Sir — Holding the Kumbh Mela this year will be a great challenge for the authorities. Sadhus have already begun to take part in processions in numbers. Although protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are supposed to be enforced, it is unlikely that the officials concerned will be able to control the large swathe of devotees. The visitors themselves should make sure that they follow all the rules and help the nation beat the pandemic.

Debayan Bhowmick,
Calcutta

Bitter pill

Sir — The government has rejected the latest annual rankings by the global democracy watchdog, Freedom House, which demoted India from “free” to “partly free” category (“Freedom report? Govt points to map”, March 6). But brushing it under the carpet will not work. The incumbent, thin-skinned dispensation at the Centre is under the illusion that every action, policy or programme rolled by it is the gospel truth, and cannot be questioned. Invoking the sedition law at the drop of a hat and unleashing investigating agencies against dissenters have become commonplace.

Rather than taking criticism positively and engaging in course correction, the Centre chooses to crack down on its citizens, whose only fault is a difference of opinion. Even outsiders are not spared. The report for 2021 speaks volumes on the condition of democracy in the country at present, and should serve as an eye-opener for the government before India is pushed into the same category as its rogue northern neighbour in the eyes of the world. The fact that none of the three pillars of democracy — the legislature, the executive, the judiciary — has been able to keep a check on the other counterparts is also telling.

The government has failed to provide citizens with an environment conducive to free speech. The demotion by the watchdog should be interpreted as an alert. India must do better.

S.S. Paul,
Nadia

Sir — One cannot be surprised that the Centre has rejected the report by Freedom House on the status of democracy in India. The incumbent ruling dispensation at the Centre cannot even take criticism from its own citizens. Criticism works for those who want to better themselves. Those in government at present clearly want only a good ‘image’ of the nation so that they can cling on to the seat of power, not to genuinely improve the condition of the nation as a whole.

Rabi Sengupta,
South 24 Parganas

Sir — It is indeed a matter of serious concern that Washington-based Freedom House dropped India from the list of ‘free’ nations on the charge of frequent violation of human rights. The country seems to be going towards authoritarianism under the influence of corporate houses. Now India, as per the declaration, enjoys the status of being ‘partly free’. The common citizens are confused about the impact of this situation on the future of the country.

Arup Kr. Ghosh,
Howrah