Illegal mining

Apropos of the editorial ‘Murder of a DSP’, what should actually be a jolt is a slight nudge in a society ruled by a polity based on political expediency rather than unshakeable principles of governance. The response of political authority testifies to this fact in Haryana, in the aftermath of the mowing down of a senior police officer. The state has been witnessing such incidents during similar raids since 2005, as disclosed by the state’s Home Minister. Where money speaks, justice gets silenced, as is seen in cases that are ‘closed as untraced’.

Jagvinder Singh Brar, Patiala

Who is responsible?

Illegal mining in Haryana raises a question. Who, despite the order of the Supreme Court, permitted a dump truck without a number plate? Obviously, it cannot be done without the connivance of those at the helm. If the mining mafia is not busted, it will have a demoralising effect on honest officers, like the DSP, who had to pay the price for discharging his duty. The apex court should take suo motu cognisance and punish those in the government who have violated its specific order banning mining activities in the state.

Maheshwer Sharma, by mail

Everything on sale

The report ‘Medical seats offered for Rs 20-25 lakh’ shows that money can buy anything. Our elders would advise children that they could buy everything with money, but not education. They have been proved wrong. Not just medical seats, even MLAs and MPs can be bought to establish governments of choice. Politicians are lawmakers and ‘guides’, who represent us in our state Assemblies and Parliament. When they put a tag of ‘on sale’ on their faces to switch over to other parties for a more glittering chair, how can they stop the sale of medical seats, when most such syndicates are patronised by one or the other politician?

Faqir Singh, Dasuya

Farmers’ cooperatives

Refer to ‘Wheat crisis fuels concerns over food stocks’; the Ukraine war has created shortages of wheat, especially in some European and African countries. Resultantly, the prices of wheat have gone up in the international and domestic market. In the context of Indian farmers, the creation of a chain of farmers as producers and traders of grain, on the concept of cooperatives, would be beneficial for all stakeholders. The homogeneous power of all members in such cooperatives, contract farming arrangements and supply chain setup is the crux for its sustainability. With the entry of big corporates and traders in the grain market, there is a tendency to exploit farmers. Thus, the farmers themselves should venture into trading of foodgrains by establishing cooperative supply chain arrangements. There is an enormous scope for increasing wheat production and the farmers venturing into the export market. The government should play the role of a facilitator in the form of providing marketing intelligence inputs and smoothening the process by formulating pragmatic policies.

KB Singh, Ludhiana

Bolstering the rupee

Apropos of ‘Macroeconomic care a must to shore up rupee’, the pace at which the value of rupee against the US dollar is falling is a matter of great concern. Various factors like inflation, unemployment and FIIs leaving the country are weakening the economy. There is an urgent need for immediate steps by the RBI and the government to check this negative trend. The RBI should resort to short-term measures, like disposing of some reserves and offshore exchange marketing, to bring stability. The government should consider restrictions on certain unproductive imports. Indigenous products in the market and exports should be promoted. Effective implementation of policies beyond sloganeering is required. ‘Made in India’ should be promoted in its true spirit. Taxes on petroleum products needs to be lowered to contain inflation. A wholesome package is required to check the dwindling economic trends.

Surinder Kumar Mahna, Karnal

Climate crisis

Unprecedented global warming should be a serious international concern (‘The deadly heatwave’). It is time to collectively limit the record-smashing temperatures and aggressively reduce carbon emissions for a safer, healthier and more equitable future. The governments in major carbon-polluting nations should make meaningful policies, and ordinary citizens should behave sustainably to usher in a radical economic and energy transformation to tackle the disastrous climate change.

DS Kang, Hoshiarpur

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribunemail.com