(A Ticking Time Bomb, July 2); Apropos to the article titled ‘A Ticking Time Bomb’ by Nishant Kr Azad in Organiser. It was disheartening to read about the influx of Rohingya refugees and their settlement in Jammu, where even fellow Indians cannot settle or buy property due to Article 370. In India, we suffer from “over-accommodative path” where Hindus give a long rope to non-Hindus. We are reviled for idol worship and every Hindu ritual. In fact, when in school, a few years back, my son came rushing to me showing his high school CBSE textbook where anexample of waste and superstition was described as the milk abhisheka being done on Lord Shiva lingam. Instead of tolerating such assaults on Hinduism, we should learn to use logic and oratory to fight the barbs on us. We need to reiterate that idol worship is a form of pooja where we internalise the Godly aspects that are reflected in our pooja wordings and in the idol. We should also understand the difference between casteism and caste system. Caste system per se is not the problem, casteism is the problem. Caste system provides a community social support system. It binds us to traditional values and creates an emotional and material infrastructure to overcome problems. Whether it is idol worship or other
typically Hindu things, we need to learn how to defend. Certainly, reformations were required need to be encouraged among Hindus to improve the lot of Hindus. Hinduism is a pluralistic, open-minded and multi-hued way of divine living. Pluralism makes all Hindus naturally tolerant and open-minded. Constant educational positive messages on Hinduism should circulate in print, electronic, mass and social media to boost self-esteem of Hindus. Issues such as the J&K Rohingya illegal settlements, and unjust laws like Article 370 should constantly remind us to be vigilant, active, proactive and self-defensive.
SUNIL S CHIPLUNKAR, BENGALURU
Stop Threatening(Face-off, July 16); Kudos to Organiser for exclusive articles on China by Sumit Kumar, Amalendu Kundu and Dr (Prof) Satish Kumar. China should stop threatening India by invoking their win in the 1962 War, and concentrate on efforts to de-escalate the situation arising out of the stand-off at the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction. There is no comparison between the * * * (China Blocks Kailash Yatra, July 16); This refers to the article titled ‘China Blocks Kailash Yatra’ by Amalendu Kundu in Organiser. It is unfortunate that time and again China creates trouble for India at the border to destroy peace. The latest one to achieve the same is the construction of a road in Dokalam. Chinese troops even bulldozed an Indian Army bunker. They also stopped a batch of Indian Indian pilgrims proceeding on the Kailash Mansarovar. In Arunachal Pradesh, they create problems |
Historic Visit
(Modi Crosses the Rubicon, July 16); This refers to the article ‘Modi Crosses the Rubicon’ by Dr Vikas Abrol in Organiser. There can be no second
opinion that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel is historic. The red carpet
welcome he received at the Ben Gurion Airport was also unprecedented. Prime Minister Modi is the third world leader to receive such a welcome in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While all our
earlier Prime Ministers have preferred to meet the Israeli leaders in New Delhi for varied reasons, Shri Modi broke the protocol to make a visit o Tel Aviv. One only expects that his visit results in bringing mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries without affecting the good relationship India has nurtured all along with Palestine during its justified struggle to become an independent entity.
YVONNE FERNANDO, Chennai
Injustice to polyester by GST
(Complex Path to Simplification, July 2); This refers to the Editorial in Organiser titled ‘Complex Path to Simplification’. The manufacturers of yarn from wastes of man-made fibres (polyester, viscose etc.) have been put to gross injustice under GST regime. Earlier, there was no excise on them, and no VAT either, in most of states. But a whopping 18 per cent GST has been imposed on them. This extremely sharp spike from zero to eighteen is thoughtless, illogical, and crippling. These units will vanish soon if no corrective measure is taken forthwith. If the GST rate is lowered to 5 per cent, at par with cotton yarn, then there are chances of their survival. This industry is a labour-intensive one. Closure will render thousands of persons and families jobless. The yarn they make is used in manufacturing cheap coarse cloth, but highly durable, cloth priced at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per metre. This is relished by the poor.
AJAY MITTAL, Meerut
