This refers to ‘Isro does it again: India’s biggest rocket GSLV Mark III launched successfully’ (IE, December 19). While Isro’s success in testing the GSLV Mk III launch vehicle for placing heavy (four tonne) geostationary satellites into high-altitude (36,000 km) orbit is praiseworthy, it is high time it develops the capability to launch a constellation of low-orbit satellites, which are lighter and capable of providing broadband connectivity to the remotest corner of the country, an essential prerequisite for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision. The national optical fibre project, which is progressing at a snail’s pace, is not the right technology for hilly and inaccessible areas. There is no alternative to satcom technology for such areas.
— R.R.N. Prasad (Gurgaon)
For the record
— Ali Firdos Akhter (Kolkata)
And we suffer
This refers to the editorial, ‘Government’s burden’ (IE, December 19). It is not fair to say that the running of Parliament is only the government’s responsibility. I agree that there are loose cannons in the ruling party who need to be reined in, but it is not necessary for the prime minister to comment on every issue raised by the opposition. It has become a norm in India for the opposition to block every move of the government and try to embarrass it. The opposition does not want Parliament to function because it sees the passing of legislation as a feather in the cap of the ruling party. It can then say that the ruling party has failed to do anything for the country.
— Niranjan Solanki (Vadodara)
Vicious cycle
The vicious cycle Pakistan is caught in will take time to break out of. Rooting out the extremists patronised for over four decades is a tough task.
— Shrihari Ambatwar (Nanded)
