This refers to the cover story Can India Become China 2.0? (June 15). The pandemic has disrupted the supply chains of many goods originating from China. This has made countries realise that overdependence on China isn’t prudent. Moreover, there is Beijing’s opaque, stubborn and aggressive attitude to contend with. With countries, especially those that do not toe its line, wary of China’s increasing clout, opportunities have opened up for India. Its positive image and vast market can draw big companies to its shores. However, this entails a lot of spadework to create an investor-friendly atmosphere. Cocooning Indian manufacturers in the name of self-dependence isn’t the right way forward. Let them compete on a level playing field.
Vipul Pande, Nainital
India and China share one of the world’s longest land borders and there have been several conflicts. In 1962, China attacked India while ostensibly professing the motto ‘Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai’. The present flare-up cannot be viewed in isolation—it is part of China’s quest for hegemony. Similar incidents are occurring in the South China Sea, Senkaku Islands and the Taiwan Strait. China does not hesitate to weaponise trade. It plays by its own set of rules, whether in the domain of trade practices or territorial disputes. Its message to neighbouring nations: do not support USA in the US-China standoff. Many might consider its economic strength a positive, but the country’s rise as a global power is not making it popular with its neighbours. China should not overlook the fact that in the event of a cold or trade war with USA, it will need support from its Asian neighbours, including its major trading partner India. More altercations are likely, but fortunately, communication channels between the two countries have been and, hopefully, will remain open and strong.
H.N. Ramakrishna, Bangalore
It is evident that China is not comfortable with India’s strengthened infrastructure along the border. As a sovereign nation, India is within its rights to take aggressive steps. Unfortunately, the government has not thought it fit to take the nation into confidence or share the ground reality. This may lead to spiralling misinformation. While the government is not expected to disclose all its plans for security considerations, as an elected democratic government, it is obliged to tell the nation about the extent of incursions by the Chinese army. It is time to take citizens and the Opposition into confidence.
C.K. Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
India and China should fight COVID-19 rather than indulge in brinkmanship across the LAC. At a time when India is facing a significant increase in cases and there are fears that a second wave could engulf China, border clashes are uncalled for. But the timing of the border incidents comes on the heels of India’s decision to clamp down on Chinese FDI investments and encourage Western and Japanese companies to shift their production bases away from China. India also supports Taiwan’s participation in the WHO as an observer. Despite the PLA’s incursions, India’s infrastructure upgradation close to the LAC will continue. This has irked China to no end. Softening its stand, Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong said that China and India pose no threat to each other. While India has shown a willingness to confront China to safeguard its territorial interests, it should also try to diffuse the standoff through talks.
K.R. Narasimhan, Chennai
This refers to What After Home? (June 8). Terming the workers forced to return to their homes as migrants is rubbing salt on their bleeding wounds. Is any doctor, engineer, software professional, poet, writer, actor or politician branded a migrant? If so, the entire Bollywood fraternity and almost every politician and bureaucrat in Delhi and state capitals would be a migrant. We, the people of India, the city-based, urbane middle-class professionals and elites, have failed the workers who built our dream worlds. We have remained as we are—self-centred, inward-looking and insensitive—while millions of poor people have been left at the mercy of a government that utterly lacks empathy and foresightedness, like most of us.
Rakesh Agrawal, Dehradun
The overnight declaration of lockdown to combat the spread of COVID-19 has harmed people and the economy. The country has not healed from the wounds of demonetisation, yet the government has pummelled it further. The Centre should have been considerate and strategic; it should have scheduled consultations with experts and stakeholders. The proverb ‘haste makes waste’ has come true with the sudden declaration of the lockdown. Brainstorming is vital for any decision to be effective and successful.
M.R. Jayanthi, Mumbai
The Supreme Court’s belated order to provide free food, water and transport to migrant workers appears to have been passed to atone for its initial refusal to intervene to secure their welfare. The apex court could have crowned itself with greater glory by taking the desperate plight of migrant workers far more seriously at the beginning of the crisis itself. The country’s top court took an unforgivably long time to take note of their misery and ask the government to provide succour. Even now, there seems to be no end to the suffering of migrant workers. Tragic deaths due to hunger, heat, dehydration and exhaustion continue to occur due to the government’s ill-disguised apathy bordering on callousness. Of particular poignancy was the image of a child trying to wake up his dead mother at a railway station. Running of Shramik Specials looks like tokenism when it falls far short of the requirement to ferry lakhs of migrant workers. It is not that the Indian state is incapable of ensuring the safe return of workers to their native places, but it has been unwilling to recognise the value of their lives.
G. David Milton, Maruthancode
This refers to Thank You, Nurse (May 4). Nurses from Kerala, who form the backbone of almost every hospital in Mumbai, have left in droves, crippling operations at several major hospitals. The contribution of Kerala in the medical field is commendable. In Mumbai as well as other parts of the world, nurses from Kerala are a common sight. Nurses are the most important pillars of the medical fraternity—abroad, they are one rung below doctors, but in India, they are not accorded much respect. Nurses are vital for healthcare and should be compensated with high salaries and more time-off.
Ramani C.K. Jayanthi, Mumbai
This refers to The Abusage Of Rhetoric (June 8). It’s not a coincidence that Nepal woke up to redraw its map and claim Indian territories—it’s a well-thought plan to upstage India at China’s behest. Nepal is culturally and geographically aligned with India. It could never have mustered the courage to make an issue out of border roads without China’s clandestine support. India will do well to placate Nepal and increase it’s presence there, for ignoring it may push the Himalayan nation into China’s fold.
Bholey Bhardwaj, Mumbai
