This refers to your cover story The Economy and the Virus (April 6). Our governance model provides for decision-making at the Union level, but the burden of policy execution falls upon states, as healthcare, sanitation, agriculture and public utilities are state subjects. Thus, fiscal federalism, decentralised governance and flexibility to states to meet their needs should be part of the fight against the virus, including coping with the lockdown and managing the economy’s recovery. The Centre must support state governments to ensure that farmers receive a fair price and are able to move their products, especially perishables, to markets. We must realise that the much-neglected panchayat and local officials are key nodes in keeping track of possible cases and the creation of quarantining infrastructure. The success of the lockdown strategy is premised on an unprecedentedly vigorous building up of health infrastructure to fight the pandemic. The commitment by the Centre to infuse an extra Rs 15,000 crore in public healthcare is a step in the right direction.
Deepak Kohli, Lucknow
The pandemic is taking its toll on livelihoods in the informal sector. Staying back in such circumstances and bearing the expenses for rent and food is not a viable option for many. Migrants feel the pinch and they are waiting for an escape route to their native place. But it is not so easy with a lockdown in all states. Besides, alerts have been out for possible large-scale return of migrant workers to their native places—one such warning, for example, was recorded in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district about ‘returnees’ from Kerala.
Gundu K. Maniam, Mumbai
Coronavirus is a single-strand, positive-RNA virus. It has crown-like spikes protruding from its surface resembling the sun’s corona. The spikes affect the way a virus binds to the host cell and infects it. Once inside the host, the virus conjoins with ACE2 receptors, where it creates spikes to interact with the receptor and goes on to use the cell as ‘factory’ for reproduction and propagation. The replication and shedding of the virus in cases where the immune system is unable to prevail over the viral load result in severe acute respiratory syndrome and deprivation of oxygen. While lockdowns help in containment of the spread of the virus, testing, identifying, isolating, tracking and tracing contacts are crucial to ‘extinguishing’ the pandemic. Till scientists succeed in developing vaccines and drugs to save us from the scourge (for which they are burning the midnight oil), we are left with little option but to continue to take precautionary measures.
G. David Milton, Kanyakumari
In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, any initiative to fight the disease is a vibrant step forward. Sharing vital information through reliable sources is one such initiative. At this time, it is important that all political parties come under one umbrella in this fight towards saving humankind. It is the time for action, not criticism. The best ‘medicine’, however, to counter the threat is awareness, remaining calm and staying away from crowds. While governments across the world are taking initiatives to curb the pandemic, it is the responsibility of every individual to be aware of their social commitment. It is not the time for outings; instead, stay indoors to reduce chances of exposure.
Ramachandran Nair, Muscat
The cover story on Kanhaiya (Kunwar Kamunist, March 23) couldn’t have come at a better time. I am fed up seeing politicians and celebrities on the cover day in and day out; Kanhaiya felt like a whiff of fresh air. One may or not agree with his anarchic approach or whimsical ways, but the lad has the confidence and courage to speak his mind. He has a good grasp of the country’s political scenario and his public declamations, even if at times bordering on the comical, do make plenty of sense. His popularity may not win him elections, but we do need the likes of him to keep frontline parties and leaders on their toes. May his tribe increase.
Anil K. Joshi, Almora
Kejriwal granting permission to prosecute Kanhaiya only reinforces the dictum, ‘in politics, there are no permanent friends or foes’. The Delhi CM is coming of age as a politician and Kanhaiya is no longer useful to those who sided with him or a threat to his opponents. Kejriwal distancing himself from Kanhaiya after his victory was a strategic move to strike a balance between left- and right-wing ideologies. Moreover, he is becoming more friendly with the Centre and dropping his earlier confrontational stance. As for Kanhaiya, it is just the beginning of a long, excruciating journey. How far he succeeds in establishing himself as a prominent leader and providing a new outlook to politics would be interesting to see in the years to come.
Jaideep Mittra, Varanasi
This refers to Royal Shift Ruffles The Middle Kingdom (March 23). Scindia’s departure has dealt the grand old party a big blow. Congress is totally cut off from the people and appears to be interested only in waging Twitter wars. Unless citizens close ranks and find alternative ways to assert their rights, the tentacles of authoritarianism are bound to tighten. Congress has to regain its past prestige if it wants to be in the running in future elections. If not, regional parties will become the principal Opposition.
C.K. Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
Dynastic succession has been Congress’s obsession since Independence. It is not surprising, therefore, that a young, ambitious functionary like Jyotiraditya Scindia felt neglected. The scion of the Gwalior royal family who worked hard to install a Congress government in Madhya Pradesh felt suffocated when the post of chief minister or state party president eluded him. And the last straw was when Priyanka Gandhi, a dynast, was chosen over him for Rajya Sabha. BJP is a party where a dynastic tag is not required to occupy top posts like party president or prime minister. It is certainly time for the Congress to sit up and take notice. Not for nothing had the world’s first sociologist Ibn Khaldun said that dynasties rise, beget kingdoms and they decay like all created things.
K.R. Narasimhan, Chennai
This refers to The Sleep Is Showing, Your Honour (March 30). The alacrity with which Justice Gogoi was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha nomination shows that all is not well with our judiciary. Only sometime back, he had rooted for a fiercely independent judiciary, but in his acceptance of this offer, he has ironically silenced his own voice. His slip is akin to the king in Henry V, of whom Shakespeare says: “I think the King is but a man/ His ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness, he is but a man!” Well, now the slip and sleep both show.
Sangeeta Kampani, New Delhi
