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| Policemen parade at Judges Field during the Republic Day programme last year |
This is going to be yet another Republic Day our children will perhaps not be able to witness, thanks to the call for a boycott of the functions and a general strike by several militant outfits on January 26.
It is time all of us took a stand against this annual ritual of boycotting Republic Day. But then, who will bell the cat? All of us are, after all, not as courageous as the powers that be who venture out to attend the functions. How do we go out without fear when blasts occur with such alarming frequency? It would be pertinent to point out that the government must take tangible steps to change the scenario that has been prevailing for the last 30 years.
Let us at least start a dialogue with militant groups in the hope that something positive evolves from it.
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| In conflict zone |
The frequent conflict between the rhinos of Kaziranga and the villagers residing on the periphery of the national park have become a major cause of concern. It is time the authorities of the national park found ways to take necessary measures so that these animals do not stray out of the park.
Although it is not an easy task to keep wild animals confined within the boundary of a sanctuary, the authorities must devise ways to stop the animals from straying. If the boom in the rhino population is the reason behind these ‘migratory’ rambles, measures should be taken to increase the size of the park from the existing 430 square km area.
There are allegations that although new areas are being added to the national park, these are full of human habitation. Unless we have a larger Kaziranga, free from human settlements, conflicts between the rhino and man will only increase.