MyVoice: Views of our readers 18th June 2025
Apropos 'Kamandal to Mandal, politics takes a new direction' (Hans India; June 17), I wish to state that politicians have conveniently adopted caste as a lucrative commodity to garner votes, just like religion. Caste-based reservation is an offshoot of this. Reservation, if at all, must be made available solely on economic grounds, rather than caste and faith.
Isn't it truly unfair for a Brahmin languishing in penury to be denied government support through reservation just because he belongs to an 'upper caste', while a filthy rich Christian and Muslim continues to enjoy the fruits of reservation as they belong to a 'scheduled caste or a scheduled tribe'? Does any party or person have the political will to bell the cat?
Dr. George Jacob, Kochi
Cong should learn from Centre's national census
In response to the 'Kamandal' to Mandal, politics takes a new direction; (THI, June 17), the new mantra of caste politics as adopted by the Congress is to make it a part of the general census, which, incidentally, has been accepted as norm by the government. Inherently, the fever of caste census promoted by the Congress in Telangana and Karnataka, where it is in power, did not relevantly reflect the caste percentages as the focus was on OBCs while the ST/SC communities have already been enjoying the advantages of quota, elbowing other similar categories to enter the fray.
The Karnataka caste survey proved a disappointing experience for the ruling party that wants to pander to the Lingayat and Vokkaliga entities. The Central exercise to go for a national census is a logical step as it is without the wicked politics being indulged in the Congress, and its allies.
K R Venkata Narasimhan, Madurai
Tackling outbreak of diarrhoea in Odisha
Apropos THI's news items in Visakhapatnam (Odisha edition on June 16 and 17), it is laudable that the district administration is tackling outbreak of diarrhoea on a war-footing. It is indeed heartening that they have closed eateries, water supplies and meat outlets besides treating patients and referrals as per the immediate requirements. Jeypore has a large floating population from the adjoining Koraput district covering Lamtaput, Onakadelli, Machkund and Govindapalli the surroundings of which is a large tribal population. They live on the remote hillocks under inhospitable circumstances.
They visit the weekly market at Onakadelli every Thursday and then throng the Genco Hospital. In emergency cases, they bring the patients to the hospital and if necessary, arrange transportation to Lamtaput Mission or the government hospital, or Jeypore and at times to Visakhapatnam. In this context, the administration can undertake surveillance by way of medical camps in all the sensitive villages, and village marketplaces. Cleanliness drive is a must and all staff including teachers and anganwadis may be deployed in sensitive areas. Deploying a BSF team in the vicinity will come in handy in addressing the issue. Hopefully, the latest diarrhoea outbreak will be managed effectively and on a priority basis.
Dr T Ramadas, Visakhapatnam
Centre notifies 2027 population Census
Compelled by the constant and consistent demand of the Congress party and its allies for a caste census, the NDA government finally gave in and announced a programme for the same in 2027. The Congress party is making an all-out effort to return to power at the Centre. Towards this, it is raking up the caste census issue, only with the ulterior motive of dividing the Hindu community in the country on caste-lines. It has been toeing the British legacy of 'divide and rule' that has helped the party to rule the country for over four decades. The double standards being employed by the Congress party in states where it is in power is getting exposed. Upper caste politicians still rule the roost while denying others (BCs in particular) their share of power within the government!
Though the NDA is compelled to take up caste census, it is also not expected to take up caste-based distribution of political power, as it is against caste-based reservations in education, employment and politics. It has been advocating reservations on economic backwardness irrespective of caste, creed and religion. For this a constitutional amendment is necessary and for that it needs a 2/3rd majority in the parliament, which it lacks as of now! It is now a tricky question for NDA, which has officially announced the census programme. All said and done, the Congress' ploy is working out. It would be interesting to see which outfit ultimately reaps political mileage out of it.
Govardhana Myneedu, Vijayawada
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 minutes ago
- Time of India
Congress issues whip for 3 days in Lok Sabha with Operation Sindoor debate slated in House
The Congress has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, requiring their presence for three days starting Monday, as Parliament prepares for a debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The ruling NDA and the opposition are expected to engage in intense discussions, with key ministers like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and S Jaishankar slated to speak. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Congress has issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House for three days starting Monday, with a debate set to take place on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation ruling alliance and the opposition are set to lock horns over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition parties are expected to field their top guns during the discussion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.A whip has been issued by the Congress mandating the presence of its MPs in the House for three days starting said Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will speak on the issues amid indications that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may make an intervention to convey his government's "robust" stand against the first week of the Parliament's Monsoon session ended up in a virtual washout due to opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar and other issues, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on July 25 that the opposition has agreed to the start of a discussion on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday and in the Rajya Sabha on two sides have consented to a marathon 16-hour debate in each House, which invariably stretches longer in practice.
