Turned tables
Sir — Many a schoolchild has been known to play truant by lying about the deaths of non-existent relatives to skip school. But in a bizarre turn of events in Madhya Pradesh, a primary school teacher excused himself from school saying that he had to attend the funeral of one of his students. However, the student was very much alive. The teacher eventually claimed that he had confused the child and the latter’s grandfather. Perhaps it is time the teacher learned a lesson from the pupil: it is better to concoct a fictional relative than to make an excuse about a student who will turn up for roll call the next morning.
Rhea Roy, Calcutta
Held back
Sir — By not allowing the Congress parliamentarians, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to visit the families affected by the riots in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh, the police infringed on their democratic rights (“Police thwart Rahul visit to Sambhal”, Dec 5). The violence in Sambhal was enabled by tacit State support for those fomenting religious tension. Further, the attempt by saffron parties to obliterate mosques in the country is despicable. It is unfortunate that the Archeological Survey of India has been turned into a handmaiden of Hindutva.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Sir — Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were prevented by the Uttar Pradesh police from reaching conflict-stricken Sambhal. If the efforts of genuine advocates for public welfare and elected representatives to address the nation’s needs are thwarted, how will people air their grievances?
Jakir Hussain, Kanpur
Sir — The Uttar Pradesh government should be admonished for stopping Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, from discharging his constitutional obligations to address the people of Sambhal.
Arun Gupta, Calcutta
Timely intervention
Sir — South Korea is no stranger to martial laws and coups. But even in countries that have seen protracted periods of military rule, the spirit of democracy wins in the end (“Seoul of democracy beats Korean leader’s martial swoop”, Dec 5). President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea was forced to retract his order imposing martial law, bringing relief to the people of that country and the world.
Gregory Fernandes, Mumbai
Sir — The South Korean National Assembly’s quick reversal of the martial law imposed by the president highlights the importance of intraparty dissent to sustaining democracy. This incident has damaged Yoon Suk Yeol’s credibility both in Korea and abroad, sparking widespread protests and calls for his impeachment.
N. Sadhasiva Reddy, Bengaluru
Escape route
Sir — In 2023, Indians were the fifth-largest group seeking defensive asylum and the seventh-largest group applying for affirmative asylum (“Insensitive”, December 4). Most of these cases of seeking asylum are believed to be linked to ethno-religious persecution, lack of employment opportunities and growing intolerance in the country. The government’s gripe regarding this issue is just intended to hide its inability to provide proper socioeconomic security to its citizens.
Prasun Kumar Dutta, West Midnapore
Sir — The idea that Indians who leave their motherland denigrate it when they seek asylum is ludicrous. Instead of making bizarre statements, the government must properly examine the issue and take urgent steps to find the causes of widespread emigration in search of asylum.
Sanjit Ghatak, Calcutta
