Find an amicable solution

Apropos of ‘Piety hostage to power politics’ (Nous Indica); it is a fact that Mohammedan invaders and Mughal emperors did great harm to Hindu places of worship, desecrating and destroying them. UP CM Yogi Adityanath has endorsed Hindu groups’ claims over shrines in Varanasi and Mathura by referring to how the refusal to accept Lord Krishna’s demand for five villages for the Pandavas led to the Mahabharata war. The country has already witnessed bloodshed over such disputes. Well-meaning Muslims should come forward and try to work out a solution with the Hindu groups. There is no place for violence and suppression of one community by another in a civilised society.

KR Bharti, Shimla

Need to shed historical baggage

This is with reference to ‘Piety hostage to power politics’; the demand for more mosques to be demolished so that temples can be built is a dangerous trend. It is true that early Muslim rulers were intolerant towards Hindus. There is no denying that several temples were destroyed. But an eye-for-an-eye approach will never lead us to progress. You can judge a society by where it stands on such critical and sensitive issues. The government must handle such matters in a compassionate manner and keep everybody’s sentiments in mind.

Jeevan VK, Pathankot

Power play in Pakistan

This refers to the editorial ‘Pakistan polls’; the fact that independent candidates backed by former PM Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sprung a surprise in the general election by upstaging Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz is a reflection of the massive support that Imran still enjoys despite his legal troubles. However, the volatile political situation and the Pakistan army’s support for Sharif’s party can complicate matters. It may further weaken the economic condition of Pakistan. An unstable government in the neighbouring country will have serious implications for India in terms of security, border and trade.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali

Poor implementation to blame

With reference to the editorial ‘Mauled by dogs’; the incident of a 32-year-old woman being mauled to death by stray dogs in Kapurthala’s Passan Kadim village should worry us all. Stray dog attacks on people have become increasingly common these days. It is unfortunate that in some cases, the attack leaves the victims seriously injured or even turns fatal. The poor implementation of policies by the local authorities is to blame for the growing canine menace. The authorities concerned must monitor stray dogs. Further, those in power should take a serious view of the threat posed by stray animals in general. It is not uncommon for stray dogs or cattle to cause road accidents.

Kamalpreet Singh, Barnala

Politics of Bharat Ratna

Refer to the report ‘Bharat Ratna for ex-PMs Charan Singh, Narasimha Rao, scientist Swaminathan’; it is raining Bharat Ratnas ahead of the general election. Five recipients have already been named this year. It is obvious that the decisions have been motivated by politics. The award for Karpoori Thakur is one of the reasons why Bihar CM Nitish Kumar crossed over from the Opposition to the NDA. The award for LK Advani was an appeal to the BJP’s own Sangh Parivar base. And by honouring Rao, Modi can now claim he has given a senior Congress leader the nation’s highest honour. But the question is: Will giving away the award to so many people not devalue the honour? Is the ruling party using the Bharat Ratna as a launch pad for a grand victory in 2024?

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

To live(in) or not

Most people in India look down on live-in relationships with a lot of disdain. The UCC Bill in no way makes life easier for such couples, who will face up to three months in jail or a maximum fine of Rs 10,000 or both if they fail to register their live-in status within one month. One can’t help but wonder how this proposed law will bring about gender equality and protect women’s rights. The need of the hour is to bring about a shift in the mindset and make efforts to normalise such relationships.

Gunjit Trehan, Chandigarh

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