Foot in the mouth

Sir — Honouring the cultural traditions of the host is usually the guest’s way of showing respect. The British singer, Harry Styles, recently chugged beer out of a sweaty sneaker during his concert in Perth in the true-blue Australian fashion of ‘shoey’ — downing an alcoholic beverage from a shoe at one go. As unhygienic as it seems, the tradition has its roots in the cornerstones of the Aussie culture — self-deprecating humour and equality — and has been historically performed to instil a sense of humility. While such cannot be said of Styles, who drank from his immaculate Gucci shoes, it is his remark on the trend being ‘disgusting’ that defeats the purpose of cultural appreciation. Styles seems to have literally found his foot in the mouth in this case.

Dhruv Khanna, Mumbai

Divisive agenda „Sir — In the column, “Divide and rule” (Feb 25), Ramachandra Guha offers a brilliant analysis of how the Bharatiya Janata Partyled dispensation has been systematically polarising the electorate on religious lines in the poll-bound state of Karnataka to achieve its goals. This has also served the purpose of masking the shortcomings of the state government. Such divisive policies have yielded electoral victories for the saffron party earlier in states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam. This is worrying as it can adversely disrupt religious harmony and peace.

Yousuf Iqbal, Calcutta

Conflicting views

Sir — Citing its contradictory stance in two different cases, the editorial, “Two faces” (Feb 24), highlights the irony in the Bharatiya Janata Party dispensation’s sense of justice. In the first instance, seeking the restoration of capital punishment, the Gujarat government pleaded that the accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning case should not be considered for premature release. This is in stark contrast to the government’s decision in August last year to remit the sentences of the 11 lifers who were convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family members during the Godhra riots based on a 1992 policy. It has become common for the saffron regime to brazenly side with anyone who adheres to its Hindutva agenda. This is dangerous for the democratic ideals of the country.

Jahar Saha, Calcutta

Delayed action

Sir — The followers of the pro-Khalistani leader, Amritpal Singh, recently stormed a police station located near the border in Amritsar, compelling the officers to release one of their compatriots who was arrested on charges of kidnapping (“Centre wait & watch on Punjab”, Feb 26). Singh has even issued a warning that the Union home minister, Amit Shah, would meet the same fate as Indira Gandhi if he tried to stop the separatist movement. If the government can arrest an Opposition spokesperson for his unsavoury comments against the prime minister, it is surprising why the same dispensation has been reluctant in taking action against Singh. Punjab has a troubled history of militancy. Both the Centre and the state government should take proactive steps to nip separatism in the bud.

S.S. Paul, Nadia

Sir — The embers of the Khalistani movement appear to be rekindling. The political leadership should always take lessons from the past to counter present conflicts. For example, in the case of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the non-alignment template of the Nehruvian era has not only helped India safeguard its own interests but has also boosted the country’s image as a world leader. Similarly, India’s retaliation after the Pulwama attack was inspired by the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971.

R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai

Sir — The Centre’s dillydallying on taking action against Amritpal Singh, a secessionist, runs contrary to its readiness to stifle dissent.

Japneet Singh, Chandigarh

Ensure parity

Sir — The Supreme Court recently rejected a petition seeking menstrual leave, observing that the matter has a policy dimension and must be deliberated upon by the Centre. In 2020, the restaurant aggregator, Zomato, had announced 10 days of menstrual leave in a year. This was a positive step towards ensuring gender equality. Women have long been discriminated against based on the misconceptions surrounding menstruation. There is an argument that granting period leaves could disincentivise employers against hiring women. But such perceptions are changing with countries like Spain, Japan and Taiwan enacting laws on the subject. This should be replicated by the rest of the world.

Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai

Think again

Sir — The West Bengal government has announced a 6% increase in the dearness allowance for its employees and pensioners from March 1, 2023, following the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. However, the amount is still 32% less than that of the Centre. This is disheartening. The dearness allowance amount offered by the Bengal government is insufficient given the rising prices of commodities. The state government should thus rethink its decision.

Iftekhar Ahmed, Calcutta

Phase out

Sir — In his latest Mann ki Baat address, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, urged people to shun plastic bags and replace them with greener alternatives such as paper bags. However, plastic has become so ubiquitous that the transition will be easier said than done. The adverse implications of plastic items on the environment cannot be stressed enough. Hence, concerted, time-bound measures must be undertaken to eliminate them.

M. Jeyaram, Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu