Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Hindutva unleashed
As India’s general elections are in progress, BJP’s anti-Muslim rhetoric has become so commonplace and is so frequently backed by anti-Muslim violence and discrimination, that most have arguably become numb to this sort of talk. Outside of those in NGOs, parties, activist organizations and others whose job includes responding to and calling out hateful rhetoric, this latest anti-Muslim diatribe will not turn many heads. The man uttering it allegedly helped facilitate an anti-Muslim pogrom that left over a thousand dead back when he was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002. Throughout, courts and most of the Indian society have either been spectators at best or facilitators at worst. This is not correct that all Indian Hindus support what is being done in their name, many even hate it. However, Hindutva does not need great numbers to stay in power.
The BJP-led NDA coalition has never won more than 40 per cent of the vote, and only won around 31 per cent in the 2014 elections. This is good enough in a country that is very diverse but where Hindus form the majority in most regions. Once in power, the only things stopping you are courts and free media. Sadly, in India’s case, these obstacles were not as formidable as one would have hoped. While courts have watched as BJP government makes a mockery of basic constitutional rights, media has often been a cheerleader. Hindutva is well and truly unleashed.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Waves of protests
Pro-Palestine demonstrations have not erupted out of the blue. Across Europe and even the United States since October, 3100 across Europe and 2700 in the United States, regular rallies have been organised alone. What is, however, very striking about this wave was locality, community that was epicentre of protests. The protests erupted in influential campuses, e.g. the University of Southern California, Emory University, Brown University, Emerson College, George Washington University, Indiana University, and the University of California in LA, USA. A notable point here is that repression by police could not stop the mounting wave of student’s protests. Likewise, students disrupting a major conference in Turin, Italy alongside calling for cut-off scientific cooperation with Israel on various campuses is another sign that the heat is reaching Europe. The University of Sydney, Australia is another campus where the protests have reached outside the US.
Whether or not Biden’s administration will back off from supporting Israel, students in the US and Europe made themselves heard. At the least, this is a strong message of solidarity that is reaching Palestine in real-time. At least, students are making sure they record themselves on the right side of history. This wave of protests gives enormous hope to everyone supporting Palestine right now. When students speak, their voices carry more weight than any other influential person’s voice. When they speak collectively, their will weighs heavy over whatever conventional wisdom and prejudice the power elites are holding onto. When students speak, the tides turn.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Modi’s utterance
We are world’s largest democracy. We must preserve what our freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi fought for. Let’s not lose this legacy for a power hungry politician. It is very important that we the people of India wake up and take action before it’s too late.
If you compare the prices of medicines you bought eight months ago with the current prices, you will be shocked to find that the prices of medicines have gone up to 100%. Why did these pharmaceutical companies suddenly raise the price of medicines so much? The answer is Electoral Bond.
Several pharma companies had to pay crores of rupees to the BJP government as forced bribes through electoral bonds. In order to recover this money, the companies had no other alternatives but to increase the price of medicines without any control. In return for bribes, the government allowed these companies to increase the prices of even essential medicines. In other words, Narendra Modi has done the biggest corruption shared by the BJP colluding with companies to directly hit common man’s pockets, which has messed up our family budget. Modi has been betraying the people of India to a large extent. Let’s not vote for him again.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Unacceptable political
comments
It is against national interest to cast aspersions, which cannot be substantiated, about foreign countries with whom Pakistan has economic links and trade relations. Foreign policy issues should only be discussed in exclusive parliamentary committees, or on the floor of Parliament. They are too sensitive an issue to be a subject of populist political campaigns or propaganda. Some of Pakistan’s key foreign allies with whom this country shares common strategic interests and economic relations are China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia etc., who have always come to our help, when Pakistan faced a crisis, threatening our security. This should be a taboo, even during election campaigns.
When national political parties get involved in such irresponsible behaviour, it is cause for concern and raises questions. Recent statement implicating Saudi Arabia in a conspiracy campaign to oust an elected government must be condemned and demands from that political party to take punitive action against the individual, who should never be given any important assignments. Mere denial that this was his personal opinion is not enough. Pakistan cannot afford such nuisances.
ALI MALIK TARIQ
Lahore
Jam Chakro Landfill
Writing to express our deep concern about critical situation at Jam Chakro Landfill near Karachi. Jam Chakro Landfill, located about 30 kilometres from Karachi’s city centre near, spans 200 hectares of land. Around 400 to 500 trucks running 24/7 deposit around 6,000 to 7,000 tons of trash daily at the 200-hectare landfill site of Jam Chakro. This landfill is now turning into a garbage mountain that poses several health risks to resident’s well-being as well as environment. The garbage produced by Jam Chakro includes mercury, lead, and arsenic from fluorescent lights and abandoned electronics. These pollutants seep into the groundwater and soil, causing long-term risks to human health and the ecosystem. The production of leachate, which contains dangerous substances including carbon dioxide, methane, and organic acids, aggravates environmental deterioration.
ZARMEEN MUZAFFAR
Karachi
