Sugar rush
Sir — Just as Calcuttans are bracing themselves for another scorching summer — the season is supposed to be hotter than usual this year because of the El Niño effect — endocrinologists, too, must prepare themselves for an influx of patients with diabetes. The connection between a hot summer and diabetes may seem strange to some, but Bengalis will easily be able to spot the link. Come summer, they will guzzle down litres and litres of refreshing but sugary drinks like squash and aam porar shorbot, not to mention polish off bhnaars of chilled mishti doi. Business is thus likely to heat up in the endocrinologists’ clinics.
Bidisha Pakrashi, Calcutta
Empty promises
Sir — During a recent election rally in West Bengal, the prime minister, Narendra Modi, said that ‘Bharat will become viksit only when Bengal is viksit’. Modi should look at states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which are faring far worse than West Bengal.
Moreover, while no one can predict what the future holds, Modi clearly thinks he is prescient. Why else would he say that his party will win every seat in Bengal? He should remember the drubbing that the BJP got the last time the Union home minister had made such claims about electoral results in Bengal.
Romana Ahmed, Calcutta
Sir — The BJP member of Parliament from West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, said at a political rally that it would take Narendra Modi “only two minutes... to settle all the unrest in Bengal”. If that is indeed the case, one has to ask why has he not done so yet. After all, is it not a part of his duty as the prime minister to look after the welfare of each state, including the ones not ruled by the BJP? Whatever happened to ‘Modi ki guarantee’ about ‘sabka vikas’? Further, if Modi is so skilled at putting out fires, why has he let Manipur burn for close to a year?
Kallol Guha, Calcutta
Sir — It was the height of irony when Narendra Modi said at a rally in Krishnanagar that “the TMC government is repeatedly trying to put its own sticker on Central schemes.” In a country where it is impossible to be vaccinated against a life-threatening virus without having the prime minister’s face emblazoned on the vaccination certificate, can he really blame the TMC for trying to take a leaf out of his book? It is Modi who is a master of stealing credit — the list of achievements made by the erstwhile Manmohan Singh-led government which he has stolen for himself is long. Modi should remember that those in glass houses should not throw stones.
Prerana Saggar, Pune
Unwise choices
Sir — It is no secret that political parties tend to field actors and cricketers in electoral contests to sway voters with their popularity. It is also fairly well-known that once they are elected, most such celebrities play little to no part in the functioning of Parliament and democracy. It is thus heartening that the former cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, and the actor, Sunny Deol, do not want to contest the Lok Sabha elections. It is time voters put some thought into electing candidates who will actually work for their welfare.
N. Mahadevan, Chennai
Red alert
Sir — The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has threatened to start a third World War. This is worrying given that Russia is in possession of nuclear weapons. The consequences of such a war will thus be more devastating than any the world has seen before. The United States of America is trying to weaken Russia’s hand by issuing sanctions against it. But can such measures work against an ageing strongman trying desperately to cling to power?
Dattaprasad Shirodkar, Mumbai
Changed politics
Sir — Political films made in the 1950s and 1960s dealt with the economic divide in India, patriotism and the Nehruvian vision of pacifism and nation-building. More recently, Hindi films like Rang De Basanti, PK and Lage Raho Munna Bhai encouraged reflection on the frustration of the youth, superstition in the country and the relevance of Gandhi’s vision. However, films these days appear to have been politicised in the wrong way to spread propaganda. Films like Emergency, Article 370, The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story and so on blatantly promote personality cults, distort history, spread disinformation and foment hatred against communities. These films are increasingly fanning religious tensions in a polarised society.
Bhagwan Thadani, Mumbai
Right priority
Sir — The Supreme Court deserves to be lauded for its historical verdict upholding the closure of Vedanta’s Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi. This judgment can pave the way for more such decisions which prioritise welfare over ‘development’. The reasons cited by the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, will bolster the hands of activists like Fatima Babu and Vaiko, who fought relentlessly for the closure of the unit.
Tharcius S. Fernando, Chennai
