China has dominated manufacturing and supply chains since the 1990s. India must respond silently but consistently by collaborating in semiconductors with Taiwan, Japan and the US and strengthening Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), the raw material required by the pharma sector. Equally, India must leverage its strengths in low-cost space technology, cyber capabilities and emerging drone manufacturing for future warfare. As Kautilya said: "Act with foresight, not impulse."

Vijay Kumar Katial, Panchkula

China, Pak also need India

Refer to 'India's obsession with Pakistan'; if India is today reduced to being a mere spectator, it has itself to blame. While it was busy expanding its footprint across the Global South, it neglected its own backyard and front yard. No country is a client state any longer. Mutual needs determine relationships. We need Pakistan and China as much as they need us. If for China, the way forward can be delineating our borders, for Pakistan, it can be fostering people-to-people contact. People on both sides still yearn for lunch in Lahore and dinner in Patiala.

Lt Col GS Bedi (retd), Mohali

AAP's win will depend on Opposition

Apropos of 'AAP faces test of performance in Punjab'; the report card of the AAP government has not been very impressive and the party's comeback will depend on how efficiently the Opposition parties, particularly the Congress, run their campaign. The BJP, if it succeeds in forming the government in the state, will have an edge over other political parties as it will have a powerful central government behind it. If AAP has to repeat its 2022 landslide victory next year, its leaders will have to present their united face, particularly after the Raghav Chadha episode.

Ravinder Kumar Jain, Ludhiana

Problems of wheat procurement

Refer to 'Wheat woes'; the employees of the state procurement agencies are at the receiving end. Rain-affected grains with high moisture cannot be stored for a long time. Even in the minimum storage period, the chances of more moisture gain and weevil infestation increases despite best preservative techniques. The employees face recoveries and chargesheets on account of moisture cuts beyond 12%, on which additional moisture quality cuts are levied by FCI at the time of delivery to the central pool. This is double jeopardy, leaving no room for state government employees to resist. The other issue is quality cuts imposed by the FCI due to weevil infestation. Quality cuts are levied on farmers at the time of procurement.

Surjit Singh Bhatoa, Panchkula

Don't guillotine PILs

Refer to 'PIL framework'; guillotining PILs would be an utterly regressive step, serving only to silence the public voice. Instead, clear guidelines can be issued by the courts to regulate its usage. Public trust must not be replaced by mistrust. Public Interest Litigation is an innovative instrumentality of social action. PIL is a legal spur for the government to respond to challenges faced by the marginalised and financially downtrodden sections of society. Through many landmark judgments, PILs have brought about impactful social change. If the government finds conflicting issues in PILs filed under Articles 32 and 226 of the Constitution, such matters can be pondered over for resolution.

Abhyam Sharma, Pathankot

Asha's voice will live for ever

The world has lost one of its most versatile singers ever, Asha Bhosle. In spite of having a more celebrated and talented elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, Asha held her own and carved out a niche in the music world, be it any genre - classical, romantic or cabaret. She was the youth icon of her time, a rebel taking up songs which were ahead of time. She was iconic - being the first artiste from India to be nominated for the Grammy Awards, and that too twice.

Sachin Kaushal, Patiala