Deliver real action

Vande Mataram is not new to Indians. We have read and heard the song since childhood — in classrooms, books, films and news reports. It has been an inseparable part of our freedom movement and national consciousness. Why, then, is there suddenly so much political hype around a song that Indians already know and respect? On Independence Day, people expect much more from the Prime Minister at the Red Fort — ‘Janta Ki Baat’ addressing unemployment, inflation, corruption, farmers, jobs, education and public safety, rather than another “Mann Ki Baat”. Patriotism is already in our hearts; people now want meaningful action and accountability.

T. Kailash Ditya,

Hyderabad

A call for reform

The recent Gen Z protests, from Delhi to Jharkhand, over examination irregularities, expose a governance failure, not merely student anger (Page 1, August 11). Repeated breaches of merit-based systems erode public trust and deny a generation fair opportunity. Authorities must stop treating protests as law-and-order issues and urgently implement transparent test processes, independent audits and fix accountability for officials.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,

Hyderabad