What a waste
Sir — A change of regime often ushers in a change in the colours used to paint the façades of public places. Calcutta, for instance, is shedding white and blue for yellow and saffron and, now, rainbow. Recently, a flyover was painted in garish rainbow colours — apparently to beautify the city before Durga Puja. Soon motorcyclists started skidding on the painted surface after a drizzle, prompting the government to scrub off the paint. Such stunts are expected from those who make reels on social media, not a government that claims to be beleaguered by debt. Could the money wasted on paint not have been used elsewhere?
Turja Ghosh,
Calcutta
Troubled state
Sir — Manipur continues to be plagued by ethnic unrest (“Act now”, Oct 14). Historically, tensions involved the Kuki and the Naga communities.
But in 2023, it escalated into clashes between the Kukis and the Meiteis. The principal issue was a judicial order that asked the then state government to consider scheduled tribe status for the Meiteis which would offer them greater access to job opportunities. The ongoing unrest among the Kukis, Meiteis and Nagas must be brought
to an end to ensure lasting peace in the Northeast.
Aranya Sanyal,
Siliguri
Sir — The fresh outbreak of violence in Manipur’s hill districts — at least nine people lost their lives — is a grim reminder that peace remains elusive in the troubled northeastern state. The killings expose the fragility of the security situation and raise serious questions about the effectiveness of measures taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party government to restore normalcy in Manipur. The responsibility for failing to end years of strife rests with the State.
The failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur for over two years after the violence erupted in May 2023 exposed a worrying indifference to the state. Leadership demands more than statements; it requires presence and decisive action. Peace in Manipur must become an urgent national priority.
Gregory Fernandes,
Mumbai
Sir — The recent clashes between Nagas and Kukis communities have opened a dangerous new front in a state already scarred by prolonged ethnic violence.
Manipur cannot be healed by policing alone. The government must initiate a legitimate and inclusive political dialogue with the representatives of the three communities as well as religious leaders and civil society. Deep-seated problems pertaining to land, identity, tribal rights, and political representation must be addressed within the constitutional framework rather than being left to armed groups and rumours. The BJP government must act swiftly to disarm society and administer justice.
Bal Govind,
Noida
Transformed
Sir — Sukanta Chaudhuri’s column, “Meaning hollowed” (Oct 12), offers an ironic portrayal of nations through the shifting meaning of words. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the three witches chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. In today’s world, words can undergo similar transformations, their connotations changing according to person, place and time. For the past 12 years, in the largest democracy, novel interpretations of democracy have been devised to serve partisan interests. Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, for the people” has now been recast as a government of and for the rich and the powerful.
P.K. Sharma,
Barnala, Punjab
Defiant stance
Sir — Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka of the Cockroach Janta Party have been remanded to judicial custody for allegedly trespassing at Jantar Mantar. They were holding the Tricolour when the police detained them. Since when has holding the national flag aloft become a crime in this country? No place on Indian soil should be beyond the reach of Indian citizens seeking to wave the national flag. Holding the national flag as an act of resistance cannot be treated as a punishable offence. Their detention is a clear indication that the government is apprehensive of dissent.
G. David Milton,
Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
Sir — The actions of the CJP leaders, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ajinkya Shinde, who allegedly scaled police barricades and entered Jantar Mantar in defiance of restrictions, deserve condemnation. In a constitutional democracy, the right to peaceful protest is fundamental but it does not place anyone above the law.
K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
Health crisis
Sir — India’s increasing life expectancy does not necessarily signify a healthy population (“Slight rise”, Oct 12). In India, mortality is witnessing a drop but morbidity has increased. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are on the rise. The government must increase the health budget.
Vinay Asawa,
Howrah