Vice-President, the contest
The Vice-President is expected to embody neutrality, remain above partisan politics, and uphold an unbiased stance that is free from any rigid political ideology. Traditionally, these posts have been held by eminent individuals whose contributions to society and the nation have been exemplary. By these standards, Justice B. Sudershan Reddy is a good choice. His is a distinguished judicial career. In contrast, C.P. Radhakrishnan, the NDA’s nominee, is a seasoned political figure with a long record in public office, and, therefore, may not be perceived as a non-partisan choice for this esteemed role. One hopes that Members of Parliament exercise a “conscience vote”. May wisdom guide this decision.
Varghese George,
Secunderabad
While the Vice-President of India is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and, therefore, has the duty to conduct proceedings in the House of Elders impartially, it was expected that a scholar with sound knowledge in the tenets of the Constitution would be elected as the next Vice-President in consultation with all the stakeholders, particularly the Opposition. Alas, it is not to be. With the ruling BJP dispensation announcing the candidature of C.P. Radhakrishnan, a hard-core member of the RSS and the BJP, and bypassed going in for a consensus candidate, we now have a situation of a contest. It is unfortunate that some in the BJP in Tamil Nadu have invoked the son of the soil line. The people of Tamil Nadu are well aware that the Union government has always been acting against their interests. One can expect Mr. Radhakrishnan to be another spokesperson of the saffron party.
Tharcius S. Fernando,
Chennai
India-China de-escalation
We do need de-escalation at the Line of Actual Control. We also need the display of strong political will at the Centre and robust diplomacy to negotiate peace with China. We must not lose sight of the economic front. We need to settle a trade deal, bypassing American sanctions and also Chinese moves.
Manas Agarwal,
Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Urban parks
Rapid urbanisation in India has only highlighted a key issue — an insufficient number of public parks. Parks serve an important purpose of bringing people from all walks of life together and creating harmony (‘Open Page, “For urban lung space”, August 17). Parks improve the aesthetic value of the area and are a major source of green cover in the urban pockets, keeping the temperature under control. According to a study conducted by Pennsylvania State University, the amount of time spent in parks and green common spaces has a direct correlation with the well-being of an individual.
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
Published – August 21, 2025 12:24 am IST