Ruffled feathers
Sir — Calcuttans are no strangers to avian pests like pigeons that make life miserable. But the people of Staten Island, New York, have it much worse: they have been battling flocks of wild turkeys for decades. The turkeys have been accused of causing road accidents owing to their daunting height and speed. Such is the danger posed by these vicious birds that some even have lawsuits against them. Yet, some of the residents have warmed up to the flighty creatures, claiming that they pose no harm unless bothered. We must learn to cohabit with animals that have been driven from their homes owing to human encroachment. Spaying strays and setting up shelters for them so that they have enough to eat can minimise man-animal conflict in urban spaces.
Kaberi Murmu, East Midnapore
Just verdict
Sir — A division bench of the Supreme Court has quashed the remission of the life sentences of the 11 criminals convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano during the Gujarat riots (“Bilkis convicts back to jail: SC”, Jan 9). The convicts had been granted remission by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government in Gujarat and were subsequently garlanded at a Vishwa Hindu Parishad office. This is a moral victory for all Indians with a conscience. The judgment did not mince its words while criticising the state government, going to the extent of calling it complicit with one of the convicts. This is a stern reprimand for the governments both at the Centre and in the state.
There has been much pomp in Parliament about the sengol from Tamil Nadu. It represents law and justice in the Tamil epic, Cilappatikaram. It is apparent that justice has suffered a setback during the BJP’s reign.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
Sir — The BJP-led state government in Gujarat has faced massive public humiliation as the Supreme Court rejected the remission that it had granted to the 11 convicts in the case regarding the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her relatives, including her infant daughter. The faith of not only Bano but also other victims of violent assault in the Indian justice system will be restored by this verdict. The Supreme Court should be thanked for upholding the spirit of the Constitution.
A.K. Chakraborty, Guwahati
Sir — The Gujarat government did not have the jurisdiction to grant remission to the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, according to the apex court. This ruling has restored the faith of Indian citizens in the Supreme Court. It is a timely reminder of the core principles that should decide the remission of a sentence — a pardon must be fair, reasonable and based on relevant parameters, such as whether the crime concerned affected society at large and whether the convict retains the potential of committing similar offences. The release of life convicts ought to be considered individually and not as a grand gesture without any consideration for the impact of the remission on the survivors and society. In this specific case, none of these conditions for remission was met.
Khokan Das, Calcutta
Sir — The Supreme Court’s verdict cancelling the remission of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case is a welcome step. The court has found the state of Gujarat “complicit” in the “fraud” that released the convicts. The intensity of that crime has permanently scarred the life of Bano and her family. The convicts do not deserve remission. The apex court’s verdict has finally done justice to Bano.
Zakir Hussain, Kazipet, Telangana
Sir — The apex court’s recent judgment is an indictment of the Union home ministry and the BJP government in Gujarat for letting the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case out of prison. The prime minister himself should apologise to Bano. The current Gujarat government has also lost its credibility after protecting rapists and murderers.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee, Faridabad
Sir — The verdict of the apex court regarding those convicted in the Bilkis Bano case shows that nobody is above the law. This landmark judgment has exposed the BJP’s tendency to shield perpetrators from the majority community. Justice has prevailed.
M.N. Gupta, Hooghly
Stellar growth
Sir — The Indian mutual fund sector has experienced impressive growth with assets under management surpassing Rs 50 trillion in December 2023, increasing more than six-fold over the last decade. The noteworthy growth indicates heightened investor confidence and reflects the success of financial literacy initiatives and market reforms. Despite this milestone, India’s total mutual fund AUM is still less than 1% of the total global AUM. Fortunately, the industry is poised for further expansion owing to rising disposable income, urbanisation and government support.
Amarjeet Kumar, Hazaribagh
Reading culture
Sir — The 47th edition of the Chennai Book Fair is an important event in the cultural calendar of the city. The fair is especially heartening in the digital era. Book fairs also have educational and cultural events and author interactions to keep visitors engaged.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Timely makeover
Sir — It is heartening that the Alipore Zoological Garden is getting a makeover (“Zoo makeover by month-end”, Jan 6). This ongoing renovation work includes the revamping of several enclosures, after which the zoo will be opened to visitors. The facelift is timely given the crumbling infrastructure of the zoo. One hopes that the renovations will attract more visitors in the future.
Sourish Misra, Calcutta
