1) Review Sabarimala verdict

It refers to a large police-force deployed by the left-alliance Kerala government to enable two women including a Muslim to enter the Sabarimala Temple by the virtue of the recent controversial Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all age-group in the temple despite the stiff opposition of majority Hindus including women. Very few publicity-seeking anti-religion ladies have made a futile attempt to enter the temple with temple-priests rightly warning closure of temple in case of Supreme Court verdict is forcibly implemented. Significantly 31-year-old Muslim activist having tried to enter the temple was recently in news for posing bare-breasted with watermelons to register her protest on an issue.

Such playing with religious sentiments of the Hindus is not allowed even in Pakistan according to a report published in Outlook-magazine issue dated July 5, 2004, where the non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Hindu temples in Pakistan. In view of after-effects of the Supreme Court verdict and the logic of scientific features of the ancient Hindu religion, the Supreme Court should suo motu review its verdict to prevent the dignity of its verdicts.

– Subhash Chandra Agrawal

2) Ordinance for Ram Temple will lead the country to disasters

It is regrettable that ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in three states and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, several organisations and BJP leaders are raising the Ram Janam Bhoomi issue by setting a “deadline” for the BJP government to bring an ordinance or a law in the Parliament for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Though it is not so difficult for the BJP government to bring an ordinance or law since it has already done it recently in the case of instant Triple Talaq and also against the Apex Court’s decision on the SC/ST Act. But it is quite certain that if the government brings an ordinance or legislation for the Ram Temple, it will be only a tyrannical decision which will lead the country to disasters and downfall all over the world.

– Mohd Faheem 

3) Profit-margin in packaged milk

It refers to a reputed brand Nova of milk vigorously advertising for sale of full-cream milk now at a much reduced price of just Rs 45 per litre instead of earlier Rs 51 per litre. Only a few months back, a new brand Namaste India made an alarming entry in the marketing of packaged milk with very huge advertisement and sales-promotion expenses including providing free packs of milk on some initial quantity. Otherwise, also heavy advertisement-expenses are being done for branded milk marketed by famous giants of co-operative sectors like Mother Dairy and Amul. Patanjali has already made an entry for cow-milk being sold at Rs 20 per half-litre pack as compared to Rs 21 by Mother Dairy.

All this leads to doubt about extra-ordinary profit-margin on essential items like milk. There are also talks about the supply of branded milk by different companies that they are supplying packaged milk by processing of imported milk powder. The Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Department of Consumer Affairs, and other concerned ministries and departments of the government of India should study milk-marketing in a manner that can benefit the competition, advertisement, and sale-promotion expenses may be passed on to consumers by a reduction in the price of packaged milk. Companies should also compulsorily print prominently on the milk-packs if prepared from milk-powder.

Since some popular brands have started gimmick packaging of 400 ml-litres also to look like a half-litre pack, milk should be allowed to be packed only in packs of the half, two, and five litres pack abolishing unpopular packs of one and six litres.

– MADHU AGRAWAL

4) Wait for SC verdict on Ayodhya issue 

Once again RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat asked the Modi-led BJP government to consider introducing legislation for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Why the Hindu organisations and the BJP leaders are demanding for a legislation to build the Ram Temple while the case is under process in the Apex Court? Why don’t they believe in the judiciary system? Does it mean that RSS Chief can’t have the patience anymore? It is the reality that both the rivals are eagerly waiting for the verdict in this regard, but we should show patience and consider the verdict on the basis of concrete evidence. This kind of statements will do nothing except to create violence and destroy communal harmony in the country.

– Mohd Rahmani 

5) The sad demise of ND Tiwari 

With sheer sorrow and grief, one greater politician and the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand ND Tiwari passed away. This sorrowful demise left every one of us saddened and overwhelmed by tidal waves of sorrow and grief. He was well known for his administrative skills and capabilities. He made his tireless efforts towards industrial development and progression of UP and Uttarakhand. It is one more great loss in the political field in the year of 2018 while some other great politicians ceaselessly passed away in the very earlier period. Tiwari ji will be remembered in our good memories as an impressive leader and a successful politician. I pray for his departed soul. Rest in peace!

– M.F.U.Tandvi 

6) One more death for Ganga

It’s quite saddening to hear the demise of Ganga crusader GD Agrawal, popular as Swami Gyanswaroop Sanand, on the 112th day of his fast-unto-death. Two great activists — Swami Nigamananda from Bihar and Nagnath Yogeshwar from Banaras have already laid their lives for the sake of River Ganga. The demise of GD Agrawal has again put the spotlight on various missions and programs worth thousands of crores to clean the polluted river and made it clear that these programs are just on the paper not to implement on the ground. The more disturbing point is that the UP CM seems to prove himself as anti-Mughal just by changing the names of cities, while his government is being criticised for its failure in maintaining law and order. The need of the hour is that both the center and the state government make sure that the implementation of all the schemes on the ground to clean the polluted river and not let any death occur for its sake.

– S F Usmani

7) Bishop Mulakkal is not a rapist

This refers to your news-item ‘Bishop Mulakkal, accused of raping a nun, granted bail’ dated October 16, 2018.

The nun of a Kerala convent who has framed Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar in a rape case that according to her took place between 2014 and 2016 should be thrown out of the convent and made to beg on the streets. The Church has no place for such people. This nun was having an illicit relationship with a married man and was planning to leave the convent but again decided to come back when the man left her. She says that she was raped 13 times by this Bishop. I would like to tell her that 13 times is not considered a rape. It is a pleasure. If at all she was raped 13 times, what was she doing all these four years? Why file a case against him now?

These so-called protesting nuns who have demanded the arrest of the Bishop do not understand that they have tarnished the image of the Catholic Church in India. By the nuns’ actions, they have dragged the Roman Catholic Church into the unwanted dirt. Now, the other religious institutions can point their fingers against the Church and say that the Church is perverse. These nuns have played havoc against the Church and ruined its name. Well done nuns, you have damaged your own image. It was better to help poor children and take care of old people, rather than enter dirty politics.

– Jubel D’Cruz

8) Stop Swine Flu deaths

Swine Flu deaths have given jitters to the people in Maharashtra. Mumbai Metro is also experiencing more Swine Flu deaths in recent times. The news of two deaths in the first 10 days of October is alarming! It is time to take all precautionary measures and see that the disease did not spread in epidemic form in the state. As we do not have good hospitals equipped with beds and medicines, the victims are running from pillar to post. There are now several suspected cases reported from the city and it is high time BMC work round the clock and attends the cases properly and on a war footing.  Swine Flu is a common mosquito-borne viral infection that causes severe flu-like illness and proves lethal if not properly attended and lead to hemorrhagic fever and prove dangerous. Swine Flu is dangerous and if the people show the symptoms and tests positive, then adequate care must be taken. The symptoms are very clear and the BMC should act immediately.

– Chitra Rugmini

9) Exposing to the hot sun

Maximum of the city of Mumbai is facing heatwave in the month of October and the mercury almost touched 38 degrees centigrade. In the sweltering heat, people must avoid venturing out in the hot sun. This particular month may prove to be hottest and people will have to drink more water and take all precautions.  Watermelon and lime juice with sugar and salt can take care and avoid dehydration. It is time to have a greater health care rather than exposing to the hot sun. With high pollution level after the festivities, it is time to take shelter from the hot sun rather than making hay when the sun shines.

– Jayanthy Anandambal

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)