Tearless grief bleeds inwardly in TN
Once more Tamil Nadu sunk in the deep tearless grief that bleeds inwardly after losing one more stalwart leader, Muthuvel Karunanidhi (June 3, 1924 –August 7, 2018) after Jayaram Jayalalithaa (February 24, 1948 – December 5, 2016).
He was not only a mass leader of Tamil Nation but also was a prolific thinker and accomplished writer. The whole nation is in the deep grief for his demise and Tamilian people will never forget his countless, great services rendered for them under his supervision. Tamilian will remember him fondly and have wonderful memories of many times spent with them. My thoughts and prayers are with his family members. May his soul rest in peace!
Faheem Usmani
Education plays essential role in development
There can be no doubt that education plays a crucial role in the development of any nation. But today there are many restrictions to gain the education because of the fee hike. Poor people cannot afford education for their children and that’s the reason our literacy rate is not high as compared to the other countries. I request the government or government bodies like CBSE to needed some guidelines on charging reasonable fees. So that poor people can also get the education for their children easily.
Faheem Usmani
AIADMK in TN follows Congress
It refers to the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu following footsteps of Congress during its regime at the centre by declining to allow burial and building a memorial for the veteran opposition leader Karunanidhi at a prime location at Marina Beach. Same tactics were always adopted by Congress during its long regime at the centre when it always provided prime location and a huge area for cremation and building samadhis along Mahatma Gandhi Marg adjoining big area next to Rajghat. Non-Congress leaders were cremated with samadhis built on the side-road of Rajghat where no visitor ever visits. Even such a unique honour was given to Sanjay Gandhi, family-member of Nehru-Gandhi family who never held any legislative post entitled for such privileged honour.
It was nice of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the centre that it made a full-stop on the further creation of samadhis and converting government-bungalows in memorials through a cabinet-note of the year 2000. It is yet to be seen if the present central government follows the said cabinet-decision in future on the death of some prominent leader of the ruling party at the centre. It is significant that all political parties have deliberately closed eyes on unauthorised encroachment of public-park in creating samadhi of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma after his illegal cremation there on verbal directions of the then Delhi government.
The decision of the Union Cabinet should be followed in states too to avoid controversies that happened in cremation and building memorial for Karunanidhi when the matter reached to the Madras High Court in unprecedented night-hours. Supreme Court should sue-motto order to ban building samadhis and memorials at government-land and public-expense both by central and all state governments.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Need Sub-Jails for under trial prisoners
A new sub-jail has been established for fresh offenders involved in petty crimes such as theft, brawls and chain snatching. The circular of the Madras High Court directed magistrates in Chennai to remand first time under trial prisoners to the Saidapet Sub-Jail rather than to remand them to regular prisons, where they can mingle with hardened criminals and also advised them to go for reformatory programmes. Now, in spite of living in jail, their mornings begin with yoga and meditation. Post lunch they play volleyball, chess and carrom. This is a historical and admirable step by the Madras High Court which can help them to reform themselves. I request the Supreme Court to impose this system in every state of India. This circular will play greater and influential role to reduce crime.
Qeyamuddin
Milk procurement price
The retail price of milk has increased in Maharashtra and the procurement price of cow and buffalo milk is increased by Rs 3 per litre. A majority of supply to cities like Mumbai and Pune comes from the cooperative dairies that source it from farmers especially in the western, north and central Maharashtra. Dairy is a side-occupation for a large number of farmers. Increasing the procurement price of milk was one of the demands of the farmers’ outfits that went on strike a few days ago. Despite having a white revolution in the country as a whole and Maharashtra state in particular, milk has become dearer. The rise in the procurement price was applicable to the government and cooperative brands and it is time to ensure that all of them abide by the notification. Otherwise, action has to be initiated against six cooperative milk unions to have a uniform price code. There would be no control over the prices of the private brands, but with the 70:30 formula of profit sharing on card, the retail prices must be brought under control in the future. Let us hope that housewives may not suffer much.
Jayanthy S. Anandambal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
