The first official policy statement of the Modi government contains what was included in the BJP poll manifesto but it’s good to see that contentious issues such as a uniform civil code and Article 370 have been put on the backburner. Also its encouraging that the Government has given importance to the agriculture sector. But only a separate budget for that sector will solve farmers’ problems.

Kiran Jose

Kottayam

We are one nation

Reports that Muslims in some parts of Pune have shaved off their beards and changed their traditional dress following the recent brutal killing of a Muslim youth are disturbing.

Clearly, they have been scared into hiding their religious identity. It is part of an overall strategy for self-preservation in the changed political climate. The last thing the Government should be accused of is a disinclination to take a firm stand against religious persecution and hate crimes. There is no need for zealots to flex their muscles in a predominantly Hindu country. India is a composite nations of which we are all an integral part with our myriad ways of life and it must remain that way.

G David Milton

Kanyakumari

Go R&D

The Modi government has taken the right decision in stopping the practice of sending ministers for overseas science conferences. Instead, now onwards, scientists will lead the delegation. We need to give a boost to research and development; in fact, our whole education system needs to be overhauled. With so little focus on entrepreneurship, it’s no wonder we do not have companies like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, HP. We do not have innovation in science and technology either. It is time our universities, intellectuals, the government and the corporate world gave importance to R&D.

BN Bharath

Hubli, Karnataka

Drain no more a strain?

With reference to “Fall in Indian students studying in US” by Deepa Nair (June 9), it is a good sign that reverse brain drain seems to be happening with students returning home after completing their education abroad.

The high costs and lack of safety force parents to think several times before sending their wards abroad. There is no dearth of intelligent people with brilliant brains and expertise in various fields; so it is inexplicable why we are not opening universities of excellence on par with foreign universities.

HP Murali

Bangalore

Obnoxious attitude

Mulayam Singh Yadav’s comment that “boys will be boys” and that they “make mistakes” is quite obnoxious. He stooped to new lows by saying “Rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes”. In the context of such comments, what Indian women need is self-defence training and what men need is sex education.

The girl behind closed doors is equally at risk as the girl on the street. Rape has nothing to do with culture. It is an odious crime. It is high time we punished rapists and also those who plead for them.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha

Beat inflation

With reference to “Don’t worry about the equity cult” by Aarati Krishnan (June 7), equity investment is not for the faint-hearted. IPO investment is exceptionally risky.

But it doesn’t mean retail investors should not participate in equities. Any financial planner worth his salt will always advice SIPs in either equity mutual funds or blue chip sensex stocks to ensure we get average benefit. Yes, the market is on fire today and probably the budget next month will give some direction to the market; then we can see some correction.

The bottomline is that some portion of the retail investor’s saving must go to equity because only that can beat inflation in the long run.

Bal Govind

Noida

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