1) Silver-alloy commemorative-coins
Silver-alloy commemorative coins for the first time after independence was issued on October 2, 1969, to commemorate the Gandhi Birth Centenary at face-value of Rs 10 at a time when the value of silver-content in the coin was much lower than the face value of Rs 10! Moreover, these coins and their coin-sets were issued to the general public right from the date of issue on October 2, 1969. But the system has now been changed when the face-value of silver-alloy coins is much less than the silver content of the coin, evidently doing away with a system of providing commemorative coins at face-value to the general public.
Now only coin-sets in plastic-packs in two different categories of Proof and Uncirculated categories are sold at a much exorbitant price through a cumbersome booking-procedure making these reach to those having booked several months after advance-booking thus killing the very purpose of commemorating an occasion through the issue of coins.
Face-value of the silver-alloy coin should be kept at about double the then prevailing market-value of silver content, and these should be issued to the general public right from the date of issue from scattered distribution centres like all RBI offices, selected branches of public and private sector banks, and all philatalic-centres of Department of posts. There should be only one costlier Proof category of coin-sets with all denominations of coins issued on the occasion, and these should also be available at suggested distribution-centres right from the date of issue.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
2) Newly-issued Re 1 notes available only at a premium
Only very few are aware of Re 1 notes having been re-issued on March 6, 2015, after being discontinued two decades back. Even majority of bank-employees have not seen these notes, what to talk of the general public. These notes are still sold at an extraordinary heavy premium of 10 times the face-value. It is significant that only one-rupee notes bear the signature of a secretary-rank officer of the central government, while notes in all other denominations bear the signature of the RBI Governor.
The Central government and the RBI should immediately stop the printing of Re 1 notes, and initiate an inquiry on the re-issue of these notes on March 6, 2015, with existing print-stock sold as a souvenir in attractive plastic-packs so that government rather than currency-dealers may earn a heavy premium on one-rupee notes. Since Rs 10 coins are not accepted by the public, coins should be only in denominations of Re 1 and Rs 5 with Rs 10 plastic notes issued for long life.
– Madhu Agrawal
3) Pak’s decision to take JuD off terror list shameful
Pakistan’s decision to take Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Falah-i-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) off banned list in Pakistan is shameful, as the ordinance that prescribed them under a UN resolution has lapsed and the new Imran Khan-led government did not extend it. The decision reflects that Pakistan is not sincere on the part of fighting against terrorism and terrorist organisations. So why does the new elected Prime Minister Imran Khan always talk about peace? Why does he make a commitment to eradicate terrorism? He should not forget that Hafiz Saeed is the co-founder of the LeT, which was responsible for the deadly attack in which 166 people were killed. He should not be rhetoric.
– M.F.U.Tandvi
4) May Azeem’s soul rest in peace!
This is one more incident in the series of unabated mob-lynchings under the Modi-led regime which have increased unprecedentedly since the ascendance of the BJP in power at the centre. These horrendous mob-lynchings have targeted the Muslims. The incident happened with an eight-year-old boy Mohd Azeem, who was studying in a Madrasa in Delhi. He was allegedly beaten to death by minors on Thursday. The incident occurred when there was a fight between the boys studying in the Madrasa and those living in the area over playing cricket. The boy fell down after the fight and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Two of the assaulters were caught by the people of the Madrasa, but they were later taken away free by a local woman named Saroj who even threatened them with more such things. My demand from the Delhi government that the Madrasa should be protected from wicked boys, there should be not allowed to enter Madrasa’s ground and the woman must be arrested, who encouraged the boys to do like this activity and threatened the Madrasa’ people, along with I demand that the government should take notice and ensure that there will not be a single death anymore. I offer my sincere condolences to Azeem’ family and may his soul rest in peace.
– A.S.B.I. Siwan
5) CBI’s matter must come to a conclusion
The crisis in the CBI does not seem to stay at a conclusion. The CBI looks like not only a caged parrot but also a chained one. Now the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is in the eye of the storm which is being speculated that it was on CVC’s directive that two senior-most officers of the agency – director Alok Verma and second-in-command Rakesh Asthana – were sent on leave. The present government is also involved in this whirlpool, to remove them at midnight which is against the Constitution and the Chief Justice of India. It is constituted in our country that the Chief Justice of India, leader of Opposition and the Prime Minister of India together can appoint and remove, only PM can’t do it alone. However, now the matter must be concluded as soon as much because its dignity and trust is falling among the people.
– F.T.Mulla
6) We should respect SC verdict
It was quite surprising that around 14,000 people have been arrested in connection with the violent protests against the entry of young women into the Sabarimala Temple earlier the month. Police have filed 440 cases in this regard. The BJP was spearheading the protest against the entry and now it would move to the courts to release the protesters. The violent protests took place and crackdown began throughout the state just after the verdict of the Supreme Court came to allow the entry of women of all ages into the temple, but they must go through the legal process to challenge the verdict. Violence always results in damages and losses. I condemn BJP’s stand to take protest marches against verdict throughout the state.
– MF Qasmi
7) I am proud of journalist Jamal Khashoggi
I am proud of the brave journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was killed inadvertently in choke hold inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He was a fearless person who had to pay with his life for writing columns critical of the Prince’s policies and his repressive measures. He has become a martyr to the cause of freedom of the press and his death is now mourned by the entire world. His death is a fresh example of a true journalist who gave up his life but doesn’t remain behind his mission. I appreciate his courage and his tireless efforts to expose the oppressive Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He will be remembered throughout the golden history of journalism whenever it will be written in future.
– Mohd Faheem
8) Why are people still suffering from hunger?
On the side where there is a high demand for development in the country, there is also a state in India where half of the population is suffering from hunger. 14 people in Jharkhand state, people have lost their lives by hunger. In a country where only the food is thrown away in the marriage, which can be filled with a poor stomach, it is very shameful for the people of the country. Recently, the Indian economy has been declared a fast-growing country, and in a state where people will not be able to feed themselves at one time for a period of three days, how will the country get development? Where there are rich people in India, whose incomes are in millions and who are called India’s richest people, do not have any obligation to review such states and help them, in such a way that they could prosper. Jharkhand also has innocent children who cannot get a meal once in three days, but alas! It is not helping them at the government level and not even cooperation at the social level for them.
– Ateequr Rahman Alqasmi
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
