Bringing The Joy of Independence Day

For decades, the people of Assam have remained deprived of joy of celebration of both the Independence Day and the Republic day. It is due to the fact that a few separatist groups in the state call for a general strike on the Independence Day and the Republic day. So, people of Assam remain indoors on the Independence Day or on the Republic day. As against it, the people of other states in India observe the Independence Day and the Republic day with a great joy. As everyone will agree, our children should celebrate the Independence Day and the Republic day and they should remember the sacrifice of the martyrs and the dead and living freedom fighters. Hence, a big harm is being caused to our children by preventing them from observing country’s Independence Day or the Republic day.

It is high time for the separatist groups of Assam to review their acts as the call for general strike on the Independence day and the Republic day. The general people and the government at the state and at the centre know the demands of the separatist groups. The general people have nothing to do in regard to the demands raised by the separatist groups in Assam. Only the government can attend to the separatists’ demands. However, the government will not consider those demands that are linked to the country’s sovereignty. Of course, it is the moral duty of the government to consider every genuine demand raised. The well being of India is a concern for every Indian. The separatists are also Indian citizens and they should also think of the welfare of the country. Their demands should be genuine and, at the same time, they should be acceptable. The government must also consider the genuine demands of the separatist groups.

Maheswar Deka,

Rangia.

Apathy of India’s sports administration

The rude and ippropriate behavior of the officials accompanying India's sports minister Vijay Goel at Rio Olympics is very unfortute as well as embarrassing. Even though the minister has denied all the allegations, the letter from Rio 2016 Organising Committee, which sent a warning to cancel the accreditation of the Sports Minister, clearly states otherwise and it could not be more humiliating. Had such an incident occurred at any Indian sports event, it would have been deemed to be quite normal.

Vijay Goel, being the Minister of Sports, and his officials should be aware of the security concerns at the Olympics and stay away from places he is not supposed to enter. At a time when the Prime Minister is doing everything to build a positive image of India at the world stage, some of his cabinet ministers, knowingly or unknowingly, are doing exactly the opposite.

India, this time, may have sent the largest Olympics contingent to Rio, but they are accompanied by almost the same number of officials. Take the case of Dutee Chand. She was given an economy class seat for a 36 long hour journey to Rio while the officials accompanying her enjoyed business class. In another case, our boxers did not have a jersey with the letters "IND" printed on their back which made their participation doubtful at the last moment. Such incidents clearly show the pathetic attitude of our sports administration towards our athletes and sports in general. The successes we will see or are seeing at these games are only because of individual effort rather than any systemic change.

Himangka Kaushik,

Hatigarh Chariali,

Guwahati-24.