This refers to your editorial, ‘Sticky prospects’ (March 23). The policy on sugar is sticky indeed. We need a long-term agriculture policy through which to serve both farmers and the people. This will be possible only when the Government takes a balanced view and encourages farmers to produce commodities in which they have a competitive edge. Government should discourage sugarcane growing as it is a big water guzzler and returns are not commensurate with investment. The Government may utilise its foreign exchange reserves to import commodities available at cheaper rates abroad.

K Ashok Kumar

Kolkata

Humanitarian crisis

We have just celebrated World Water Day during a severe drought which has affected more than a million people according to UN data. A humanitarian emergency is on the horizon. Is enough being done to cushion the adverse impact of the drought? The country’s worsening water stress is a multi-faceted problem and a multi-pronged strategy is needed to tackle it effectively.

Water recycling is conspicuous by its absence at both commercial and domestic levels. A great deal of potable water currently being used for washing vehicles, landscape irrigation, flushing toilets and industrial purposes can be saved. The prevailing drought is a warning that our water problems won’t go away with the onset of rains.

Padmini Raghavendra

Secunderabad

Strategic investments

This refers to ‘Checkered into debt and bankruptcy’ by G Parthasarathy (March 23). The attempt by China to invest in Pakistan and Sri Lanka is not only to deploy their excess infrastructure and manpower but also to place themselves in a strategic location with respect to India. Hence India cannot ignore these investments as mere economic cooperation; it’s a military presence in our neighbourhood. India must prepare a suitable strategy to handle any future situation.

S Kalyanasundaram

Email

Ayodhya dispute

Without casting aspersions on the good intentions of CJ Khehar, it is clear he alluded to ‘Hindu sentiment’ when he spoke of ‘sentiment’ in connection with offering to help mediate the Babri Masjid issue. Implicit in his observations was the imperative to resolve the dispute to the satisfaction of the majority community.

The fact that the Centre and UP are now headed by Hindu nationalist leaders gives rise to the fear that it can weigh heavily against one party to the dispute. Political power in the hands of those who want a Ram temple constructed should not make any material difference to the final settlement of the dispute.

Things will go disastrously wrong if contentious issues are allowed to be settled by brute force. The Constitution and the rule of law should eventually prevail over everything else.

G David Milton

Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

The law is not everything and everywhere required to be applied and that too all the time on every occasion. Emotions can not rule the verdict The court is meant to give its decision based on facts and proof. But when the issue is sensitive and involves two communities such as Hindus and Muslims, the law also seeks cooperation and understanding from the parties concerned to resolve the issue amicably. .

The issue of allotment of construction sites in Ayodhya for Ram janmabhoomi and the Babri mosque has been pending in the Supreme Court for decades and its verdict is overdue. However, now that Yogi Adiyanath has become the CM of Uttar Pradesh, there appears to be momentum and everyone is in a hurry for a verdict.

However, the court has batted for a communal harmony to resolve the issue through dialogue and discussions. It is hoped the parties concered will heed and honour this piece of advice to prove that we all are one and oneness is our priority and we respect each other’s religion; after all, God is the same,whether it is Ram or Rahim.

Vijay Dattatray Patil

Email

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