Letters to the Editor: Covid-19 vaccination for school children

In an interview with an international television channel, the chairman of the COVID-19 working group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) Dr N K Arora has recently revealed that the COVID-19 vaccination drive for children between 2 and 18 years of age can begin as early as this month. He also said that the centre was preparing a list of comorbidities and children suffering from those on the list will be prioritized for the jab. At this juncture, we expect that the government should first vaccinate the school children. As most of the school children have spent almost two years without giving any step in the soil of their respected schools, so they should be prioritised regarding vaccination. It is an undeniable fact that our country's future lies on the school campus. If the schools are not running according to their size and capacity then our progress will stop at a certain point. The health of our country depends on the fitness of our school children. So, without delay, the government should start vaccination for school children as early as possible to avoid producing a dull generation.

Harsha Mohan Sarma,

Nalbari

Blunders by Congress

The leaders of the century-old Congress have always boasted that India attained independence due to Congress. It is true up to a certain extent but Congress cannot claim the whole credit for it as multiple other factors contributed to India's freedom. Secondly, one cannot compare the present bunch of Congress with the original Congresspeople. The blunders committed by Congress over a particular religious community over the years are unpardonable. During partition 21 lakh Hindus were massacred by those demanding Pakistan, but the Congress government, later on, gave 65 crores to the newly formed Islamic State of Pakistan. Even after dividing the two nations based on religion, Congress agreed to settle 3.5 crore Muslims in the country. Congress is behind the formation of Hindu-free Kashmir by giving indulgence to the jihadi forces and introducing Section 35(A) and Article 370 in the Jammu & Kashmir. They did not stop there. They made Rohingyas settle in the valley. Later on, when Indira Gandhi returned to power, she inserted the word secular into the constitution to swell her vote bank and start the 'appeasement policy'. With the introduction of the word secular, within a few years, Hindus became a minority in eight states. Congress passed Hindu Code Bill to press restrictions on the Hindus which was vehemently opposed by Sardar Patel. Congress to strengthen the Muslim vote bank created a Muslim Personal Law Board and handed them the freedom to practice the religion according to their Holy Book even it is opposed to the Indian Civil Code. Adding of 'Muslim' word in AMU was welcome but the addition of the word 'Hindu' in BHU was opposed tooth and nail by Congress. It was a ploy by Congress to create division in Hindu and Muslim brethren.

The Congress not only gifted back POK so gallantly won by our Army but also returned 93,000 POWs to Pakistan without bothering about our 54 Bravehearts who were languishing in the jails of Pakistan. Even today their fate or whereabouts are not known. Congress government handed over the Kailash Mansarovar with 90,000 sq km of land to China and brazenly stated in Lok Sabha that land is of no use. Today, India is envisaging putting up the world's largest solar panel. Congress opposed NRC (which even the smallest country in the world has) so that their illegal vote bank is untouched.

The "Satyam Shivam Sundaram" logo was removed from Doordarshan, "Auto Ma Sat Gamay" verse removed from Kendriya Navodaya Vidyalaya, opposed singing of "Vande Mataram" by the previous Congress government.

The biggest genocide occurred during the Congress era like the massacre of Sikhs in 1984 post assassination of Indira Gandhi, hundred of Sadhus were killed in 1966 when they were agitating for the protection of Holy cows. The subsidy was given on Haj but the tax was imposed on Amarnath Yatra. The then Congress government gave an affidavit in the court saying that Sri Ram was an imaginary character and they even tried to break Ram Setu. They opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath temple plan of Sardar Patel and later on opposed the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad who went on to inaugurate the Somnath Temple and later on they made sure that Dr Rajendra Prasad never got any government perks after completion of his term. The decorated and respected war Hero Lt. Manekshaw was debarred from his salary for over 30 years since he dared to hurt the ego of Indira Gandhi, but when ex-President APJ Kalam came to know about it while visiting ailing Manekshaw in the hospital, APJ Kalam immediately gave a cheque of Rs. 1.30 crore to him. Even the jihadi terrorists involved in the atrocious Mumbai attack on 26/11 were projected as Hindus and colour the attack as 'saffron terror'. Congress gifted the veto power offered to India to China. Lastly, the respective Congress government bled the country with enormous corruption.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.

Better late than never

It should be appreciated by all that the Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of Saurabh Kirpal as Delhi High Court judge. The decision of the Supreme Court collegium to elevate senior advocate Saurabh Sirpal as a Delhi High Court comes barely three years after quashing of section 377 and marks the first act of the higher judiciary breaking the pink glass ceiling. Now homosexuality is as normal as heterosexuality or queerdom. as we have come a long, long way from not just that dark British period but our own skewed time till 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down section 377. And after the approval of the recommendation, Kirpal will become the first gay judge of a high court in India. And the judiciary would in all wisdom have opened the doors to welcome a gay judge.

