Letters to The Editor — August 1, 2025
The U.S. President's '25% tariffs from Friday plus a penalty' may not have been unexpected as Mr. Trump has given many hints about his disapproval of India's dealings with Russia. However, his comment that India and Russia can take their 'dead economies down together' is shocking and reflects an unexplained contempt for both nations.
As if this was not enough, his additional remark, of a U.S.-Pakistan oil reserve deal and the possible sale of this oil India 'some day!', is akin to adding insult to injury to India's self-respect and national pride. The Government of India's response has been strangely meek and timid.
S.K. Choudhury,
Bengaluru
Debate in Parliament
'Operation Sindoor' is over and the Prime Minister, in his recent speech in Parliament, dwelt at length on the action taken.
Therefore, it is unfortunate that the Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is now attempting to tarnish 'Operation Sindoor' with his repeated questioning of the ceasefire. One expects a better standard of debate in Parliament from the Opposition.
Mani Nataraajan,
Chennai
Arrest of nuns
The arrest of the nuns in Chhattisgarh under 'trafficking and conversion charges' reeks more of communal vigilantism than credible law enforcement. When the kin of the tribal girls themselves deny coercion, the justification collapses. Anti-conversion laws, ostensibly to prevent forced conversions, are being misused to criminalise legitimate acts of charity, employment or faith. This is not governance. It is harassment, weaponised.
When constitutional freedoms are at the mercy of fringe complaints and political appeasement, we risk replacing rule of law with rule by mob. The state must protect rights, not undermine them under pressure from ideological groups.
K. Chidanand Kumar,
Bengaluru
Appeasement politics in Kerala and divisive politics in North India, with an eye on the vote bank, is the tactic the ruling party at the Centre is indulging in to win elections. Rather than shedding crocodile tears and expressing well-rehearsed anguish, State leaders from this national party must walk the talk. .
Dr. Biju C. Mathew,
Thiruvananthapuram
Poverty, illiteracy and ailment are three prominent causes which are used by missionaries. The moot question is this: why were the tribal girls being taken to a place hundreds of kilometres away from Chhattisgarh? To debunk the arrests as communal vigilantism is lopsided.
Ravi Mathur,
Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Honour killing
Despite constitutional protections, it is evident that governments, central and State, have not shown a commitment to enacting legislation against honour killings, largely due to vote bank politics. Since societal beliefs in 'caste supremacy' are the root cause of these crimes, civil society has a responsibility to work collaboratively with the government to eliminate the illusion of 'caste pride' and ensure social harmony.
C. Raghavan,
Chennai
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