Haryana held hostage

August 29, 2017 12:34 am | Updated 12:34 am IST

It was disheartening to see that Haryana leaders gave more importance to vote-bank politics than people’s safety (“Anarchy in Panchkula”, Aug. 28). This episode tells us clearly what is wrong with the leaders of this country. These so-called god-men have established and sustained their power by taking advantage of people’s vulnerabilities and beliefs. One thing is clear though, and this gives some hope: no one is above the law, as Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction and sentence show.

Vrinda Rajvanshi,

New Delhi

It is a terrible irony that millions gathered in the national capital just five years back to protest against increasing incidents of rape and thousands gathered last week clost to the capital to riot in support of a rapist. People should think rationally instead of believing blindly in religion.

Gunasekar T.,

Chennai

But for political patronage and caste discrimination that is so rampant in India, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would not have survived and flourished all these years, and but for the government’s abject failure to take pre-emptive steps to stop people from mobilising in Panchkula in large numbers with fuel, knives, and stones, in tandem with police inaction, the mayhem and loss of more than 35 lives would not have taken place. It is sad that the Deras and political parties depend on each other to sustain power, but even more unfortunate that the government doesn’t consider maintaining law and order its topmost priority.

M.Y. Shariff,

Chennai

While our brave soldiers guard our borders, there are others who expose evils within a country and protect us from them (“The man who exposed Dera chief paid with his life”, Aug. 28). The journalist, Ramchandra Chhatrapati, safeguarded the very conscience of his profession by exposing the flagrant practices of Singh. This is what journalism is all about. It is high time he is accorded the status that he deserves. The nation salutes him.

Abhishek Singh Tomar,

Bhind

The Prime Minister’s belated statement (“The guilty will be punished, says Modi”, Aug. 28) appears to be hollow and ineffective after the colossal damage that has been done to property and the number of lives that have been lost all because the law was allowed to take its course. The unruliness has been such that the judge pronouncing the verdict had to be given security! This is a classic example of the increasing level of violence in India sponsored by self-styled ‘god-men’ who enjoy the support of those in power.

J. Eden Alexander,

Thanjavur

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