Play of optics

Sir — As Russia continues its war against Ukraine, the leaders of the two countries are also locked in a battle of opinions on social media. If the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has managed to mobilize public opinion, the supporters of the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, are determined to not let their leader fall behind. Fan videos portraying Putin as a benevolent leader have been widely circulated on the internet. However, it has come to light that many of the videos have originated from fake accounts. It seems that Putin will stop at nothing to win the war.

Soujanya Mullick,
Calcutta

Strange delay

Sir — The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure at the demolitions that continued in Jahangirpuri in northwest Delhi in spite of a stay order (“SC: You need bulldozers to remove chairs?”, April 22). Houses and shops were razed citing encroachment in a Muslim-majority area that had witnessed communal clashes during Hanuman Jayanti. The authorities must, at once, rehabilitate those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

The bulldozer drive was undertaken by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation at the urging of a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party. This lays bare the politics of vendetta followed by the sangh parivar. It is disheartening that neither the prime minister, Narendra Modi, nor the chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, has condemned the heinous act.

S.K. Chowdhury,
Bangalore

Sir — It is unfortunate that an order from the Supreme Court could not be communicated to the NDMC on time (“Twice, SC halts demolition”, April 21). The NDMC officials continued with the demolition of houses and shops on the ground that the court’s written directive had not reached them. This is utterly irresponsible. Such incapable individuals must not be entrusted with civic duty.

Yash Pal Ralhan,
Jalandhar


Alternative avenues

Sir — The Covid-19 pandemic has witnessed a rise in the use of alternative medicines in India. However, these concoctions lack uniformity in terms of quality and efficacy, leaving them open to abuse by quacks. The Centre has recently inaugurated the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in partnership with the World Health Organization. This can not only help in weeding out fraudsters but also ensure that qualified practitioners maintain a standard of practice (“Treat together”, April 21). The Centre should strictly enforce the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of 1954. Extensive scientific research and a robust regulatory framework can go a long way in helping alternative medicines gain widespread recognition.

S.S. Paul,
Nadia

Gaps remain

Sir — The article, “Forgotten people” (April 20), by Ishika Garg highlights the poor implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The legislation aims to further accessibility, equality and dignity for PwD by making public and private institutions more responsive to their needs. However, even after six years, gaps remain in the implementation of the basic provisions. This exposes the government’s apathy towards the needs of PwD. We must adopt a universally accessible infrastructure that can ensure improved quality of life for all. Societal prejudices must be dispelled.

Kiran Agarwal,
Calcutta


Wrong decision

Sir — The All England Lawn Tennis Club has debarred Russian and Belarusian tennis players from participating in this year’s Wimbledon. The decision comes amidst Russian aggression against Ukraine. This will adversely impact a number of top-ranked players. Furthermore, this exclusion has undone the even playing field at the tournament.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,
Chennai