Stakeholders must come together

Refer to ‘Proposed changes to transplanting dates raise alarm’; despite the hue and cry over the depleting groundwater level, neither the state government nor the Centre is coming out with a concrete policy. The state must take up the matter with the Centre as Punjab is a major contributor of rice to the Central pool. Experts have already warned that any further extraction of groundwater will make water unfit for both drinking and irrigation. Since the water crisis is a humongous challenge, a consensus among the stakeholders — the state government, the Centre and experts in the fields of agriculture, environment and water conservation — must be reached.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Postponing paddy sowing harmful

Refer to ‘Proposed changes to transplanting dates raise alarm’; postponing transplanting dates in Punjab would defeat the goal of saving groundwater. Direct seeding of rice (DSR) and arhar (pigeonpea) planting are successful only if implemented during the hot and dry month of May, when they help in better weed control. During last week of May, DSR requires four rounds of watering till the onset of monsoon in comparison to over 10 irrigation cycles in transplanted rice even if planted in the third week of June. Therefore, the May 20-31 period for DSR is ideal in Punjab and Haryana.

Virender Singh Lather, Karnal

Governor should be impartial

Refer to ‘SC rap for Governor’; the Supreme Court’s verdict has underscored that a Governor’s foremost duty is to uphold the Constitution, not to act as a roadblock to the elected state government. In a vibrant democracy, the Governor must serve as the state’s ‘friend, philosopher and guide’, facilitating governance rather than obstructing it. Such overreach not only hampers good governance but also erodes public trust in constitutional offices. The appointments to gubernatorial posts should prioritise impartiality and constitutional fidelity over political loyalty.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

Crossing the lakshman rekha

Apropos of ‘SC rap for Governor’; as the head of the state, the Governor acts as the constitutional head and takes all decisions based on the advice of the chief minister and the council of ministers. The Tamil Nadu Governor crossed the lakshman rekha by withholding assent to 10 Bills. After thorough deliberations, 234 democratically elected legislators of the TN Assembly had approved the Bills. Ethically and administratively, the interference of the Governor is uncalled for. The court has set a welcome precedent that there cannot be a parallel power centre.

VK Anand, Chandigarh

MA Baby’s challenges

Refer to ‘Change of guard’; the new CPI(M) general secretary’s declared list of priorities shows that the party intends to prioritise electoral politics over the problems of the working class. Not a Delhi man, MA Baby is a leader who has emerged from the political sands of Kerala. If the party does a thorough introspection, it will find that the Delhi-centric leadership with an intellectual background had a significant role in diminishing its roots and political significance. At this stage, the party’s concerns do not indicate that it has reassessed the course that has taken it to the brink of irrelevance in the country, except in Kerala. Fighting the BJP-RSS’s Hindutva programme, which is supported by monopoly capital, is proving to be a distant dream.

Abhijit Roy, Jamshedpur

Economic freedom through Mudra

Refer to ‘Mudra Yojana completes 10 years; PM interacts with beneficiaries’; Mudra Yojana is no longer just a loan scheme; it has become key to a dignified life for millions across India. It empowers skilled hands that lack financial resources. From tea stalls to beauty parlours, dairies, mobile repair shops and other services, Mudra has synergised modest efforts with big aspirations. However, challenges like uneven loan distribution, repayment difficulties and reports of misuse persist. If the government focuses more on transparency, digital monitoring, skill development and simplified repayment systems, Mudra Yojana can truly become a symbol of economic freedom.

RK Jain, Barwani (MP)

Letters to the Editor