Ailing sector
I commend your article revealing the poor media reporting on public health (“The Readers’ Editor writes: Media’s health coverage is too often episodic – Gorakhpur is an example”). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have failed on all matters concerning public health and education. And though they claim to have made several economic reforms, industry is also in a mess.
What is worrying is that any criticism or reporting on the failures of the government is silenced. Modi and his colleagues have tried to repackage measures initiated by the UPA government, only to implement them disastrously.
Public healthcare in India has deep-rooted problems. There are not enough doctors and trained nurses hospitals are poorly equipped and we have a bad and inadequate administration. Most of our professional colleges for medicine and engineering are owned and run by politicians for profit.
In all his travels abroad, the PM has only concentrated on issues of defence, FDI and the like. Neither he nor other ministers care to give adequate attention to social issues. The Gorakhpur hospital incident seems to be a case of massive mismanagement. Can Gorakhpur awaken the authorities to wake up and solve serious problems? – SN Iyer
Triple talaq judgement
Chief Justice JS Khehar’s dissenting judgement is very confusing (“‘Religion a matter of faith, not logic’: CJI Khehar’s dissenting opinion on triple talaq”). The writer of this article says: “the dissenting order insists that the Supreme Court’s job is to protect and enforce the constitution”. If that is the case, I fail to understand on what basis the judge pronounced that “we are satisfied in injuncting Muslim husbands, from pronouncing ‘talaq-e-biddat’”.
Secondly, why did he did get into the realm of politics by saying that “we would also beseech different political parties to keep their individual political gains apart, while considering the necessary measures requiring legislation”.
Finally, it would be interesting to read what the other four judges had to say in their judgements. – P Raghavendra
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Is this the best headline you can come up with after a ground-breaking and progressive verdict from the Supreme Court (“Triple talaq has been declared unconstitutional – but not everyone is celebrating”)? The Supreme Court bench consisted of independent jurors from a cross-section of religions. And the BJP is some how politicising the issue? I would have thought a liberal publication such as yours would have celebrated a decision like this. – Naresh Podila
Goa votes
I am registered as a voter in Panaji constituency but after the fiasco in March this year, when the BJP formed the government in a hung Assembly, I had sworn to myself that I would never cast my vote from the city again (“The big question in Goa before the high-stakes bypoll: Will Parrikar win Panjim for the sixth time?”). But I just happened to read your article, and it has made me realise that I should.If this is indeed a contest between David and Goliath, then may the righteous win! – S Khan
India unraveling
The RSS and their upper caste leaders want Brahmins to stay at the top of the social ladder, while Dalits and Muslims are increasingly sidelined (“On a perilous path: India is being unmade, a lynching at a time”). Indians have undertaken this systematic human rights violation throughout history. This attitude of casteism seems to be ingrained in us. – Deepa Rashmi
Fatal flaws
This incident reflects Modi’s ignorance and his arrogance (“By sneering at Hamid Ansari’s diplomatic stint in West Asia, Modi undermined India’s foreign policy”). The position he occupies now was never held before by an individual who simultaneously possesed both these flaws. – Ahmad Shamshad
Blue whale challenge?
It’s great that no concrete links have been found in India linking some children’s suicides to the Blue Whale challenge, but that cannot mean the threat can be ruled out (“Blue Whale panic: Across India, police find little connection to online suicide game”). In Russia, there have been trials on the same. I can appreciate that you do not want to fuel panic and wish to discourage rumour-mongering, but there could be a real danger here. The threat may not be at our doors yet, but it can get here, and parents need to be vigilant. People who take your word at face value and don’t bother to research more could be lulled into a false sense of security. – Siddharth Deshpande
Innocent or guilty?
