Refer to ‘No twist in the SIR tale’; the Supreme Court’s endorsement of the SIR has normalised exclusion in the name of electoral purity. The Court ignored the central issue raised by political parties, civil society groups and petitioners: there is no provision for Special Intensive Revision in the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Section 21 only speaks of revision of electoral rolls, while Rule 25 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, mentions intensive revision, not SIR with mass citizenship scrutiny. By upholding the ECI’s sweeping powers, the judgment has weakened universal adult franchise. The State is deciding who deserves to vote.
Ramphal Kataria, Kurukshetra
Cong high command’s control
Apropos of ‘Karnataka power tussle ends as CM Sidda quits, makes way for DKS’; Congress veteran Siddaramaiah was made to resign on the instructions of the Congress High Command. His sudden exit looks like a Punjab rerun of September 2021 when Congress CM Capt Amarinder Singh was asked to step down by Sonia Gandhi to make way for Charanjit Singh Channi. In its aftermath, Congress faced a crushing defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections in Punjab. The Congress high command, controlled by the Gandhi family, has started a vicious circle, which may create a plethora of political problems for the party in the near future.
Upendra Sharma, by mail
LoP’s multifaceted role
The Leader of Opposition (LoP) is not to be considered a rubber stamp to endorse every government policy. He/she has to possess the qualities of statesmanship, sportsmanship, candour and compassion. In fact, the LoP is a sine qua non for good governance. He does not necessarily have to criticise every government move. Appreciation of the ruling party’s strong points and constructive criticism of the party’s follies can make him an asset. He must not be cowed down by vendetta politics and must stand firm in his opposition to policies not in the national interest or measures reeking of corruption or nepotism.
Jarnail Singh Brar, Bathinda
Towards AI sovereignty
Refer to ‘Modi’s AI mission in Europe’; India has recognised that the traditional IT-services model is becoming obsolete due to generative and agentic AI. The PM’s tour sought to bolster India’s AI economy through sovereign computing, the proposed 8-exaflop supercomputing cluster (high-speed computing) and semiconductor partnerships. The Tata Electronics partnership with ASML for the Dholera (Gujarat) chip fab is particularly significant. However, MoUs alone cannot guarantee industrial reality as automation is already threatening millions of jobs. Hence, India must accelerate indigenous research, upgrade technical education and ensure swift execution to become a global tech hub.
Chanchal S Mann, Una
Vaibhav must represent India
With reference to ‘New six machine’; cricket pundits have fallen short of adjectives to describe the child prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Chris Gayle took 456 deliveries to hit 60 sixes in a season, while Sooryavanshi took just 266 balls to break that record. He does not just play an innings, but unleashes a hurricane that blows away records and opposition bowlers. The way he is treating international bowlers like club bowlers, he is proving that he is not a unidimensional player. It is just a question of when, and not if, as far as his selection in Team India is concerned.
Bal Govind, Noida
Culture hostage to violence
Refer to ‘Dramas beyond borders’; there is no denying the fact that Indian viewers admire Pakistani dramas and our neighbours equally appreciate Indian cinema and music. The common man on both sides desires peace, goodwill and opportunities to reconnect with their ancestral roots. Unfortunately, sponsored terrorism and vested interests continue to hold this natural harmony hostage. The day Pakistan realises that friendship and cooperation bring greater dividends than violence, not only the two nations but the entire South Asia will prosper. Na deewar rahegi, na fasla rahega, Mohabbat ka safar hi silsila rahega.
Vijay Kumar Katial, Panchkula
