MyVoice: Views of our readers 6th January 2021

Cricketers need to be cautious

It is very heartening to hear that all the players involved in the restaurant episode have been tested negative for Covid-19 virus. Already Team India and its cricket administration crew are facing much problems with injuries to its bowlers like Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav, who are declared unfit to play rest of the series in Australia.

Virat Kohli who is on paternity leave, after the Melbourne test, is also not available for the remainder of the cricket series. There is already a lot of hue and cry raised regarding fourth test and quarantine rules imposed in Brisbane because of strict Covid rules, which is hosting the final test match in the on-going series.

Already much of the sporting activity has been lost due to unforeseen pandemic and the country and sport loving public can't be ready for anything more. In this context it is the responsibility of all the players to be more responsible in their behaviour, attitude in maintaining a bio-secure bubble especially in the current pandemic situation.

V Nagendra Kumar, Hyderabad

Farmers seem determined

The seventh round of meeting between representatives of protesting farmers and the Central government failed to resolve the impasse against the three farm laws. The government remained firm on not repealing the contentious laws and is believed to have suggested a panel to take the matter forward for an amicable solution to the pressing problem.

The farmer groups also stuck to their demand for the repeal of the Acts. Camping at Delhi borders for over a month now, protesting farmers seem undeterred in the face of severe cold, rains and waterlogging, and firm on their demands for repeal of farm laws and legal backing for MSP even as talks with the government remained inconclusive. The farmers had earlier threatened to intensify protest by shutting malls and petrol pumps if today's talks with the Centre fail. But the demands remain the same. With Lohri fast approaching an ultimate end to the agitation will come to a close with better counsel prevailing from the Central government.

Gundu Krishnamani, Coimbatore

Haste makes waste

Though it's an emergency approval with lot of conditions, giving nod to public vaccination with Covaxin by the Indian regulatory authority is not convincing. As a pure indigenous product it deserves all support from the authorities. But it has not completed the mandatory phase three trials anywhere. So it is asked to follow clinical trial mode and is said to be a back up vaccine, which would be ready in case covishield is not adequate. In a haste to prove India is second to none in its successful research on Covid vaccine and to place with pride the indigenous one beside the abroad originated one, the regulatory authorities seem to have taken a chance, which is not right. The evidence for safety and efficacy of a drug should be beyond any doubt and it should be made public.

Dr D V G Sankararao, Nellimarla