MyVoice: Views of our readers 20th December 2020

No room for actors in TN politics

This is with reference to your editorial 'At 70, can Rajinikanth pull off an NTR?' (Dec 17). The editorial brings to fore the reality that Rajinikanth is likely to face in the wake of his decision to join politics and float his own political party in Tamil Nadu. He will surely be a late entrant – age vice. It must be said in the same breath that either it is Kamal Haasan or Rajinikanth, the new generation of film actors do not possess the charisma as MGR and NTR to take the masses along, the massive and impressive fanfare and gatherings notwithstanding.

Rajini's new political party known as Makkal Sevai Katchi with its party symbol of an auto rikshaw may seem impressive with their cinematic advantage to his fans; but the times have changed for the electorate to be swayed by such effects. While the erstwhile leaders from the class, who made it to the top echelon of political leadership, may not seem a reality in the present situation in Tamil Nadu. The fact that J Jayalalithaa reigned supreme for six times as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was in a way the mesmerising political magic of MGR on the electorate.

It will be a bad idea for Rajini to join hands with Kamal Haasan as the latter is still clueless about the plan of action in Tamil Nadu, and is needlessly antagonising the Centre by irrational and unwarranted comments, which raise a question mark on Kamal's intellectual depth and political maturity to tackle things since there is need for inclusiveness in terms of national level. Kamal already began commenting amateurishly about the Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu that holds no water with the present thinking of people of the State.

K V Raghuram, Wayanad

Mamata needs to act, else will lose Bengal to BJP

The West Bengal Assembly elections in the next year have become more challenging because the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) candidates are giving resignations continuously from the party. It shows that the TMC MLAs are not satisfied with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's work.

Even the TMC candidates must have inner conscious about the winning chances of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming elections, so they tend to join the BJP to improve their chances to get the Assembly ticket. The Hindi proverb 'jahan chari wahan bhari' is suitable in this condition.

The time has come, Mamata Banerjee should take the confidence of all MLAs and party workers and try to sort out their differences. Then the TMC can survive, otherwise the BJP will show a grand performance in the elections and may get Chief Minister's gaddi for the next five years.

Syed Nissar, Hyderabad

Farmers agitation causes huge loss to exchequer

The Supreme Court gave a prudent order in resolving the ongoing farmers' agitation mainly by BKU from Punjab, who have been blocking the routes to Delhi on the highway, through talks and by forming a panel consisting of those farmers unions who are in support of the farm bills. The agitation is causing thousands of crores in loss to the exchequer, which is entering the third week already.

Unless the crisis is resolved, there is no telling for how long the protests will continue to make the life miserable for the commuters and other retail vegetable vendors and other products in procuring their supply from Punjab and Haryana, to be sold in other parts of the national capital. It remains to be seen if the BKU will relent to the government's proposal of the farm bills as several amendments have already been incorporated into them.

But the agitating farmers want nothing less than repeal of the three farm laws, without having a clear notion or idea about what exactly is their demand or expectation. It is time for the Centre to insulate all connections that the vested interests have made in the present agitation, and identify those elements involved in it, so that some clarity emerges in ending the blockade, that is undoubtedly assuming sadistic proportions.

K R Parvathy, Mysuru

Long wait for vaccine likely to end soon

Not one, not two… AstraZeneca has agreed to give 300 crore vaccines in one go. Vaccine trials around the world have been suspended due to a serious illness of a young British man who was vaccinated as part of trials. The New York Times reports that a young man in Britain has burns on both sides of his spine. It also seems to increase the risk of vertebral damage. It is unknown at this time what caused the infection, but whether it was caused by a vaccine or some other cause. AstraZeneca has not yet made an official statement in this regard.

Some side effects still occur in those who have undergone corona vaccine trials, but doctors have not yet commented on the side effects of the corona vaccine. Moderna Pharma Company has already completed the third phase of trials. Pfizer on the other hand has completed the third phase of trials and released the results. In addition, Oxford University has also released the results of the second phase trials. Experts say that as part of these three vaccine trials, they have been shown to be effective in improving immunity. However, there are many drawbacks to this.

Vaccine trials are discontinued if any disturbances occur in the body as part of any vaccine trials. Of the three vaccines currently available, Moderna, Pfizer, and the vaccine are reported to have the most side effects. However, scientists say that the corona vaccine is expected to be available in the market by the end of this year.

Those vaccinated under the third phase trials in the UK ranged in age from five to 70 years. With this comes the news that the impact on others is also being considered. Scientists say this is not the case with the vaccine and that trials will begin soon.

On the other hand, the news has raised concerns among those raising hopes on vaccine. Doubts began to arise as to where the vaccine would be further delayed. Pfizer has not yet commented on the news. Company representatives declined to answer the question of whether there were any challenges in the preparation. Pfizer partner BioNTech chief executive Ugur Sahin has said that they will provide 10 crore doses in the first phase.

Oxford University, on the other hand, is a key evolution of the vaccine that AstraZeneca is jointly developing. The vaccine is set to become available in the new year. This was revealed by the Serum Institute CEO Adhar Poonavalla. Serum is known to have conducted vaccine trials at Oxford University in India.

Despite some intermittent interruptions, trials of the vaccine are progressing rapidly. Currently, the most critical third-stage trials of the vaccine are nearing completion. The Covid-19 vaccine will be available in India by January 2021, Poonavalla said.

Dr N Khaleel, KPHB Colony, Hyderabad