Little things

Sir — It is the small things that matter. A simple gesture can determine how a person feels about gender equality. Recently, activists have coined the term, ‘microfeminism’, which comprises the little ways in which one can practise feminism in daily life. From assuming that a person in charge, a CEO for example, is a woman to asking men to mind the babies while women take a breather, microfeminism helps women balance the scale. While asserting rights at micro levels is important, can one really hope for any change given that bigger issues, like the ever-widening pay gap, have been so easily overlooked?

Seema Sahni, New Delhi

Unplanned move

Sir — Being an experienced politician and administrator, the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, is aware that removing the hawkers’ stalls to free up the streets is not an easy task (“CM meet call sets off buzz on eviction drive”, June 27). A major section of the Trinamool Congress’s vote bank comprises people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The unemployment caused by the eviction of the hawkers will become a poll plank for the TMC’s opponents. Banerjee has earlier spoken against the ‘bulldozer raj’ of the Yogi Adityanath-led government. Her current actions are nothing short of the same.

D.P. Bhattacharya, Calcutta

Sir — Preventing hawkers from encroaching on pavements is a welcome step. However, there should be a uniform eviction drive throughout the city. While hawkers’ stalls have been removed from certain areas of Calcutta, those in other parts of the city have remained open for business. This is disconcerting.

Mrinal Kundu, Howrah

Sir — The TMC seems to have prioritised its voter base over the convenience of the general public by backtracking on its decision to remove hawkers from the streets (“Mamata stalls hawker drive”, Jun 28). The state government might not have sufficient funds to rehabilitate the displaced vendors. The municipalities should plan adequately to avoid the hassles caused by unbridled development.

Tapan Dutta, Calcutta

Sir — Mamata Banerjee lashed out at municipality heads and bureaucrats over several issues, including the encroachment on footpaths by hawkers. However, following the action against the hawkers, Banerjee changed tack by saying that the hawkers’ eviction was not the goal of her government. This seems to be a move to secure her vote bank.

S.S. Paul, Nadia

Sir — Following Mamata Banerjee’s tirade against encroachment on government land during a meeting with bureaucrats and top officers, unauthorised hawkers were forcibly removed from parts of the city. This is disheartening as the hawkers were not allegedly served with eviction notices. The display of brute force and the absence of proper planning regarding the relocation of the vendors must be criticised. This harks back to the futile Operation Sunshine during the Left regime.

Arun Kumar Baksi, Calcutta

Speak freely

Sir — Asaduddin Owaisi sparked a row when he ended his oath in the Lok Sabha saying, “Jai Palestine”. He can face disqualification from Parliament for displaying allegiance to another country. This is disconcerting. Owaisi’s slogan simply implied his solidarity with the Palestinians who are suffering due to the prolonged war. His other slogans, which praised B.R. Ambedkar and god, are also being scrutinised. The leaders of the saffron brigade often chant the names of various deities during their speeches. The outcry at Owaisi’s slogan seems hypocritical.

Zakir Hussain, Kazipet, Telangana