Our so-called intellectuals and liberals seem to be more concerned about the rights of the culprits than those of the victim (“Dhananjoy Chatterjee, hanged for rape in Kolkata 13 years ago, gets a retrial through a movie”). They forget that the victim’s human right to live was snatched away by the culprit. Human rights are for humans, not for killers with animal instincts. – Lalit Bose
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Thank you for highlighting a possibly botched up investigation. It would only be fair to reopen the case. – Soumyajit
Doklam standoff
I too would like the same outcome in case of a war between China and India that RK Sharma describes in his letter to Scroll.in but this is unlikely to happen (“Readers’ comments: If war breaks out with China, India must not lose the chance to make up for 1962”). India is not yet ready to go face to face with the world’s second most powerful country. I don’t know how many countries will stand by India. China and Russia are closer together than ever before and China has managed to repeatedly thwart India’s NSG bid. If there is a conflict, US Congress will be reluctant to offer any concrete support to India. An occassional call from Trump to Modi doesn’t mean much. – Swapan Das
Ladakh face-off
How much was Scroll.in paid by China for this headline (“‘Extremely dissatisfied’: China blames Indian Army for Ladakh scuffle”)? As an Indian media organisation, shouldn’t you analyse the video and state the facts as they are, instead of pointing to China’s stance? Indians don’t care if China is “extremely dissatisfied” by the Indian response. – Chandrashekar Ganesh
Political thought
It appears that one cannot expect such deep reflection from today’s ruling class (“Question for the BJP’s Ram Madhav: How Indian are his party’s ideas of nationalism and development?”). Once you start rewriting history, you can’t learn from it. The repercussions of policies framed today will be felt after 15-20 years. – Rajendra Kulkarni
Manual scavenging
I cannot believe the director was forced to leave Tamil Nadu (“‘Kakkoos’ director Divya Bharathi leaves Tamil Nadu after allegedly receiving rape, attack threats”). She should be a role model for every human being. After watching Kakkoos, I am determined to do my part for the elimination of manual scavenging. – Aruna Satyamurthy
Well played
This article is melodramatic (“What is common between Amit Shah’s BJP and the Australian cricket team in its heyday?”). The author has ignored the quality of the players involved. Lillie and Thomson were the best in the business at that time and so are Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. If Australia played new brand of cricket, BJP is delivering a new brand of governance. The shameful era of corruption is done and dusted. If the BJP’s is eyeing a tall target of 350 seats in 2019, so be it. The Austrailian team had a hunger for winning and so does the BJP. – Bala Ram
Music to the ears
This is great news. Many fans are eagerly awaiting this release (“Gulzar’s 1988 movie ‘Libaas’ to be finally released later this year”). What a memorable event it shall be. My best wishes to all those involved in the project. – Jai Singh Bissau
Special status
The Centre’s affidavit seeking a larger discussion on Article 35A is a step in right direction (“Article 35A row: BJP has shifted focus from azadi to special status in Kashmir. But for how long?”). The separatists want to enjoy all the privileges at the cost of the whole nation even as they threaten to break away from the country. That is unacceptable. Before claiming special Constitutional guarantees, they should demonstrate their allegiance and commitment to the Indian Constitution. – Bichu Muttathara
Unequal gains
Why are benefits going only to IIT and IISc students (“PhD students from IITs, IISc to get monthly central fellowship of Rs 70,000”)? That’s comparable to a situation where the rich only get richer. Why can’t everyone get these benefits? There could be a common fellowship to boost research in other institutes as well, or it should be open to all. IITs and IIScs already have better facilities and research culture than other institutes. – Jayasurya
Scissors down
It comes as a pleasant surprise that there are some government administered bodies like the Film Tribunal who are able to stand their ground against the Safron brigade in the country (“Kejriwal documentary ‘An Insignificant Man’ passed uncut without NOC from Modi”). Hats off to them! – Abdul Majeed Khan
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The fact that the appellate tribunal has passed this documentary without any cuts indicates that the problem was indeed with the previous boss, Pankaj Nihalani. It is good that he has been shown the door. – PD Amarnath
