Bhole Baba did a vanishing act

With reference to the news report ‘6 arrested for Hathras stampede, Rs 1L bounty on satsang organiser’; even though more than 120 people died in the stampede that broke out during the religious gathering held by Bhole Baba, the self-styled godman has not been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the incident. The investigation into the matter and the criminal proceedings must be fast-tracked to ensure a speedy delivery of justice to the victims. It is disgraceful that the preacher disappeared after the tragedy instead of coming forward and offering assistance in the relief operations. He has shattered the trust of lakhs of gullible people. It is a pity that self-proclaimed godmen like him often enjoy political patronage in our country.

Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar

Don’t let Blue eclipse Olive Green

Winning the T20 World Cup is a huge achievement, and Team India players deserve kudos for the feat. It was magnificent how thousands of people filled the entire stretch from the Nariman Point to the Wankhede Stadium to welcome the Men in Blue. The show of love was a testament to the Indians’ undying love for the sport and respect for the players. However, it is unfortunate that our troops, who put their lives on the line to protect their motherland and stand guard day and night at the border, are never welcomed back home in a grand fashion. Students at schools across the country must be mandatorily taught about the challenges faced by soldiers in the event of a war and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country.

Tarusha, Kapurthala

Down with the cricket craze

Rohit Sharma and his team got a hero’s welcome in Mumbai on Thursday as they returned from Barbados following their T20 World Cup triumph. The champions were congratulated by PM Narendra Modi and greeted by a sea of cricket-mad fans upon their arrival. These players are revered as heroes in India, even though only a handful of countries participate in the cricket World Cup. Let us not forget that there are close to 200 countries in this world. The Indian public needs to snap out of this craze for cricket. George Bernard Shaw once rightly said, ‘Cricket is a game played by 11 fools and watched by 11,000 fools.’ Our real heroes are the soldiers, who are willing to lay down their lives to protect the country. It is a matter of shame that most people don’t even remember that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kargil War.

GS Bhullar, by mail

Road connectivity in rural areas

Refer to news report ‘Deprived of road, Banjar villagers carry patient on shoulders’; it was shocking to learn that residents of Brehtha village in Kullu district have to bear the brunt of a lack of proper road connectivity. It is a pity that a 70-year-old patient who had recently undergone a critical operation at a private hospital in Kullu had to be carried back to the village by fellow residents. It is safe to say that it was not an isolated incident. Many people living in far-off, rural areas of the state do not have access to even the basic amenities that those living in developed cities take for granted. Successive state governments have failed to address the woes of village residents.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

Character of a leader matters

Apropos of the middle ‘Biden, Trump go golfing with gusto’; the back-and-forth between the incumbent US President and his predecessor brought to the fore their lack of maturity. The trade of barbs between the two contenders for the Oval Office was unbecoming of them. Unfortunately, the acrimony between the two leaders and their supporters goes well beyond golf. Clips of their exchange have been doing the rounds on the Internet. Being the President of the United States is not about scoring in golf or winning a debate. Many youngsters look up to their leaders for inspiration. As Walt Whitman put it, “Sanity and ensemble characterise the great master.”

Pawan Kumar, by mail

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