NDTV
2 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Need To Relook At Our History": Economist As PM Offers Prayers At Iconic Cholapuram Temple
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva temple, has put the spotlight on the Chola empire, especially on the time of Rajendra Chola, who stood tall when northern India was under Muslim rule. This, however, was not an area or a period that gets much attention -- the study of history being "Delhi-centric", said economist and historian Sanjeev Sanyal, pointing to the big takeaway from the Prime Minister's visit. "We need to begin to relook at our history and think about our great ancestors as a vigorous people," said Mr Sanyal, explaining that the popular conception of Indians as a passive people who are thankful to invaders -- from Muslim to British -- for bringing in technology, culture and cuisine. Our ancestors, he said, "built great temples, they built entire new cities when necessary". "This is a much more vigorous view of ourselves than, you know, we are waiting for somebody to conquer us and give us the railways," said Mr Sanyal, who is also the Principal Economic Advisor to the government. "These were vigorous, risk-taking people, happy to go to war with each other sometimes or with foreign invaders. But the point is, this were not a passive people. And instead, the only person in our history of our, you know, pre-Islamic history that we celebrate is Ashoka. And the only reason we celebrate him is because he was passive, because the empire collapsed under him," he added. He said he was "glad the Cholas are being celebrated," but they were not the only people who had left their mark on the history of southeast Asia. "Even Tamil Nadu itself has many others. The Pandyas, the Cheras, which are from next door in Kerala, the Pallavas, and then the Gajapatis and all the kings of Kalinga, who also had these great maritime linkages to Southeast Asia. The western coast of India has amazing history of links with the Roman Empire and so on," he said. Even in the north, there was more than what gets most attention. "Whether you have the Ahoms of Assam or the Pal dynasty and the Sen-s of Bengal or the Kadambas of Goa or the Chalukyas of Maharashtra and the Rashtrakutas, we all have amazing histories for every part of the country. But somehow we are obsessed with this Delhi-centric view that, you know, we should all be grateful to the Mughals for biryani," he added. The Cholapuram temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site built around 1030 by Rajendra Chola, stands as evidence of the affluence of the of the empire under him. It was built around two decades after the Tanjore temple and in the same style. The Prime Minister's visit comes ahead of next year's assembly election in Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is trying hard to carve out a niche.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Saikia: Ulfa-I victims' kin facing intimidation over Baruah's condolence calls
1 2 Guwahati: Family members of Ulfa-I personnel, who had lost their lives in the 'Myanmar drone strike', are experiencing police and Army intimidation for receiving condolence calls from Ulfa-I leader Paresh Baruah or posting their grief on social media, said Assam opposition leader and Congress senior member Debabrata Saikia. Saikia, who was visiting the party's general secretary of Charaideo district Bhoben Likson's residence in Sonari district, said, "Ulfa-I's military chief, Paresh Baruah, might have offered condolences to some of the cadres' relatives in Assam over the phone. Some of these relatives expressed their grief on social media over the loss of their family members in the drone attack. Now, these relatives are reportedly being harassed by Assam Police and the Indian Army for either communicating with Baruah or for their social media posts. They are being falsely accused of having links with Ulfa-I and are imprisoned." Saikia urged CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to request the central govt to "not to harass innocent Assamese families in this manner." He said the CM had previously admitted in a press conference on Jan 1, 2024, that he communicated with Baruah on a quarterly basis. "Despite publicly announcing his contact with Paresh Baruah, has Assam Police conducted any investigation against Himanta Biswa Sarma?" Saikia asked. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo "Now, phone calls made to offer condolences to the families of the deceased cadres are being used as evidence to label people as anti-national, leading to their persecution. Small business owners, farmers and others are being falsely accused of maintaining contact with Ulfa-I and are being imprisoned," Saikia said. Earlier, authorities had detained Likson while he was travelling to join a rally near Guwahati, which featured Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi. Later, he was arrested for allegedly showing his support for 'anti-national' activities through Ulfa-I associations.
