Letters to The Editor — April 3, 2036

The end of Naxalism

Inclusive development must remain the focus in areas freed from the grip of Naxalism. The current conducive environment presents a significant opportunity to ensure overall development and progress.

The responsibility of the Home Ministry is now twofold. It must ensure that Naxals and Maoists do not get a chance to regroup, while also supporting the advancement of tribal communities. There must be a close watch on those who have surrendered and laid down arms. The Home Minister could have avoided engaging in a blame game.

Balasubramaniam Pavani,

Secunderabad

The moment of elation should not let us slip into complacency and efforts should be made to augment the development processes in Naxal-infested areas with vigour. The emphasis must be on tribal development to stave off a recrudescence of this problem.

Ravi Mathur,

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Words outlast the war

U.S. President Donald Trump’s first prime-time address on ‘Operation Epic Fury’ — threatening to return Iran to the “stone ages” and destroy its electricity grid — has raised concerns beyond its immediate military context. Delivered 33 days into a war that has already pushed oil above $100 per barrel and unsettled allied capitals, the speech offered escalation where clarity was needed. His simultaneous threat to withdraw the U.S. from NATO compounds the damage. Responsible wartime leadership demands linguistic precision no less than military precision. The world is listening, and markets have already responded.

Gopalaswamy J.,

Chennai

Parties and freebies

As election campaigning gathers steam in the State of Tamil Nadu, the major political parties are outdoing each other by making extravagant promises. Needless to say, these manifestos often read as distorted carbon copies of one another, offering everything from free cooking oil to electronic devices, primarily targeting resource-poor voters. It is well established that these consumer “freebies” are not only poor economic policy but also lead to large Budget deficits and fiscal imprudence. Moreover, these handouts, though legal, have not significantly transformed the lives of the very people they are supposed to uplift, as they foster a culture of dependence on public resources. Thus, these promises represent a loss of “economic opportunity” for precious resources that could have been utilised for education and infrastructure. Every major party is guilty of such practices, and as a voter, I find it difficult to discern any meaningful difference in their plans for the welfare of the State or the country.

G. Parameswaran,

Coimbatore