The demise of Deputy CM of Maharashtra (NCP faction) Ajit Pawar on January 28 in a plane crash is extremely sad news and a loss to the nation, especially to the people of Maharashtra. Ajit Pawar’s political career was marked by his deep engagement with public life and his influence on Maharashtra’s political landscape. He was the backbone of Maharashtra politics, and the people of Maharashtra loved him. May his soul rest in peace.

Jubel D’Cruz, Mumbai

Policing the anger

Following the gruesome murder of a teacher onboard a local train at Mumbai’s Malad station, it’s time the Indian Railways and the Railway Police woke up. Of course, they can do precious little when anger overcomes senses. But they can help by simply being present at railway platforms and on trains and effectively controlling situations and emotions before they get out of hand. Work-related stress is universal. People carry personal and domestic issues to workplaces. Extreme jostling and personal space invasion can aggravate anger issues. A slight trigger may push people to do the unthinkable. 

Dr Ganapathi Bhat, Akola

UGC rules

The new UGC equity regulations of 2026 are a bold and necessary step towards ending caste-based discrimination in Indian higher education. For decades, students from historically marginalised communities have faced exclusion, harassment, and unequal opportunities. The new rules create formal mechanisms, equity committees, equal opportunity centres, and 24/7 helplines. The massive protests that erupted in UP and the Hindi belt are focused on fears rather than lived realities these UGC reforms aim to change. These rules are inclusive and in accordance with the Constitution,  promising a fairer future.

P.H. Hema Sagar, Secunderabad

Choose leaders, not promises

Democracy is not a ritual performed once in five years but a responsibility carried out every day. Manifestos promise much, yet true leadership is measured by presence, service, and integrity after elections are won. Voters must ask who returned to their constituency, who listened, and who worked without any spectacle. Money and muscle may win seats, but they cannot build trust or lasting progress. So, choose conscience over convenience, memory over manipulation, and hope over fear.

A.P. Thiruvadi, Chennaii 

A Padma Shri well-deserved

The Padma Shri for Inderjit Singh Sidhu is a timely and profound endorsement of action over apathy. His daily sweeping in Chandigarh underscores a critical flaw in our Swachh Bharat efforts: infrastructure and awareness campaigns cannot substitute for personal and sustained civic responsibility. True cleanliness will never emerge from merely outsourcing the task to municipal workers while we, as citizens, remain passive observers or, worse, contributors to the litter. Sidhu’s humility powerfully rebukes a culture that shuns manual labour yet complains of filth. 

K. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru 

CAG report

The CAG report on the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, released in December 2025, has again sparked a debate over the government’s functioning and the scale of irregularities in flagship welfare schemes. According to the report, as many as 95 per cent of the (audited) bank accounts linked to beneficiaries are fake. According to the report, the scam runs into nearly Rs 10,000 crore. But the most serious issue is that this scheme that concerns 1 cr young people. turned out to be a fraud. 

Bhagwan Thadani, Mumba

Metro link

Apropos the report ‘Metro line 8 to link Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports’ (Jan. 28), the authorities can use branded pre-fabricated materials for the construction of the metro line. Also, heavy fines levied for late completion of work should be made realistic, with a written and signed guarantee. 

Peter Castellino, Mumbai

After Covid, it’s the Nipah virus

The deadly and highly infectious Nipah virus has gripped West Bengal and Kerala, with both the states being declared endemic zones. The government should start medical screening at airports to prevent it from spreading its tentacles to the rest of the country. An advisory to put on masks and keep a tab on its symptoms should be issued to curtail its outbreak as a precautionary measure.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali