A country with a great democratic set up is now under heavy pressure to restore peace and harmony in the Kashmir Valley. India has been a safe haven for people from innumerable regional, religious and linguistic backgrounds. Unfortunately, it is fading away due to the gradual rise of radicals. We can’t give up. We have to fight tooth and nail against religious fundamentalism and terror. The central government should take additional steps to drive the terrorists out of the valley and stop the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
Vatakara, Kozhikode, Kerala
The government had claimed that the dilution of Article 370 would end terrorism in Kashmir. Unfortunately, terror in Kashmir has once again raised its ugly head. The political leadership in Kashmir should be involved in the peace process. The Center has so far considered him an accomplice of anti-social elements. While there is no easy solution to the problem, the government has to take all the stakeholders into confidence.
Mumbai
Shashi Tharoor’s article on Bollywood and Hindutva (Editorial page, 16 October) left one reader wondering what his message was. The matters he has discussed, if they have any connection, are perhaps within the scope of what Mr. Tharoor alone understands. There is a pure and simple case of narcotics seizure on a luxury cruise ship that is being investigated. Some well-known people are involved and Mr. Tharoor would have been right if he had said that people should not be in a hurry to condemn before knowing the truth. But he seems to have gone overboard and said that the episode is a smear campaign against Bollywood. Bollywood is not about individuals and families. To associate a drug case (at least until a clear verdict) with the smear campaign is strange.
Salem, Tamil Nadu
God’s own country is now being battered by the wrath of nature. Deforestation may require long-term measures such as monitoring of the Western Ghats and enabling deforestation and keeping the state’s river banks free from encroachment.
Bangalore
The report on the plight of a blind destitute in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, who has stopped the circulation of ₹65,000 notes, is sad. Demonetisation wreaked havoc on the lives of many people, especially the poor and the elderly, who were unaware of the effects of the sudden implementation of demonetisation. The last line, “…that currency exchange was unlikely”, sounds cool. The authorities should try and help him live in peace. Surely there will be corporate organisations, banks or wealthy people who may consider this as a CSR gesture.
Chennai
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