Two sides

Sir — There is a lot to like about Durga Puja and most Bengalis perhaps have fond memories of the festival. But there is also so much to dislike about Durga Puja. The dhaak, the crowd, the food, the celebration are fine for those who enjoy it. But what of those who do not enjoy it? Those who have lost a loved one, for instance, and remember them most at this time, or those who are ailing and in need of peace and quiet, or those who abhor religious ritual, or those who are simply introverts and wish for some solitude? Where can they go to get away from it all? The inclusivity of the Puja is a bane for those who do not want to be included in it.

Shefali Mukherjee, Calcutta

Rightful demand

Sir — The prime minister does not tire of calling India the world’s largest democracy, but the actions of his government indicate otherwise. There are plenty of examples to prove the government’s autocratic tendencies with the latest being the detention of the Ladakhi activist, Sonam Wangchuk, and his supporters who had come to Delhi to demand the implementation of the Sixth Schedule in their Union territory (“Detained Sonam on hunger strike”, Oct 2).

Wangchuk and his supporters, who were later released, are demanding constitutional protection for their land, culture and environment. The Centre is treating Ladakh like a colony, with bureaucrats with no idea of the ecologically-sensitive region making policies for it. It is ironic that a peaceful environmental crusader is being detained while a godman accused of rape and murder is repeatedly let out on parole.

Jang Bahadur Singh, Jamshedpur

Sir — Sonam Wangchuk’s padayatra, which began from Leh, was stalled at the Singhu border where he and his associates were detained. Just like the farmers who had camped at Singhu for over a year, the Centre tried to confine Wangchuk to foil his plan to reach Rajghat, M.K. Gandhi’s memorial in Delhi, on October 2. The demand for the Sixth Schedule in Ladakh is legitimate. It will help protect the ecologically-fragile region from industrial onslaught. The Bharatiya Janata Party tried to appease the people of Ladakh by giving it Union territory status, but did little else to make an actual impact. Ladakhis thus upended the BJP’s apple cart in the Lok Sabha polls. It is time the Centre heeded the message from the ground in Ladakh.

Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta

Sir — The ostensible reason for the six-day ban on protests and the gathering of five or more persons in the central and border areas of the national capital — this ban was used to detain Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters — was the heavy movement of VVIPs on Gandhi Jayanti. This is not a convincing enough reason. The restrictions appear to be a pre-emptive move to deter Wangchuk and his fellow protesters from gaining nationwide support for their demands.

Wangchuk has lived up to the Mahatma’s ideal of satyagraha; he should have been allowed to go to Rajghat on October 2 and not later. His detention has only garnered him more public sympathy.

Khokan Das, Calcutta

Sir — It is ironic that one of the most Gandhian public personalities of the country found it extremely difficult to visit Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti. It has now become the standard practice for the Central government to stop protesters at the gates of Delhi and deny them entry to the nation’s capital. Farmers who protested against the government’s farm laws were also given the same treatment for over a year. Why must the capital of the country remain out of bounds for its citizens who are trying to get their voices heard?

A.K. Sen, Calcutta

Dangerous waste

Sir — The malaise of the improper disposal of biomedical waste generated in hospitals is not confined to West Bengal alone (“Clean it up”, Oct 4). Places across the country are suffering owing to this. The apathy and the complicity of municipal authorities and state governments are to blame for this situation. The Central Bureau of Investigation is looking into irregularities in the disposal of biomedical waste and its misuse at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta. Similar probes should be undertaken at all hospitals and suitable punishment meted out to those found guilty of malpractice.

K. Nehru Patnaik, Visakhapatnam

Foot in the mouth

Sir — The Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament, Kangana Ranaut, seems intent on putting her foot firmly in her mouth at every possible opportunity. On Gandhi Jayanti, she posted disparaging comments aimed at the Mahatma on her social media. Before this, she had made absurd claims about the farmers’ protests. The BJP will pay a steep price if it cannot rein in Ranaut.

Shantaram Wagh, Pune

Sir — The BJP knew what it was signing up for when it gave a party ticket to Kangana Ranaut. The actress-turned-parliamentarian has always made ludicrous statements. The saffron party must be regretting its decision.

Dyuti Sen, Calcutta