AAP must prioritise action
Refer to ‘AAP’s development agenda falters in Punjab’; the Punjab government has failed to address key issues like unemployment, drug menace and corruption, which were central to its 2022 election manifesto. Structural challenges, including weak healthcare and education systems, remain unaddressed, eroding public trust. AAP should prioritise tangible action like targeted job creation programmes, tighter anti-drug enforcement and enhanced transparency in governance. Engaging local leaders to tailor policies in Punjab’s context and conducting public consultations could rebuild trust.
Amarjit Singh, Mohali
No party fulfils all promises
Apropos of ‘AAP’s development agenda falters in Punjab’; it is not fair to put the blame of unfulfilled poll promises on AAP. Which party has ever fulfilled all poll promises it has made? The AAP government is being blamed for the state’s failure to curb the drug menace. No state in the world perhaps has been able to eliminate this problem completely. Nonetheless, the state government has taken big steps, like arresting SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is suspected of involvement in the drug trade. There are multiple other factors, such as a long, porous international border, which are responsible for narcotics smuggling and drug abuse in Punjab.
Balvinder, Chandigarh
No compromise on military
Refer to ‘Milking military for political gains will undermine its ethos’; attempts to politicise the Army in the last few years has raised serious concerns. The Indian armed forces are traditionally known for preserving the highest standards of apolitical, non-partisan and secular character and professionalism. Unlike in Pakistan, the military has restricted its role to handling internal and external security challenges. Dragging the armed forces into the cesspool of politics for short-term electoral gains or advancing a party’s ideology would adversely impact their professional ability and credibility. There should be no compromise on military autonomy or any disruption to the existing civil-military relations.
DS Kang, Hoshiarpur
GM maize trials needed
Refer to ‘Don’t test maize, learn from Bt cotton fiasco’; the article offers a narrow and pessimistic view of India’s agricultural biotechnology journey. While Bt cotton has faced challenges, labelling it as a fiasco ignores its success in boosting yields and reducing pesticide use. Agricultural ecosystems are dynamic, and as pests evolve, so must our crop solutions — whether through conventional breeding or genetic engineering. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is right in pursuing GM maize trials. These are data-driven evaluations conducted under strict biosafety protocols. Such trials are essential before taking policy decisions. Countries like the US have embraced GM crops without compromising on public health or the environment. India cannot afford to ignore scientific innovation.
Rajiv Angrish, Panchkula
India must not yield to pressure
With reference to ‘Farmers first’; being one of world’s largest dairy producers, India has no justifiable reason to open its doors to heavily subsidised American dairy products. Allowing their entry would not only jeopardise the livelihoods of farmers but also reduce the Indian market to a dumping ground. NSA Ajit Doval’s visit to Russia is a welcome sign of India’s strategic clarity. It shows that India is capable of engaging global powers on its own terms. In response to Trump’s tariffs on India, the Chinese ambassador appropriately wrote on X, “Give the bully an inch, he’ll take a mile.”
Harsh Pawaria, Rohtak
Trump’s growing frustration
It appears that Trump’s frustration is the root cause of his tariff actions. During his presidential campaign, he had boasted of ending the Ukraine war within a day; Russian President Vladimir Putin continue to be defiant. Perhaps, Trump believes that by stopping Russian oil exports, he will be able to get Putin to the table for talks. Since India has conveyed to the US that Russian oil imports will continue, a frustrated Trump has resorted to unfair means. He had earlier raised tariffs on China to 145%, but Beijing retaliated by freezing the supply of rare earth minerals to the US. Negotiations should continue but not solely on Trump’s terms.
PL Singh, by mail
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