Deplorable state of National Highways: Letters to The EDITOR

Deplorable state of National Highways

The people of Assam have been patiently waiting for the days when the agonies inflicted upon them by the deplorable road-condition of the National Highways would be over after the declaration of the Lok-Sabha result. As State PWD Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved with the election campaigning, he could pay little attention to the agonies suffered by the myriad of commuters who travel along these deplorable roads. But the euphoria maintained by the people that the repairing works would soon be undertaken received a severe setback by a news published under the caption 'Sonowal, Sarma to meet Gadkari' (The Sentinel, June 5). From the statement of our PWD Minister, it transpires that the upkeep of national highways has been entrusted to the NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) and the NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited). We don't accept the contention of the Minister concerned that they don't have control over the National Highways. We would like to remind the PWD Minister that the worsening of the roads started at a time when Nitin Gadkari was still the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways. Against this backdrop, why don't our Chief Minister and PWD Minister raise the issue of the worsening state of the highways? Let the repairing and renovation works be undertaken without any more loss of time.

Ashok Bordoloi,

Dibrugarh.

Of Rahul Gandhi's birth & citizenship

It is observed that veteran BJP leader Subramanium Swami has been making remarks against the Gandhi family off and on, even by knocking the doors of legal courts of law, and thereby harassing them. But ultimately every time he has been unsuccessful. Recently a 73-year-old nurse of Kerela, Rajamma Vavathil, declared that Rahul had been born in Holy Family Hospital, Delhi when she had been working in that hospital. She was reportedly the first person to take Rahul in her lap after his birth. Thus, the controversy about the citizenship of Rahul Gandhi triggered by some is nothing but a baseless remark. In this connection, it is worthwhile to mention that the Gandhi family sacrificed their lives – beginning with assassination of Indira Gandhi, and then that of Rajiv Gandhi. Besides, Sonia Gandhi refused to be the Prime Minister even though she had been unanimously elected by the party for the post.

Putul Sarma,

Biswanath Chariali.