Letters to the Editor

Hassle-free FASTag

I support the Central government's decision to make all the toll gates cashless through FASTag from February 15. Earlier there were huge traffic jams on the toll gates but with the mandatory installation of FASTag the long queues of vehicles have vanished. The only problem is that vehicles before 2016 didn't have FASTag attached at the time of purchase but after 2016 with the issuance of government order all the new vehicles had to be fitted with FASTag by the car dealers. In this regard the vehicle owners prior to 2016 are facing a bit of difficulty in getting the FASTag sticker but in that regard the respective car dealers and banks are lending yeoman's service to the public.

The toll gates are necessary because the revenue generated from the toll gates are used to maintain highways in tip-top condition. Also with the revenue, other necessary facilities are developed along the highways. Whether it is BJP-ruled State or Congress-ruled ones the toll gates are everywhere but strange part is that some local Congress leaders are promising to the public that all toll gates in Assam would be closed if they are voted to power. The Left-ruled State of Kerala too have toll gates but again the Leftists in Assam criticize the government for erecting toll gates in Assam.

Manthan Rudra Kashyap,

Boko

Pratibimba Live news on Dr Sarma

The digital news portal 'Pratibimba Live' reported a piece of news about Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. Editor in Chief of Pratibimba Live Taufiquddin Ahmad and News Editor Iqbal 'morphed' a photo of Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and his minor daughter. What Pratibimba Live has done cannot be accepted. Everyone has the right to support or criticize a public figure, but involving ones family, that too by corrupt means, is highly condemnable. Dispur Police has arrested the duo and investigation is underway. The NCW should take up the matter as the duo involved a minor girl in it.

Purabi Miri,

Jakhalabandha

Removal of Kiran Bedi

It refers to the sudden unceremonial removal of Kiran Bedi from post of Lt Governor of Puducherry. It would have been better if the removal would have been in a dignified manner by asking her in confidence to resign from the post. Such removal has unnecessarily sent signals that the removal was done out of some political bargain to get resignations of certain MLAs from the ruling Congress there.

There have been many cases earlier when politicians appointed as State Governors misused Raj Bhawans (Governor Houses) like party headquarters, dancing to tunes of political masters at the Centre ignoring even physical parade of majority MLAs by deserving aspirants for posts of Chief Ministers. The Election Commission on 01.04.2019 had to complain against the then Rajasthan Governor for his political statement made on 23.03.2019. It is quite usual that political persons appointed as State Governors give such political statements like earlier done by the then Madhya Pradesh Governor in April 2018.

Posts of state Governors must be only for politically neutral persons like retired judges and bureaucrats who might not have ever affiliated with any political party. However, any such posting must have at least gap of two years with the previous assignment for checking any possibility of bias in favour of government to get post-retirement assignments.

Chief Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker should be simultaneously elected through secret and compulsory vote of all MLAs through EVMs equipped with VVPAT on nominations signed by at least 34 per cent MLAs with their removal through same process, but with compulsion to name an alternative leader in the same motion. MLAs not participating in such election process may not be allowed to vote in State Assembly though being member of the House.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi

Indian-origin

employee

Arora Khamka (34), an Indian-origin employee at the UN, has announced her candidature to be its next Secretary General. Khamka is the first person to throw her hat in the ring against the present incumbent, Antonio Guterres. Khamka is working as an auditor for the coordinator for United Nations Development Progamme (UNDP). She said that she would run the post of the world's topmost diplomat and would launch her campaign at due time. It is a good and welcome move for an Indian-origin lady. We Indians are proud of her.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali

Rahul Gandhi

Since Rahul Gandhi functions as an ideal Opposition leader and continuously asks probing questions demanding accountability and transparency, it is quite natural that choicest abuses would be reserved for him.

When the authorities concerned should have mourned the deaths of more than 1.5 lakh Indians falling directly to COVID and hundreds succumbing upon highways and railway tracks while forced to indulge in long march back home, thanks to the callous and reckless decision of instant lockdown. How heartlessly can they brag about their invisible achievements in fighting COVID.

In contrast, Rahul Gandhi, in personal capacity and also as a Congressman, displayed sincere empathy for the hapless migrant labourers and arranged transport to ferry them home. Yet his act was mocked as Dramabazi by a Union minister. So, it is hardly surprising to note how certain individuals adorning high-profile chairs are stooping to the lowest possible depth to character assassinate Rahul as a traitor just because they have simply no answer to his straight intelligent questions.

Even during the earlier Lok Sabha, Indians witnessed how they merely gifted choicest personal abuses to Rahul whenever he used to ask Rafale related questions instead of providing honest answers.

It is not Rahul who insults Constitutional authorities. Rather his main political adversary relentlessly insults the Opposition leaders who are also holding Constitutional posts or functioning as MP or president of any party. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul are taunted as Italians. How they mock the Congress, earlier the UPA regime, TMC, West Bengal Government as family property of mother-son or Pishi-Bhaipo. Moreover, none other than the Indian democracy gets humiliated as the Congress/TMC enjoyed/enjoys power in Centre/Bengal, thanks to the free-and-fair votes of the common Indian/Bengal electorate only.

Questioning the policy and steps of the Prime Minister or government can never be construed as an attack upon the nation, Constitution and Constitutional authorities. Rather, it is demanding accountability from the Government and its top mandarins to form an essential element of ideal democracy.

And it is amusing to note who are all blaming Rahul Gandhi for insulting India. Those who zealously claim in foreign lands that 'nothing happened before 2014' and lambast Nehru and Gandhis in front of the international community are now pointing fingers at Rahul for his sin of posing absolutely right questions concerning the welfare of the country and criticizing the farce named demonetization. Nothing can be more amusing or sadder than this.

Far from being a 'Doomsday Man', Rahul Gandhi is nothing but the conscience-keeper of the nation and all sane reasonable secular Indians are proud of him.

Kajal Chatterjee

Kolkata