Strike a balance
Sir — Tourism can be a blessing as well as a curse. While it does generate revenue, tourism also takes a toll on the environment owing to overcrowding and irresponsible behaviour by tourists. It is thus unsurprising that Amsterdam — Europe’s ‘party capital’ — recently launched a drive asking drunk British tourists to “stay away”. In another such case, Hallstatt in Austria — its picturesque setting was the inspiration for the Disney film, Frozen — has put up a banner to warn off selfie-obsessed tourists. Such initiatives, though, are unlikely to either keep tourists away or help restore the ecological balance. Official rules and regulations have to strike a balance between business and sustainability while ensuring that scenic hotspots remain accessible.
Dhruv Khanna,Mumbai
Elusive unity
Sir — This is not the first time that an array of Opposition leaders have shared a platform to project a united front against the Bharatiya Janata Party (“Bangalore ‘bellwether’”, May 21). But there is always a stark difference between rhetoric and reality.
The recent Karnataka elections made one thing clear: no Opposition alliance would be feasible without the Congress. The Grand Old Party must thus assume a central role in forming an anti-BJP front. Most of the leaders of the Opposition parties nurse the ambition of becoming the prime ministerial candidate. But first, they must iron out their differences in order to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The fact that the saffron juggernaut can be halted has been proven in past assembly elections in states like West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. But it would require true unity rather than photo ops.
Bal Govind,Noida
Sir — Was the “Bangalore ‘bellwether’” really a step towards Opposition unity? The presence of 19 leaders from non-Congress parties at the oath-taking ceremony of the chief minister of Karnataka, P.C. Siddaramaiah, cannot take away from the fact that several other prominent leaders, such as Arvind Kejriwal, Pinarayi Vijayan, Mayawati and Naveen Patnaik, were absent from the event. Even the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, sent her representative instead of attending herself. Therefore, the “dawn” heralded in the south — as M.K. Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, put it — was nothing but a dampener.
Mihir Kanungo,Calcutta
Sir — The victory in Karnataka will consolidate the Congress’s position as the face of the Opposition. The party must now focus only on good governance.
Sukanya Dutta,Calcutta
Too slow
Sir — Before coming to power in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had promised that it would unearth all the frauds committed under the previous government led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. However, the DMK government has failed to take any concrete action in this regard.
Hearteningly, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has launched a fresh probe into allegations of irregularities in the execution of major highway projects under the AIADMK. It is hoped that the M.K. Stalin-led government pulls up its socks and ensures a smooth investigation.
Tharcius S. Fernando,Chennai
Golden years
Sir — While politicians, business tycoons and some other professionals have the luxury of deciding how long they want to keep on working, this is rarely the case with the rest of the population. Most salaried professionals have to follow a specific cut-off age for retirement. But owing to the increase in life expectancy, several nations are considering delaying the retirement age. This would be a welcome step.
There is little proof to show that advanced age leads to less productivity. Conversely, research has shown that better results are achieved by blending younger and older populations in the workforce. While working at an advanced age depends on individual capacity, remaining occupied after retirement helps a person stay physically and mentally healthy.
Vijay Singh Adhikari,Nainital
Hidden agenda
Sir — Saudi Arabia is to send its first-ever woman astronaut, Rayyana Barnawi, into space later this year. But this is not enough to ensure women’s empowerment. Under the aegis of the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi women have been given a slew of freedoms in an attempt to revamp the Islamic nation’s ultra-conservative image.
Saudi Arabia — one of the biggest producers of fossil fuels — is also allegedly phasing out its economic dependence on oil. Restoring the rights of women can thus be seen as the Gulf country’s bid to diversify its energy-reliant economy.
Jang Bahadur Singh,Jamshedpur
Cannon city
Sir — Two more British-era cannons have been excavated from pavements in Calcutta (“More cannons found”, May 21). Given the number of cannons unearthed from the city over the past few months, it seems that the day is not far when Calcutta will be called the ‘city of cannons’.
Sourish Misra,Calcutta
Literary great
Sir — It is saddening that the British author, Martin Amis, who redefined British fiction in the 1980s, has passed away at the age of 73. Amis’s work centred around the excesses of late-capitalist Western society. However, he has also been accused of being an Islamophobe. Nevertheless, his death has created a void in the literary world.
Jayanta Datta,Hooghly
