Sir — It is a matter of great pride for Indian cricket lovers that the ace Indian cricketer, Mithali Raj, has become the first woman in the game to play 200 one-day international matches. This is a stupendous feat, given the struggles and prejudice that women’s cricket has historically faced in India. Raj also has the distinction of being the highest run-scorer in ODIs: she has made 6,622 runs, a tally that includes seven centuries. Given her calibre, it is not difficult to assume that the nation has ample female cricketing talent just waiting to be tapped. It is time women’s cricket and players like Raj got the same recognition that the men get.

Farah Gill,
New Delhi

New tactic

Sir — It was interesting to read that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre has moved the Supreme Court because it wants 42 acres of excess land surrounding the disputed site in Ayodhya to be handed over to the ‘original owner’, the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. The RJN is a trust that oversees the plans to build the Ram temple. It is not difficult to see why the BJP took this step. After the ignominious defeat it suffered in the assembly polls of three states in the Hindi heartland, it fears for its chances to come to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. As such, it is now trying its best to woo voters with this tactic.

The BJP had promised its supporters that it would get the Ram temple built during its term in the government. It has clearly failed to deliver on its promise. It now wishes to convince voters that it will follow through on the plan if only it can come to power again. Now that it has moved the apex court, the party is receiving accolades from saffron godmen and its supporters.

Z. Rahmani,
Calcutta

Sir — The Ayodhya land dispute is in the news again, with a dharma sansad — a two-day conclave of Hindu saints — having been organized at the Kumbh mela and sloganeering having taken place for the announcement of the date for the construction of the Ram mandir. It had also been announced that a massive congregation of sadhus will leave Allahabad and duly march towards Ayodhya, thus building pressure for the construction of the temple to start. With such a sensitive issue gaining prominence again, there is a strong possibility of communal hostility increasing. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that no violence in the name of religion takes place, especially while the Ayodhya case is still sub judice.

M.F.U. Tandvi,
New Delhi

Sir — The BJP’s claim that a significant portion of the non-disputed land in Ayodhya belongs to the RJN has evoked scepticism. The land had been taken over by the Centre in 1993 through the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act in the wake of the violence following the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

It is clear that the BJP is trying every method it can think of to send a message out to voters that it is committed to having a Ram temple built in Ayodhya. One hopes that the citizens of India will know better this time round and choose to vote the saffron party out of power.

Arin Dey,
Calcutta

In cold blood

Sir — I was outraged to read about the brutal, cold-blooded murder of puppies on the campus of the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College. It was even more shocking to learn that the heinous crime was committed, and also condoned, by students training to be nurses. Why were these women released on bail and allowed to rejoin their course at the nursing college? Nursing involves taking care of the sick and the elderly. Prerequisites for a career in this profession are compassion, basic humanity, sensitivity to suffering and great patience. The crime committed by the young women proves beyond doubt that they are devoid of the aforementioned traits. None of them is fit to pursue a career as a care-giver. No one who is capable of such malice and violence should be allowed to take up a profession where their patience and feelings of mercy and compassion will almost certainly be put to the test.

These women should be permanently debarred from pursuing a nursing career. If they are not, then I shudder to think of the misfortune of those who shall be tended to by any of them.

Kamalini Mazumder,
Calcutta

Sir — The plight of the puppies on the NRS campus should shock both animal lovers and those who are indifferent to animals. What is the need for such cruelty even if one does not like dogs? It is a pity that the student nurses are unlikely to face any grave consequences for their actions. The lives of animals unfortunately hold little to no value in our country, even though there are anti-cruelty laws in place.

Deepika Ganguly,
Calcutta

It is a relief that Trai has announced new regulations and tariffs for DTH services (Shutterstock)

Crucial clarity

Sir — It is a relief that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has announced new regulations and tariffs for the direct-to-home services. The new scheme has given users a much-needed choice of television channels as well as clarity about the pricing.

Vaibhav Kumar,
Calcutta