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.
Thackeray’s hatred towards Muslims
Raj Thackeray, who is the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party, made a statement on April 2 at his Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai that loudspeakers from all mosques in Maharashtra should be removed/banned and that Madrasass and mosques should be raided by the police as Pakistani and Bangladeshi terrorists live inside them. This statement of his has hurt Muslim community very badly not just in India but all over world.
Raj Thackeray also said that if the playing of azaan on loudspeakers is not stopped, then there will be loudspeakers outside mosques playing Hanuman Chalisa at a higher volume.
On the other hand, I appreciate Sanjay Raut (Member of the Rajya Sabha) for defending the Muslim community who said that loudspeakers from mosques in Maharashtra will not be removed as Maharashtra is ruled by the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) govt and not BJP. Sanjay Raut also said that PM Narendra Modi is taking people for a ride and has not kept his promise which he had made in 2014 of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of every Indian citizen. I wonder why Raj Thackeray has a hatred towards the Muslim community.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Govt hospital medicine or pharmacy
I am writing to you in order to raise the issue of people who are from lower class. They cannot afford the medicine for their loved ones in private hospitals. So, they rush to the Government hospitals for their treatment and sometimes the doctor prescribed them some expensive medicines that are not available from the pharmacy of hospital. Thus they face difficulty purchasing them.
You know human life is very precious and expensive. Most of the time people lose their loved ones due to wrong or expired medicines. And sometimes they die because of the non-availability of medicine. I request the health department officers, please take an action on it and keep check and balance on the medicines in Govt hospitals.
IQRA ZAHID
Via email
Old prices in old Pakistan
Finally, opposition parties have formed their Government and successfully removed PTI-led government but it is now time to see that whether the present coalition government would do for what they had been criticizing the PTI-led government which includes primarily inflation such as increasing prices of flour, ghee, fuel charges, medicines and etc.
If increasing prices of these things were not justified by the previous government then present government should immediately reduce the prices as it was before in old Pakistan as we have now returned in old Pakistan. It is rightly said that it is very easy to say something than practically doing it. Let us see how they reduce the prices of fuel charges, medicines and other commodities and tackle inflation.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
The evil of begging
Whenever we step out into the streets, we inevitably come across a few beggars. We see them everywhere, trying to ensnare people into giving money. Begging is a crime and a sin. According to reports, an astonishing 5 to 25 million beggars are present in Pakistan.
There are many reasons that we can cite for this problem but the most dominant one is poverty. People living below the poverty line resort to begging but most of them are professional. There is a whole beggar mafia which exploits people into making effortless money and sometimes, uses tactics like kidnapping and forceful disabling to make them beg on the street by gaining sympathies.
They use the name of religion, and emotionally blackmail people into giving sadaqah for the sake of their loved ones. These beggars have their whole families involved in this work. On the other hand, drug addicts are also seen begging. Some reports even suggested that these beggars earn about 3 lakhs per month from begging in urban and market areas.
Pakistan has passed a law against this but sadly there is a lack of decent implementation. To curb this problem, we must analyse the root causes and make policies. The government and media should work together with the religious clerics to create awareness. The government should provide these people with shelter, rehabilitation centres and technical education so that they can support themselves. The local administration should monitor the situation actively.
IFFAT TAHIR
Sargodha
Cultural decay in Pakistan
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of authorities concerned towards the decay of our culture in our societies. It is something that we should be worried about.
In the modern era where the other nations are focusing on their culture and promoting it, we have become a nation that is forgetting its own culture. We are forgetting our values, norms and beliefs. We are promoting western culture in our society. The idea of liberty and secularism also brought the neglect of our culture.
It is to be informed that in no way do I criticize idea of liberty. But it must worry us that our culture: discipline, manner of speech, choice of attire and thoughts are being influenced by the West. The neglect of our culture is shameful. It is something that must be looked at. I, therefore, request you to kindly highlight this issue. As it may attract the attention of Ministry of Culture and they may look into it to promote our culture in our own society.
QASIM YOUSAF
Sialkot
