India & Pakistan
BY highlighting the situation in Balochistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a Pandora’s box (“Back to square one”, September 16). Playing the “Baloch” card may not fetch dividends. No nation tolerates interference in its internal affairs, and such tit-for-tat speeches only worsen India-Pakistan relations. No doubt the agitation in Jammu and Kashmir has the covert backing of Pakistan, but blaming that nation is not going to solve the problems of Kashmiris. The Centre’s attempts to bring peace to the State have failed to elicit a good response. We need to engage with all the stakeholders to find solutions to the problems of Kashmiris, who are caught between the devil (militants) and the deep blue sea (security forces). The State government has failed to restore peace, and it looks as though the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have failed to gauge the people’s mood.
D.B.N. Murthy, Bengaluru
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, left, greets Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India upon his arrival in Lahore for a surprise visit to Pakistan, Dec. 25, 2015. The visit, the first by an Indian leader since 2004, was a dramatic gesture to break the ice at a time when relations between the two nations have been almost completely stalled. (Indian Press Information Bureau via The New York Times) -- FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY --
THE harsh reality is that the military establishment in Pakistan still calls the shots, and its entrenched anti-Indian sentiment cannot be erased. It is contrary to facts to say that the LoC was noticeably quiet from the beginning of the year until the killing of Burhan Wani. It is an undisputed fact that Pakistani forces have indulged in numerous cases of human rights violations over the years in addition to aiding and abetting cross-border terrorist infiltration. But for the restraint exercised by our forces, the situation would have been worse. Although India has repeatedly extended the olive branch to Pakistan, it is a matter of regret that our neighbour’s response to the overtures has always been hostile.
B. Suresh Kumar, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
AT the root of the India-Pakistan conflict is the proxy war the latter is waging at the border and the infiltration of trained terrorists into Indian territory to foment trouble and bring in drugs and fake currency. In this context, Pakistan’s offer of talks is mischievous propaganda because the fact remains that it only wants to avoid a dialogue on pressing and relevant issues impacting bilateral relations, including the issue of illegally occupied PoK. Instead of putting its own house in order, Pakistan wants to discuss only Jammu and Kashmir.
K.R. Srinivasan, Secunderabad, Telangana
Kashmir
THE violent protests in Kashmir are disturbing (“Ghosts of the past”, September 16). It is unfortunate that Kashmir has been on the edge for so long and so many years after Independence. Why the State is in chaos is a question that must be analysed sensibly. It has natural beauty and resources in abundance. It is the tense situation that comes in the way of its development. The Indian government should come out with a serious plan to put the beautiful Kashmir Valley on the track of growth and harmony.
P. Senthil Saravana Durai, Vazhavallan, Tamil Nadu
SRINAGAR, JAMMU AND KASHMIR, 25/08/2016: Union Minister Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti addressing a press conference at her residence in Srinagar on August 25, 2016._Photo: Nissar Ahmad
TWO months have passed since the authorities imposed a ban on Internet services and mobile phone communications in the Kashmir Valley. Snatching communication sources away from people in the information technology age on the pretext of law and order is an outdated policy. People are unable to contact their relatives/friends. There is chaos everywhere because of the lack of communication. Rumour-mongers exploit the situation. It is unwise to impose bans on such essentials of modern life. The communication vacuum further deteriorates the plight of the inhabitants of the trouble-hit Valley.
Abdul Hamid Mir, Tangmarg, Jammu and Kashmir
Globalisation
GLOBALISATION in world trade and the economy is facing new threats, with the U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump threatening to repatriate all illegal immigrants and build a wall along the Mexico-U.S. border (“End of globalisation”, September 16). Not only this, a new regional trade bloc that will be created by the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is a direct threat to the E.U. The E.U. is already under strain with the prospect of Brexit, which may be followed by other nations leaving the grouping. There are other regional blocs such as ASEAN, SAARC and BRICS. Policies are being framed to protect the interests of individual nations.
The U.S. has imposed visa restrictions on Indian IT professionals to save local jobs. Taxation is something else used to stifle globalisation, for example, the recent case of the E.U. asking the U.S.-based Apple to pay taxes on its operations in Ireland. The U.S. thinks China is hurting its economy by dumping cheap goods. Is globalisation in the interests of workers or multinationals? Nobody is bothered.
Deendayal M. Lulla, Mumbai
Dalit protests
SO-CALLED cow protectors have really brought a bad name not only to the State they belong to but also to the Central government (Cover Story, September 2). Their disreputable acts are sure to have an effect on future elections. The top BJP leaders should not allow such incidents to happen. These gau rakshaks must refrain from attacking and killing Dalits, and the police should take immediate action to prevent recurrences of such incidents.
Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai
T.M. Krishna
Karnataka, Bengaluru - 29/09/2015: Carnatic singer T.M. Krishna during 'Antaranga Bahiranga', a lecture demonstration on Manodharma Sangeeta organised by Ram Lalitakala Mandira in Bengaluru on September 29, 2015._Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash.
I WISH to applaud the Ramon Magsaysay-award winner Carnatic musician T.M. Krishna’s dedication to the revival of cultural activities in interior towns and villages and his encouragement of talented underprivileged youngsters and transgender people to develop their skills (“Music for change”, September 2). His good deeds during the 2015 floods in Chennai and his aim of taking music to the slums are commendable. It is laudable that awards are given to those interested in developing society.
A.J. Rangarajan, Chennai
COMMents
COMMents
SHARE