Letters to the editor: Missing Eid greeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrating Diwali with defence force personnel in Siachen and with Kashmiris has immensely boosted their morale. It has also gladdened an overwhelming majority of the population. Modi is known to be a master communicator. But the fact that this year, his personal Twitter handle notwithstanding, no official Eid greeting was issued on behalf of the prime minister and no iftaar party was hosted, calls for corrective measures. In the absence of a course correction, unintended consequences could follow. This is especially true given the concerted efforts of the Islamic State and al-Qaeda to divide the Indian people. Unity must be guarded at all costs.
— Nirmal Singh
New Delhi

Reading the result
The BJP’s resounding victory in Maharashtra and Haryana rings alarm bells for regional parties. There is a need for a change in strategy. Or else, they should be ready to be swept away by the Modi wave — yes, it exists, and it is gaining momentum. The Congress needs to change its overall organisational structure. The demands to rope in Priyanka Gandhi say a lot about party workers’ faith in Rahul Gandhi. It also shows a touching confidence in the leadership capabilities of the Gandhi family. To blame regional leaders for the defeat is to hide from the real problems. As far as the NCP is concerned, it needs to rethink its policies on urban development, since its base is mostly currently rural. The MIM’s debut in Maharashtra is nothing short of impressive. By winning the Muslim vote from under the Congress’s nose, it has made a great start.
— Siddharth Ostwal
Malegaon

Raring to research
At the convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the need to boost medical research in India. Our country has to catch up with the rest of the world in many areas of scientific research. “Brain drain” is both a cause and an effect of poor research and infrastructure. Apart from in some top institutes like the Indian Institute of Science and the various Indian Institutes of Technology, scientific research is in its adolescence in India. There is a palpable lack of exposure to quality research materials and an absence of a conducive environment. Researchers are handicapped by bureaucratic hurdles and improperly rewarded for their efforts.
— Ganapathi Bhat
Akola

The downfall
After taking potshots at the prime minister, the Shiv Sena has had to take stock of reality. It can only join government on the BJP’s terms. This is a great humiliation for the stroppy Uddhav Thackeray, who was expecting to be in a commanding position after the Maharashtra elections.
— Satwant Kaur
Mahilpur