Pak silence implies complicity

Pak silence implies complicity

Apropos of ‘The sounds of silence from Pakistan’ (The Great Game); for 17 years, justice has remained hostage to Pakistan’s desperation to bury the truth. When concerned citizens like the chief of its investigative agency, Tariq Khosa, spoke up, they were not taken seriously. Conspirator Tahawwur Rana is finally in India’s custody, but Pakistan’s press is preoccupied with the cricket league and economic problems. Silence is not innocence, it is complicity. If Pakistan even remotely seeks peace, it must exhume the truth, not cover it up. The world is watching. And Pakistan’s silence will go down in the annals of history as connivance.

Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali

Persistent double standards

With reference to ‘The sounds of silence from Pakistan’; the cat is out of the bag as Tahawwur Rana’s extradition has vindicated India’s claim of his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. As always, Pakistan seems to be washing its hands off the whole matter. Firstly, a spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Rana had not renewed his Pakistani documents for over two decades. Secondly, the Pakistani authorities seem to have gagged its press as not a single word has been reported regarding Rana’s extradition. Pakistan has always maintained double standards on issues related to India. Anyhow, the ball is in our court now.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur

Rash step by AIADMK

The AIADMK is likely to confront its Waterloo moment in the 2026 Assembly elections for the wrong and selfish decision taken by its general secretary E Palaniswami to align with the BJP. He had repeatedly emphasised that his party would never have any truck with the saffron party. The hardcore cadres of the AIADMK will not forgive the BJP for the way it has denigrated their tall leaders like former chief ministers Jayalalithaa and MG Ramachandran. The BJP’s track record shows that it gobbles up even majority winners to form governments.

Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai

‘Sikhiya Kranti’ a gimmick

As part of the ‘Sikhiya Kranti’ campaign, the Punjab Government has gone on an inauguration spree. Stone-laying is being done for projects that were completed during previous regimes. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders from Delhi — rejected by voters a couple of months ago — are participating in these functions. Party leaders are trying to gain political mileage out of routine maintenance work. Can this be termed ‘Sikhiya Kranti’? Absolutely not. The government can claim to have brought about a revolution only if it ensures adequate staff in schools, the institutions produce good academic results and the student strength rises appreciably. Mere publicity would not change the ground reality. On the contrary, it would earn the ire of the public and cost AAP dear in the 2027 elections.

NK Gosain, Bathinda

Development at a huge cost

Apropos of ‘Saving Punjab’s trees’; it is high time politicians and bureaucrats of the state took cognisance of the depleting green cover. It is disturbing that construction activities are carried out without any consideration for trees. New development projects are planned indiscriminately. In Jalandhar, numerous trees were cut recently in spite of a public outrage. There is an urgent need for effective legislations to protect existing trees, besides incentivising new plantation. There must be strict enforcement through quick redressal and exemplary punishment to the guilty.

Jagdish Chander, Jalandhar

Consent must prevail

Refer to ‘A regressive verdict’; the Allahabad High Court judge’s observations, implying that a woman “invited trouble” by having drinks and visiting the accused, indicate a patriarchal mindset. Lifestyle choices cannot override legal safeguards, nor can they justify assault. The focus must remain firmly on the accused’s actions, not the survivor’s behaviour. According to Section 114-A of the Indian Evidence Act and the Supreme Court’s rulings, the absence of consent must be presumed when the survivor testifies so.

Chanchal S Mann, Una

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