Letters to the Editor: Daylight robbery by legislators!

The AAP Government in Punjab made a startling revelation; the way legislators in Punjab are looting the exchequer in the name of pension. It is given to understand by the CM of Punjab that there have been many legislators, each drawing lakhs of rupees against multiple pensions per month, who were elected to the Assembly for 4 to 5 times. This is nothing but an act of daylight robbery by public representatives. The laudable action is that APP Government made one pension instead of multiple pensions enjoyed by many legislators in the past. Would it have been more appropriate had they been asked to return the additional amount to the exchequer? How do legislators/lawmakers get away unpunished every time they are caught indulging in criminal and unlawful activities? We don't know for sure, whether this practice (multiple pension system) was unique to Punjab or is a normal practice being followed across the country. The public needs to know this. The same legislators/ministers, during their term in office, used to enjoy unlimited perks and facilities at the cost of tax payers, though there have been no scale to measure their performances while in office. In contrast, millions of retired employees (public sector and private sector etc) have been left in the lurch without having any provision of pension to lead a dignified life when prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing. Such disparities in distributing State resources have ravaged the society to the hilt. As such one section is getting richer day by day, the other section is getting poorer. Our blood boils seeing all the happenings in and around us, but to no avail! We have to accept it as fait accompli.

Prafulla Dowarah,

Guwahati.

Unfounded claim

Finally, the EC, ending all speculations, has announced the date for GMC election. It is well understood that the GMC poll could not be held as per schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also know that holding elections is entirely the prerogative of the EC and the State Government has no say in this regard. Very interestingly, one Meera Borthakur, a very vocal Congress spokesperson, a deserter from the BJP, a staunch supporter of the sour grapes theory, recently very proudly stated before the media that the GMC poll has become possible only because of her petition before the judiciary, challenging the State Government's decision to defer the poll indefinitely. It is very apparent that Borthakur is yet to get rid of her old habit of trying to fool all the people all the time. To talk big in matters without any sense has of late become the habit of our politicians.

Lanu Dutt Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Psychological costs of a war

On February 24, when Russian forces launched a war on neighbour Ukraine, it actually escalated an eight-year stalemate that commenced with Russia reclaiming the Crimean Peninsula in March, 2014 to undo what it describes as a Soviet-era injustice. Internationally considered a war of aggression, it is the largest conventional military attack on a European state since World War-II. It triggered Europe's largest refugee crisis since that war, with over 3.6 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions more fleeing their homes. However, the effects of any war or conflict are widely spread and can be long-term or short-term. People may suffer devastating impacts during and after a time of war.

Putting aside the very real human cost, war has also serious economic costs – damage to infrastructure, a decline in the working population, inflation, shortages, uncertainty, a rise in debt and disruption of normal economic activity. It is possible to estimate economic costs of war – cost of military, etc. However, it is harder to estimate the psychological costs of war – the pain of death, suffering, fear and disability. A conflict can leave soldiers and civilians traumatized for the rest of their lives. In recent years, post-traumatic stress syndrome is more widely accepted, but putting a cost on how war negatively affects those involved, is difficult to do.

Bidyasagar Doley,

Cotton University.

Rendezvous with an artiste

Everyone knows about multi-talented artiste of Assam, Syed Saadulla. Many wanted to know more about him. Hence, Axam Xahitya Xabha's golden branch, Mumbai Xahitya Xabha had organized a hearty rendezvous with the prominent artiste for the first time.

Syed Saadulla spoke reminiscently of his various experiences as an announcer of Dibrugarh Radio Station, knowledge of many languages, along with singing Assamese and English songs while playing the guitar. A spontaneous recitation from the Bhagawad Gita made the audience want more. According to Saadulla, Srimanta Sankardev is an all-time legend.

Debika Borpujari

debikaborpujari@gmail.com

Protection of privacy

WhatsApp is one messaging application where we can send messages, pictures, videos etc. WhatsApp provides us with every security possible and we also know that it is safe. WhatsApp has a good feature, which is that we can delete any message permanently from chats. But there are some illegal apps like GBWhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus, YoWhatsApp etc., where if we delete a message or a status, a person can still view all those deleted message and status. I think that it is illegal and those types of apps should be banned because they violate our rights. So, through your esteemed daily I want to request our Government to look into this matter and do the needful.

Violina Huzuri,

Cotton University.

Delayed results

I would like to raise a point regarding the examination conducted by the Assam Public Service Commission for recruitment of assistant engineer (Civil, PWD), which was held on November 15, 2020. The point I want to bring to the notice of the APSC is regarding the delay in announcement of the result of the examination. It has been around one-and-a-half years since the examination was held, but till now the candidates not getting any clue about the results. Delaying of the result is creating a dilemma among the candidates. Many students have been eagerly waiting for the result for the last one-and-a-half years. Therefore, I request the APSC to look into the matter and help the deserving candidates.

A concerned candidate,

Guwahati.