Project near border
The issue raised by the Congress party (“Congress slams Centre over Adani project near border”, February 13) is likely to be dismissed by a large section of the public as yet another example of the periodic Adani baiting indulged in by the Opposition parties. However, the subterfuge used by the government to hand over the land and project to the private party is intriguing. That the rules governing construction near the border were relaxed or bent is shocking. The issue smacks of favouritism and raises serious security concerns along the Pakistan border. The government has to come clean.
Manohar Alembath,
Kannur, Kerala
The investigation by The Guardian only goes to reinforce the perception by some that the rules can be changed even if it means making compromises as far as national security is concerned, for commercial benefits. This is disturbing. While the government of the day has allowed this private group a near monopoly in several critical infrastructure sectors, the relaxation of military protocols which can potentially compromise national security is a move that must be resisted.
S.K. Choudhury,
Bengaluru
Judge on freebies
The days when political parties fought elections on policies and ideologies have long passed. It is now the age of freebies and corresponding political outbidding (Inside pages, “Because of freebies, people don’t want to work: SC judge”, February 13). When will our politicians become selfless and think of putting in place opportunities for people to thrive by working?
D. Sethuraman,
Chennai
Ragging again
The torture that some first-year students experienced at the Government College of Nursing in Kottayam, Kerala, in the name of ragging was terrible to read (February 13). It is appalling that the authorities can feign ignorance. The brutality that first year students undergo in the name of “ragging” has been a recurring problem in Kerala and in many parts of India. The government must end cruelty on campuses.
Kurian Mathew,
Kochi
Medical college staff woes
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has not addressed the issue of pay anomalies for hundreds of non-gazetted employees of five new government medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. The Cabinet, vide its order number 175/11/2017 dated October 3, 2017, had sanctioned 3,375 posts for the establishment of the five colleges — 675 each for Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Baramulla and Anantnag. Gazetted employees of the Health and Medical Education Department face similar issues.
The pay scales, nomenclature and even recruitment rules at the government medical colleges in Udhampur and Handwara differ from these five colleges. Employees are worried that without service rules, they will be deprived of time-bound promotions. The framing of rules for all medical colleges, especially new medical colleges in the Union Territory, must be done as soon as possible.
Vishav Mohan Sharma,
Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir
Tuning in
World Radio Day (February 13) has passed but it was an occasion to recollect those golden days when radio sets and radio programmes filled our homes and hearts with joy. There was hardly any house that did not have a Bush, Murphy, Philips, or Nelco radio set — some of the brands that ruled the radio market. One wonders whether today’s AI generation would even know about the magic that radio offered.
The average Indian and Akashvani were inseparable. But how can one forget the programming by Radio Ceylon? One also had RJs. There was Ameen Sayani who still has no match.
M. Pradyu,
Thalikavu, Kannur, Kerala
Published – February 14, 2025 12:24 am IST