Letters to The Editor — March 31, 2026

Conflict in West Asia

Escalating rhetoric in the Iran war underscores how fragile the region’s balance has become. Iran’s defiance, Pakistan’s mediation, and the involvement of regional powers reveal both opportunity and peril. Peace efforts risk being overshadowed by military posturing, yet the alternative is catastrophe.

K. Chidanand Kumar,

Bengaluru

Campaign remarks

In his recent election campaign in Kerala, the Prime Minister’s remarks labelling his party as the ‘A team’ and alleging systemic misgovernance by the LDF warrant scrutiny. While political rhetoric is expected in the run-up to the elections, it should not overshadow the key issue of federal fiscal responsibility. Rather than making “tall promises” reserved for election cycles, the Union government must ensure that the State receives its entitled share of resources based on merit and constitutional norms. Labelling the State as marked by “corruption and misgovernance” ignores Kerala’s strong social indicators. Past comparisons to Somalia were unfounded. True cooperative federalism requires the Centre to support the State through action and fiscal cooperation, rather than disparaging its progress from a campaign podium.

S. Padmanabhan,

Kochi, Kerala