Bihar electoral roll revision: Democratic integrity at stake

Refer to ‘Unsettling urgency of revising poll rolls’; the concerns raised about the timing and the method of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar are valid. While updating electoral rolls is essential, doing so just four months before the Assembly elections with additional paperwork can lead to mass disenfranchisement, especially among marginalised groups like migrant labourers, women and the poor. Democracy demands accessibility, not barriers. The selective application of door-to-door verification points to a process that lacks both transparency and fairness. I agree with the writer’s view that the Election Commission must not only act impartially, it must be seen to be acting fairly. Voter trust and democratic integrity are at stake.

Rajesh Sharma, Hamirpur

India’s principled global stand

With reference to ‘How far will Modi go to oblige Trump’; India need not curry favour with any superpower. As a mature democracy, it must uphold a principled and independent foreign policy and discern between genuine partners and opportunists. India’s generous outreach during the Covid-19 crisis, especially in the Global South, affirmed its role as a responsible global player. It must expose double standards on terrorism and assert that those who sow its seeds shall reap its consequences too. With rising technological strength and diplomatic credibility, India is well-positioned to speak with alacrity.

Vijay Kumar Katial, Panchkula

Subdued diplomatic assertion

Refer to ‘Quad falls short’; the refusal to name Pakistan despite the clear connection of the Pahalgam terror attack with its soil signals a troubling pattern — India’s global partners continue to sidestep difficult truths in the garb of strategic balance. While diplomatic caution may be the reason, it is disappointing that allies like the US, Australia and Japan are reluctant to publicly back India’s core security concerns. India’s subdued foreign policy posture is starkly different from the firm and assertive leadership shown by Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Despite facing international sanctions, they upheld the country’s sovereignty. Time has come to reassess our strategy and assert our interests boldly, just as we did in the past.

Naresh Kumar Nijhawan, Karnal

Quad’s double face

This refers to the news item ‘Punish Pahalgam attackers without delay, Quad tells Pak’; what message has the four-nation grouping given by not naming Pakistan? Giving an indirect hint to Pakistan exhibits its hypocrisy. The joint statement by the Quad should have categorically mentioned Pakistan and urged it to punish the perpetrators of the Pahalgam massacre. In matters of public safety, there should be no compromise, and the two-faced approach of nations towards terrorism should be unmasked. Islamabad would now have an excuse that it need not take any action since the Quad does not agree with India’s accusation of its role in the terror attack.

Bilal Ahmad Shamim, SOUTH ANDAMAN

Within the purview of law

Apropos of ‘The sword must shun moral policing, uphold justice’; the writer has incisively put forward his views by asking fundamentalists to shun vigilantism. In the case of Kanchan Kumari, no right-thinking person can endorse the action taken by Nihangs. No religion supports violence for delivering instant justice. The laws of the land cannot be ignored at any cost. The government, on its part, should frame policies to keep an eye on social media content.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

New norms in public interest

Apropos of ‘Cab guidelines’; the government has done a good balancing act by tweaking surge pricing and charges during non-peak hours for cab aggregators. Let us hope the monetary benefits are passed on to the cab drivers as well, rather than being gobbled up by the aggregators. Bike taxis are very common in the National Capital Region and it is a welcome step that states can now give permits to bikes and auto-rickshaws to be used as taxis. It will create significant employment opportunities for the youth, especially in the case of bike taxis, which don’t require big investment.

Bal Govind, Noida

Letters to the Editor