It is worth notable that Kirpal comes from a distinguished and reputed family, his father having been the Chief Justice of India. He has a shining career and went to read law in Oxford and completed his master from Cambridge and has specialized in civil, commercial and constitutional law. He is openly homosexual and speaks for LGBT rights and he was among the team of lawyers who worked on the landmark decision of section 377. Kirpal was once quoted about the importance of a gay judge in India.

If there was a member of the LGBT community on the bench. (but also) for that young, gay child or that young trans child in school, there would be a feeling that they too could reach great heights. For those who still believe being gay is a sin there is nothing unnatural about it. We should come forward and support their sentiments as Supreme Court had delivered judgement in their favour and now there should not be any ifs and buts in welcoming them wholeheartedly.

Yash Pal Ralhan,

Jalandar 144003

Ambari golchakkar

The Lakhinath Bezbaruah rotary in front of TC Girls' School in GNB Road in Guwahati has become an important milestone. It is very meticulously designed and built in the abandoned railway line which connected Uzanbazar Jahajghat with Maligaon. Later on, the authority concerned the roundabout after the legendary figure of Assam Roxoraj Lakshminath Bezbarua by the authority concerned. Initially, there was a thermometer inside the rotary and also a clock. But both these devices have not been not working, and GMC has shown little concern to repair both the faulty devices. Even the fountain that was functioning in the initial days has stopped working for a long along. The lights give a ghostly look to the once beautiful rotary that once looked like Hyde Park of London.

I hope my letter will receive due attention from the authority concerned as this once beautiful site has of late become an eyesore

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Ambari, Guwahati

T20 World cup: The uncertain calls

Five-time World Cup (ODI) One Day International winner Australia, at last, grabbed its maiden T20 World Cup (WC) when it beat New Zealand (NZ) by eight wickets. The Kiwis are another contender for the maiden trophy; but in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, the Kiwis added another runners-up medal to an unwanted and expanding collection. Kudos to the Aussies for winning their maiden T20 WC; when both the teams played in great spirits. In cricket, there is a proverb that 'Catches Win Matches'.

But in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), it is 'Toss wins matches'; if not, then why do the figures seem to indicate that — since the last round began, 24 matches had been played and 19 were won by the team chasing. Even the team that won the toss chose to bat 2nd and won the first semifinal with 6 balls to spare, the 2nd semifinal with 6 balls to spare and the final with 7 balls to spare.

But it does not diminish the superiority of the Aussies — they were the better team tonight. 'Man of the Match' — Marsh played a superb knock ably supported by the 'Player of the Tournament' — Warner (who finishes second among the leading run-makers, behind only Babar Azam) and Maxwell; whereas Cummins, Hazlewood and Zampa bowled exceptionally well, though Starc had an off night. NZ put up a very good total helped by Kane Williamsons (would go straight into once a bestseller called 'The Book of Heroic Failures') great knock but their bowlers could not deliver. Whatsoever, in this final David Warner quietly took his sweet revenge of IPL, when it was Williamson who replaced him as captain of the 'Sunrisers Hyderabad' in the middle of the IPL season, and who then dropped him from the XI. Warner is all smiles now. Even though hopefully NZ would make up for it in the next WC, they are too good a team to miss out to get to the last dance.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad 121005

Sentinels of Northeast

Assam Rifles is known as sentinels of the Northeast. This paramilitary wing of the Government of India has been providing exemplary service to the eight sisters of the NE Region.

Ambush has been a common occurrence in far-flung remote areas which have claimed many lives in the distant past. But slowly, it seemed to be a thing of the past. Yesterday's incident has once again raised many questions regarding the security aspect of our brave soldiers. Perhaps international borders need to be sealed to hinder many preventable incidents. Killing members of an entire family via ambush cannot be accepted in society. Humans have emotions that set us apart from others but in this 21st century, such incidents have shaken us to the core where even an 8-year-old was not spared.

I feel, we, as humans, need to be connected more rather than to our mobile phones which is slowly seeping away our societal emotions.

I firmly believe that life is God's gift to us and we need to make the best use of it.

As a daughter of an ex-Assam Rifles personnel (civilian), the feeling of fear once we cross our familiar areas towards far-flung remote areas is still very fresh in my memory. That long line of convoys led by a bullet-proof vehicle followed by LPTs, 1 ton, bus, an ambulance is still etched very clearly within me.

The pain that saps us from inside whenever we used to hear of ambush somewhere still hurts.

PP Barua,

Guwahati