconvenience to the public, especially the business community. The pressure created by the industrialist lobby seems to have worked amid the heavy losses it was incurring. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann remained soft towards farmer leaders for a long time, but their rigid attitude compelled the government to take a tough stand.

Vijaya Sharma, by mail

Good move by the govt

The Punjab Government has done a wonderful job by clearing the Punjab-Haryana border of the temporary structures put up by the farmers. Commuters were facing a lot of inconvenience. They had to wade through village lanes and potholed roads in the hinterland. Ambulances could not reach their destination in time; patients and their attendants, too, had a difficult time reaching hospitals. Business suffered due to the blockade as raw material and finished goods were not delivered on time.

OP Garg, PATIALA

Hold meaningful dialogue

The drastic action taken by the Punjab Police to dismantle farmers’ camps at Shambhu and Khanauri has caused significant distress among the protesters. The sudden police crackdown seems not only unjustified, but also harsh. While the Punjab Government had assured that it would not disturb the protesters, swift eviction by the police, accompanied by forceful detentions and dismantling of the camps, contradicts these assurances. Police action has left farmers feeling betrayed, undermining their trust in the ongoing dialogue. The government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare should reflect in both words and actions. The government must take an empathetic approach towards farmers and engage in meaningful dialogue.

Vandana, Chandigarh

Reprieve for jail inmates

Refer to ‘Primacy of bail’; the Supreme Court’s concern over the rejection of bail pleas in cases where investigations have been completed is valid. However, another pressing issue that needs urgent attention is the plight of inmates who have already served their punishment period but remain in jail due to their inability to pay penalties or fines. This is not only inhuman but also a grave violation of human rights. The government must take immediate steps to address this issue, ensuring that no individual is deprived of liberty beyond the prescribed sentence. NGOs working for human rights should come forward to provide legal and financial aid to such prisoners. Justice should not be a privilege only for those who can afford it.

Naresh Kumar Nijhawan, Karnal

Misplaced national pride

The return of American astronaut Sunita Williams from space is undoubtedly a remarkable achievement in space exploration. However, the hype created by politicians and the media over her Indian ancestry is unreasonable. While her accomplishments deserve recognition, she represents NASA and the US, not India. Instead of glorifying individuals with remote ties to the country, India should focus on celebrating and supporting its own space scientists and astronauts. Misplaced national pride does little to inspire scientific growth. It is time to shift our attention from symbolic victories to substantive advancements in India’s space programme.

Balbir Singh Kakkar, Jalandhar

Misleading information

In many offices of bureaucrats in the Haryana Government, a plaque reads ‘Milne ka samay: 11 se 12 baje’ (Visiting hour: 11 am to noon). The fact is that they are not available to meet the public during the designated hour. He/she is either busy with a minister or senior officer on tour, or has gone out on a ‘visit’, or has called a meeting of his/her subordinates. The result is that people, who may have come from far-off places, have to wait outside their offices for hours and are still not able to meet them.

Lalit Mohan, Gurugram