Conscience keeper?: Letter to The Editor

Conscience keeper?

My attention has been drawn to the letter under the caption 'Rahul Gandhi' published in your esteemed daily on 18-02-21, written by Kajal Chatterjee, who needs no introduction to Assam due to reasons best known to all. I fully agree with Chatterjee on the point that Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra are 'conscience keepers' of the country who deserve Bharat Ratna at the earliest. I would like to request Kajal Chatterjee to enlighten us more about other Gandhis namely Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi so that in near future they too could be duly honoured.

Before parting, I would say a person without any conscience at all cannot be 'conscience keeper' of the nation.

Aparna Sarma Chowdhury

Guwahati

Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi

Although Kajal Chatterjee is found to be a good columnist, her two letters in your esteemed daily (17th and 18th February 2021) show a separate exercise. Her writing on Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi appears to be a white washing on a spotted wall. The role of Mamata Banerjee during preparations of the NRC in Assam and for the north-eastern region, attitude for safeguarding illegal foreigners, absence of little curtsey towards a democratically elected Prime Minister etc., are well known to all. It should be noted that arrogance of any party leader is the cause of inner conscience manipulation.

Regarding Rahul Gandhi, his knowledge on Indian history and his attitude in Parliament are all well known facts. By simply being a son of a well-to-do political family cannot be guaranteed for true leadership. Anyway, as saying, less said the better.

Dr P.C. Sarmah,

Jorhat

Adopt healthy lifestyle

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has called to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid sedentary living and junk food in view of the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country. He called for arresting this trend by mounting a massive national campaign on the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles and food habits. WHO data have attributed 61 per cent of all deaths in India to non-communicable diseases like heart disorders, cancer, and diabetes. The need of the hour is to promote awareness among the people on the negative impact of a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits. People need to encourage organic farming and revisit our traditional food habits for more beneficial health outcomes.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Individual freedom in political families

It refers to Aparna Yadav, daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, giving a cheque of Rs 11 lakh for Ram Janambhoomi Temple at Ayodhya (UP) despite Akhilesh Yadav, the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav, criticizing fund collectors for the purpose as 'Chandajivi'. He further commented on the subject as finding a benefit out of a crisis without clarifying if there was a crisis of thoughts in the political family headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Renowned political families in India have not been aloof of major differences like in family of late Indira Gandhi where Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi are known rivals not only politically but even personally. There have been different political affiliations in family of late Lal Bahadur Shastri even though there are no personal differences visibly. Propriety demands that individual thinking and wishes of different family members of any political family should be respected and must not be made political issues.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi

Terror and ULFA

At the onset I would appeal to the ULFA to release Pranab Gogoi and Ram Kumar unconditionally and immediately. Already the top leaders of the ULFA have killed thousands of Asomiya youths in the name of 'Swadhin Asom'. In the beginning there was sympathy to ULFA's ideology from the public but gradually people have realized the futility of the armed struggle. In the name of independent Asom, the top leaders collected huge funds through their cadres and invested the same in Bangladesh and China. A few days back I had the opportunity to listen to the telephonic interview of Paresh Barua with the Editor-in-Chief of a local news channel. Paresh Baruah was saying that the Indian government has exploited the natural resources of Assam and that's why they have kidnapped the two employees of a company. He said that any outside agency working in Assam have to pay 'tax' to them. Does the ULFA consider itself to be guardian of the Asomiyas? Secondly, for many years the ULFA has been collecting ransom from Asomiya people, but in return what has the ULFA given to Assam? Can they cite any example where they have helped unemployed youths in setting up business, helped public in building any infrastructure like colleges, schools, etc. It has come to light that so-called liberators of Assam, Paresh Baruh's sons cannot speak, write or understand Asomiya and both the sons don't write the father's surname. In fact, they have changed their religion and have converted to Islam.

The ULFA has collaborated with jehadi forces in Bangladesh to terrorize Biharis, Marwaris, Bengalis who lived in Assam for ages so that they flee the State and that void is fulfilled by Bangladeshi infiltrators. Paresh Barua and his other ULFA leaders have remained mum over massive influx of Miyas in lower Assam districts like Dhubri, Goalpara ,Barpeta, Nagaon, Morigaon etc who have captured our land and reduced the original inhabitants to minority in their own place. Paresh Barua was silent when the people of suspected nationality encroached upon our Kaziranga National Park and unleashed unabated rhino poaching. Where was the ULFA when the same set of people coming from across the border occupied our xatra bhumi? It may sound harsh but the ULFA has links with Pakistani ISI and jehadi forces.

Our intelligence agencies along with the Paramilitary forces should be given free hand to launch a massive operation in the hideouts of the outfit.

Purabi Miri,

Jakhalabandha