Waste of public funds
A Supreme Court (SC) bench has rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s plea to install a bronze statue of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi in Tirunelveli district, citing that “using public funds for glorifying your former leaders” is inappropriate. In fact, a ruling from 2013 by the SC has already banned the installation of new statues on public roads and in public places, prohibiting state governments from granting permission for such installations in order to prevent public inconvenience and the misuse of public funds. In a word, it’s a very appropriate judgment. How can one forget that in December 2009, the Supreme Court halted the fast-track projects of the Uttar Pradesh government aimed at building memorials and installing statues of Dalit icons like Kanshi Ram and Bhim Rao Ambedkar, including that of then-Chief Minister Mayawati? The Court restrained the government from continuing construction activities on its Rs 650 crore venture at a park in Noida. Whatever the justification, this wasteful tradition of erecting large statues at public expense needs to stop—not just in Tamil Nadu, but across India. The justification for any public spending should be based on the availability and quality of infrastructure for public use.
Bidyut K Chatterjee, Faridabad
Imported food materials
The Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) came into force on August 5, 2011, and was implemented by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Act mandates symbols and colour codes of a particular size and placement on pre-packaged food items. Food colour additives must have INS (International Numbering System for Food Additives) codes, processed fruit products must carry an FPO (Food Products Order) mark, and food operators must have FSSAI licenses. These regulations lead to transparency, protect our health, and create awareness, enabling people to make informed choices. A green circle inside a square represents vegetarian food, while a brown circle (now a triangle) represents non-vegetarian foods or those containing eggs, fish, meat, or any animal derivatives (except honey and milk). It is proposed to introduce a red colour code for products with high fat, sugar, and salt content. In recent years, there has been a flood of pre-packaged imported dates, biscuits, chocolates, and many more items from various countries. Initially, these packets did not carry information about contents, colour codes, nutritional values, prices, or dates of manufacture and expiry. These are mandatory and common on Indian products; hence, even the imported packets were later required to include the same. Now that there is a push for “Vocal for Local” and “Aatmanirbharta,” patriotic consumers may prefer to buy swadeshi food products. Therefore, the FSSAI could consider introducing specific colour codes for imported food items so that people may choose not to buy products sourced from foreign countries or a particular nation.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Trump’s war narrative
This refers to the address of US President Donald Trump during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2025, where he criticised the UN for inaction. He also repeated the claim that he was the person who stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan. Ironically, one of Pakistan’s ministers categorically stated that the conflict was stopped after mutual consultations between India and Pakistan. Time and again, Trump has been trumpeting that he was the one who prevented war between India and Pakistan. This is nothing but a ploy to earn the Nobel Peace Prize, while he continues to escalate tensions through a tariff war and policies that have contributed to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It is time he ends his tariff phobia.
N Mahadevan, Chennai
Elephantine issue
It has been several days since an elephant entered Goa from Maharashtra, creating panic among farmers in Mopa and nearby villages along the Goa-Sindhudurg border. Forest department officials from both states are currently tracking the animal to ensure the safety of residents and livestock. It is learnt that plans to capture and rehabilitate the wild elephant, named Omkar, are expected to materialise only after the Dussehra festival on October 2. Omkar, a 10-year-old wild elephant separated from its herd, has reportedly been raiding coconut and banana plantations, as well as paddy fields around Tamboxem village. It is learnt that Goa has formally sought Karnataka’s support to manage Omkar. The services of trained and captive elephants, known as kumkis, along with experts, will be utilised. Provocation of the elephant may result in loss of human life. Tranquilizers can be used to sedate the animal. The main goal is to reduce stress and help the elephant relax. Once the elephant wakes up, other trained elephants help lead it back to its herd. Due to the large size of elephants and to minimise anesthesia-related complications, tranquilizers are used in rare cases. Since the rescue operation for the tusker Omkar is to start only after October 2, drones should be deployed to track its movements.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
