India shamed

The horrendous incidents of crimes against women, as the cases in Kathua and Unnao show, raise a simple question: Does a change in government make any difference to law and order? The answer is both a yes and a no. The fact is that laws are not strictly implemented, the police force, by and large, lack integrity, and justice is most often delayed. So when the system fails, there is hardly any fear of punishment.

In both cases, no one would have ever imagined that ministers would be involved in some way or the other. When the BJP swept to powerin 2014, many of us believed that it would be the beginning of a new era — of development, the rule of law and prosperity. Unfortunately, it has become an era where there is an environment of constant fear and where humanity is at its lowest level, largely as a result of actions by the ruling party. In the Kathua incident, it is hard to believe that there are some who are trying to communalise the inhuman act and protests being carried out to protect the accused. These are clear signs that we are heading towards darkness (Editorial page, “No place for young girls”, April 13).

Nisha Yadav,

Dahina, Rewari, Haryana

The very disturbing incidents are a sad commentary on the state of public institutions in India. They only strengthen the perception that there is very little hope of the police in India acting firmly and independently without political interference. There is an urgent need to empower law enforcement agencies and grant them autonomy which will help them curb fringe elements. The nexus between the political class and the administration needs to be broken so that the common man is not deprived of justice (Editorial – “Crime in Kathua”, April 13).

M. Nikhilesh,

Hyderabad

It is high time the government sheds its blinkered vision and looks around to see what is happening under its governance. The safety of girls and women is far more important than its right-wing ideology. Girls are girls irrespective of whether they are Hindu or Muslim. Their dignity, well-being and self-respect have nothing to do with their caste, community, religion or race.

Pratibha Shakya,

Naubasta, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

A criminal is a criminal irrespective of his political affiliation. While all of us will share Brinda Karat’s concerns, she also needs to explain why she maintains a stoic silence when deeply inhuman acts are committed by her own partymen in some other parts of the country.

K.R. Subbarayan,

Coimbatore