Punish the culprits

This is with reference to the report ‘Will identify, track and punish terrorists, their hackers: PM’ (April 25 ). It is really very shocking to hear that 26 tourists are brutally killed by terrorists in Pahalgam a few days back. PM Modi has aggressively stated that all the terrorists involved in the attack will be punished including their backers. It is undoubtedly a failure of our security system. The perpetrators of this dastardly crime must be brought to book immediately.

Katuru Durga Prasad Rao

Hyderabad

FMCG cos’ pain

Results of the FMCG companies for the last quarter indicate that consumption is yet not picking up. Much is being said about the attractiveness of the Indian markets. But unless there is adequate growth, FIIs are going to take their money elsewhere.

The government seems to be doing nothing to spur growth and seems to be happy with empty rhetoric. Input costs for the consumer companies are rising and they are unable to pass them on to the consumer.

In nearly half a dozen quarters the profits of these companies have not beaten inflation numbers.

Anthony Henriques

Mumbai

Rankings wrangle

It refers to ‘Is NIRF ranking academia into lemons?’. NIRF rankings came as a breath of fresh air a decade ago, but it looks like it has also fallen like other rankings.

The Education Ministry should have understood that credibility takes years to develop while it is ruined in months.

Millions of students and their families rely on NIRF rankings as not every student gets admission to creme de la creme institutions, so transparent rankings are crucial.

But a compromised NIRF ranking is tragic for these young students and their careers. We need a holistic change in the NIRF framework to make it credible once again.

Bal Govind

Noida

Ray of hope

With reference to the article ‘Why Trump-Powell tussle is dragging down the dollar’, it needs to be remembered that lower than the current range of valuation of the dollar is in line with the thinking by Trump-Stephen Miran duo as one of the means to reduce the US’ trade deficit, to bring down the cost of imports and increasing the exports.

Recent reports of moderation in Washington’s narratives provide a ray of hope. Back- tracking on the issues of sacking Powell as Fed Chief or scaling down China tariffs by Trump, provide the background for the modest optimism.

Angara Venkata Girija Kumar

Chennai

Published on April 25, 2025