Letters to The Editor — February 15, 2025

President’s Rule

With some much-needed steps in conflict-ravaged Manipur having been initiated, the Government of India must leave no stone unturned in expediting the economic advancement of the region. Making sincere efforts to get to the root of the conflict, paying heed to the legitimate concerns of the locals and taking steps to integrate them into the mainstream are vital. Rather than using coercive methods, a humanistic approach would help usher in peace and stability.

M. Rishidev,

Dindigul, Tamil Nadu

Procrastination is an evil that leads to nothing being done even in sensitive issues. It is the height of insensitivity that it took several months, severe displacement and much horror before some attempt is being made to restore order. The challenge now is to swiftly bridge the deep trust deficit between communities.

Buddha Jagdish Rao,

Visakhapatnam

The central government not responding in real time is what has also contributed to the escalation in violence. Going by the manner in which the N. Biren Singh government had handled the whole ethnic conflict, it goes to show how little it cared for its own people. It remains to be seen what difference the imposition of President’s Rule makes to the troubled State.

Prabhu Raj R.,

Bengaluru

U.S. visit

The joint press conference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump was largely a substance-less charade. It was dominated by Mr. Trump’s uninterrupted bragging and misrepresentation on a host of issues. Mr. Trump belongs to that school of politics where the philosophy is ‘it’s my way or the highway’. The illegal immigration issue was glossed over. In this era of asymmetric warfare, where lighter and nimbler drones have come into prominence, having a controversial ‘sophisticated’ fighter jet is nothing but a white elephant. It is a political gift to the struggling manufacturer. The idea of pouring India’s hard-earned money into a bottomless pit is also financially imprudent.

G. Parameswaran,

Coimbatore