Latest news with #BrijBhushanGoyal
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — June 26, 2025
Feeble voices The whole world has been left feeling helpless, unable to put an end to the theatrics of the superpowers that are escalating strife. Absurdity and megalomania are evident in the rhetoric of some world leaders. There seems to be no room at all for values, grace, magnanimity, humility, amity, credibility, humanity and morality. Sane voices should unite to stop war-hungry powers. Brij Bhushan Goyal, Ludhiana, Punjab Midnight knock, lessons The midnight of June 25, 1975, etched a dark shadow across Indian democracy as Emergency was declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — a response to the Allahabad High Court verdict by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha that set the dominoes in motion. His unflinching verdict, invalidating Mrs Gandhi's election, was a rare moment of judicial spine. Raj Narain, the maverick challenger, may have lost the poll but he won a nation's conscience. The Emergency that followed, with the press muzzled, civil liberties curtailed, and dissent locked behind bars, was also shaped by the quiet enablers such as R.K. Dhawan and a compliant bureaucracy. Yet, there shone bright lights such as Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, whose jurisprudence preserved constitutional sanity. While the present political class debates and appropriates this legacy, it is imperative that we treat June 25 as a civic reminder: democracy is never a finished product. It must be guarded each day. Gopalaswamy J., Chennai Shrinking place for English I am on the same page with the Kerala Chief Minister and his comment about this great Indian nation with parliamentary democracy and diversity ('CM takes a dig at Amit Shah for language comment', June 25). Does Home Minister Shah not understand the vast diversity of citizens who speak different languages including English and follow different customs and beliefs? His comment that English-speaking citizens will feel 'ashamed' soon is inappropriate. This 'mindset' seems to have crept into the welfare schemes of the Government of India. As a senior citizen, I personally experienced this when I received a call from the number +911205138033 purportedly in response to my dialling a toll free number 1800110770, as a missed call. The caller, who I understand represented the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, was speaking too fast, in a low voice and in Hindi, making it difficult for me to comprehend anything. I requested her to talk to me, preferably in English. After a pause and silence, the line was disconnected. No courtesy was shown to my request nor anything conveyed about the scheme. It left me disturbed. Has English been banned in the national discourse in the Government of India's schemes? Will citizens who speak English be made to forgo or be deprived of government health schemes? Jacob Cherian, Thiruvananthapuram 'Epochal triumph' June 25, 1983 is etched in the memory of every Indian cricket fan ('Sport' page, June 25). It was an extraordinary win that changed Indian cricket. When one talks about the historic win, it connects with the unforgettable image of a beaming Kapil Dev holding aloft the trophy from the balcony of Lord's. R. Sivakumar, Chennai
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ahd tragedy ignites aviation safety debate
1 2 Ludhiana: People of Ludhiana have long waited for the Halwara civil airport to become operational, but concerns about aviation safety following the June 12 Air India crash in Ahmedabad have cast a long shadow on the prospects of improved air connectivity. Citizens, alumni groups, and activists are demanding stringent safety measures in the wake of the unprecedented tragedy. It has heightened public fears and ignited debates over infrastructure development around airports. While the demand and anticipation for full-fledged air operations from the the industrial city have remained for years fuelled by aspirations for better connectivity and economic growth, the AI tragedy has raised questions about whether safety is being compromised in the rush to operationalise airports. For years, Ludhiana residents and business leaders have advocated for commercial flights, but now they are demanding a comprehensive re-evaluation of safety regulations and land-use planning around the airport zone. Deeply affected by the Ahmedabad tragedy, the alumni of SCD Govt College said the govt acts only after a tragedy of this scale. Brij Bhushan Goyal, organising secretary of the alumni body, said, "The lives lost are a result of regulatory negligence. Our politicians must act as guardians of public safety, not just as figureheads who react after public outrage." They have raised the demand for a complete ban on further housing or urban development around the airport. They said the periphery of Halwara airport is seeing rapid urbanisation, especially under development schemes by Glada, but it is putting lives at risk in case of any air mishap. "The area is being consumed by housing colonies with no concern for aviation safety," Goyal added. Col JS Gill (retd), a social activist said, "We need population-free safety buffers around all Indian airfields."
