Baseless

Sir — It seems that yet another advertisement has hurt the fragile sensibilities of the Hindu right. A member of parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party has objected to an ad by the tyre company, CEAT Ltd, featuring Aamir Khan, which points out the problems caused by bursting crackers on the streets by arguing that the company should also address the inconveniences caused by noise emitted during azaan. The MP went so far as to say that the ad has caused “unrest among the Hindus”. This is blatantly untrue and is an attempt by Hindutva forces to stir up trouble. We must promptly speak up to ensure that such statements do not spark off violent altercations.

Aproova Singhvi,
New Delhi

Momentous feat

Sir — India has successfully administered one billion Covid vaccine doses. This is a remarkable feat and the Indian government must be congratulated. However, there is a long way to go before the fight is over (“Miles to go as a billion doses done”, Oct 22). Most experts believe that the drive will hit a ceiling at around 75-80 per cent. This is because a substantial number of people are still hesitant to take the shots. The immediate task before the government is to start a dedicated campaign to create awareness among masses to overcome vaccine hesitancy. It is also time for policymakers to start the inoculation drive for those under 18 and arrange booster shots for the most vulnerable. The government must ensure that India does not experience another devastating wave of infections.

N. Sadhasiva Reddy,
Bangalore

Sir — It is impressive that India has administered over 100 crore Covid-19 vaccine doses in 279 days. According to data from the CoWIN portal, 75 per cent of the total population of the country has received a single dose and 31 per cent has been fully vaccinated. Had the gap between two doses — it was set at 84-112 days — been shorter, a higher percentage of people could have been fully inoculated. We must keep up the pace of vaccination.

K.V. Seetharamaiah,
Bangalore

Troubling tendency

Sir — The Narcotics Control Bureau seems to be hell-bent on capturing all those potentially guilty of drug use in Bollywood. The furore and publicity generated by the arrests and investigations of celebrities — Ananya Panday is the latest to be summoned by the NCB for questioning — may have captured the attention of the citizens for now, but it is evident to all that Bollywood has become a scapegoat in the Centre’s attempts to divert attention from the political, social and economic troubles that are plaguing the country.

It is high time that the Centre focused on addressing the real problems faced by the country. The economy is in utter ruins and the government’s treatment of the agitating farmers as well as its lack of response towards attacks on minorities are matters of concern. The government and its many agencies must redirect their focus on issues of immediate importance.

Anwar Saeed,
Calcutta

Sir — It may be clear to some of us that the summoning of Ananya Panday by the NCB is part of the attempt to shake up Bollywood. But a perfunctory glance at social media will reveal that many believe that this will put an end to the immorality rampant within the film industry, a narrative that cropped up after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The magnitude of the loss of rational thinking is truly alarming.

Sarmistha Mazumder,
Calcutta

Parting Shot

Sir — The recent deluges in Kerala and Uttarakhand have raised the issue of disaster management, particularly in light of climate change. The National Disaster Management Authority should adapt new methods and technologies if it hopes to successfully deal with such crises. Early detection and preventive measures will be crucial in minimizing loss of lives and property.

Rajat Jain,
Ujjain